John’s Pass, a vital waterway in Pinellas County, recently underwent dredging to improve navigation for boaters. According to Dylan Hubbard, owner of Hubbard’s Marina, the dredging has made the pass safer, but the fix may not last. The project deepened portions of the channel, but one of the shallowest areas, beneath the John’s Pass Bridge, remains largely untouched due to submerged debris.
Challenges Ahead
Hubbard points out that the sand is coming back already, and these improvements may be short-lived. He believes extending the north jetty offers the best long-term solution. However, Dr. Ping Wang, a coastal geologist at the University of South Florida, disagrees, stating that extending the north jetty would alter the natural movement of sand, increasing erosion on nearby beaches.
The Florida Department of Transportation is developing a plan to remove the submerged bridge debris that prevented dredging beneath the bridge. U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s office is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pursue additional federal assistance for future dredging and beach renourishment.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
