| Fort Lauderdale has often been referred to as the | | | | what effect that will have on the waterway's |
| Venice of the Americas and one of the major | | | | environment. Engineers will need to calculate how |
| Yachting Capitals of the world. The South Florida | | | | deep and wide the river can expand without |
| Yacht Charter industry has drawn millions of dollars of | | | | impacting the shoreline. |
| revenue into the region’s economy from the | | | | The study will address additional environmental |
| creation of marine industry jobs, a world renowned | | | | factors such as how the dredging could affect |
| boat show, and increased tourism. The yachting | | | | seagrass and the river bottom, as well as what |
| industry as a whole has also increased the patronage | | | | should be done with the dredged material. The study |
| of fuel, food and supplies as well as demand for | | | | is necessary to support city permit applications, a |
| marine real estate and refit/maintenance facilities. | | | | process that is estimated to take about two 2 years |
| As the international industry has developed, Fort | | | | in total before any pumps can begin dredging the |
| Lauderdale is no longer as influential a port of call as it | | | | river. |
| once was and its Mecca status has become | | | | Obviously, the economic benefits are encouraging the |
| lackluster. Competing locales with heavy European | | | | city’s efforts since there is a huge need for |
| influence and investment dollars such as St. Maarten, | | | | more boats to access the boatyards and marinas |
| Monaco and Dubai continue to expand and thrive. | | | | within the designated stretch by being able to travel |
| Ports such as Dubai are experiencing such exponential | | | | upriver. This project will create more jobs, more |
| growth that the region will soon facilitate more | | | | projects for existing marine businesses and increased |
| industry needs than Fort Lauderdale's current scope | | | | channeled revenue back to the city. |
| of capabilities. | | | | The Sun-Sentinel recently quoted manager of marine |
| This is why it is so crucial for Fort Lauderdale city | | | | facilities, Andrew Cuba, "The goal is to maintain the |
| officials to become in tuned to the industry’s | | | | thriving local marine industry… It would enable the |
| demands and respond by considering revisions to the | | | | businesses that are farther up the river to enhance |
| laws that effect critical issues such as customs, | | | | and maintain their levels of service." Frank Herhold, |
| construction of superior dockage facilities bridge | | | | director of the Marine Industries Association of South |
| openings and dredging the South Florida waterways. | | | | Florida, also contributed to the Sentinel’s piece |
| Recently, Fort Lauderdale city officials began looking | | | | commenting that about 20 facilities stand to see a |
| into the dredging of the New River which is a main | | | | wave of new business if deeper water allows more |
| line of access to yachting facilities such as the | | | | boats to get to them. "I can't stress enough the |
| Lauderdale Marine Center located just off of State | | | | importance of dredging to the marine industry's |
| Road 84. The city has commissioned the Florida | | | | economic health," he said. "The boats keep coming |
| Inland Navigation District, a statewide agency that | | | | and they keep getting bigger." |
| keeps the Intracoastal Waterway deep and | | | | The possibility of the project’s completion has |
| navigable, to determine the project’s feasibility. | | | | industry professionals forecasting a 15-20 percent |
| The city has asked the agency to see if a 6.2-mile | | | | increase in business. Projects being brought to |
| stretch of river, from where it meets the | | | | facilities near I 95 won’t have to be turned |
| Intracoastal to the Interstate 595 overpass to the | | | | down because the water isn’t deep enough to |
| west, can be deepened to 14 feet. The waterway | | | | accommodate large hulls. The plan approved in |
| currently averages about 10 feet thanks to a | | | | November 2007 by the City Commission reported |
| dredging project three years ago. With new mega | | | | that the costs for the study and dredging project will |
| yacht builds that are larger each year, newer boats | | | | be shared between the city of Fort Lauderdale and |
| with jet drives and large sail boats with keels there is | | | | the Florida Inland Navigation District. The |
| still a demand for deeper water. | | | | project’s total cost is estimated to come in just |
| The feasibility study currently being performed will | | | | under $16 million to dredge 14 feet in the New River. |
| determine how deep the river can be dredged and | | | | |