Clawson, Diaz-Balart Announce Dredging of the Gordon River Pass Expected To Commence in 2016

Statement

Congressman Curt Clawson (FL-19) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) today announced that dredging of the Gordon River Pass, connecting Naples Bay to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to commence in 2016. Since taking office in 2014, Clawson has worked with Diaz-Balart to convey the importance to the Army Corps of Engineers to allocate $2 million for the project. After over a year of making their case, the Congressmen learned this afternoon that the Army Corps agreed to put the project in its work plan for the Southeast Region for 2016.

Gordon Pass was last dredged in 2010. This past July, while reporting on Clawson's and Diaz-Balart's efforts to secure the project with the Army Corps, the Naples Daily News outlined the hazards the shoal in the pass poses to boaters, recounting incidents that have already occurred because of the shoal's ever-increasing danger.

While the Congressmen were working on getting Gordon Pass dredged, they also requested and received reports from the City Manager and the Harbor Master of the City of Naples detailing their concerns regarding the increasing number of vessels being damaged from hitting the shoal.

Following the Army Corps of Engineer's announcement, Congressman Clawson stated:

"We are excited to announce today that the dredging of the Gordon River Pass is expected to get underway this year. Gordon Pass is the main channel serving Collier County's commercial fishing industry, charter vessels, and recreational watercraft, and is one of the economic engines to our region's tourism economy. The safe operation of this waterway is paramount to Collier County. I want to thank both Congressman Diaz-Balart and the Army Corps for their tireless work in getting this project underway. Congressman Diaz-Balart and I will be steadfast in tracking the progress of this effort to improve safety in an important waterway for Southwest Florida."

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart added:

"I am pleased that funding for the dredging of Gordon Pass has been included in the Army Corps of Engineers 2016 work plan. This project is long overdue, and will not only have an economic impact to tourism in the area, but will also help our residents protect their boats from damage. I am grateful to my colleague Congressman Clawson, and the Army Corps of Engineers, for working together to get this project fully funded and scheduled in 2016."

Last October, Clawson and Diaz-Balart teamed up on efforts to reverse FEMA's decision to take back millions in funding previously approved by both the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) and FEMA to reimburse Collier County for sand and beach restoration projects following Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005 and Tropical Storm Gabrielle in 2001. Collier County was awarded $6,149,099 for 203,356 cubic yards of sand lost. The agency also granted $1,611,405 for engineering, survey, and environmental costs.

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