Lee County leaders authorize project preparing to dredge Blind Pass on Sanibel

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize a project that would prepare to dredge Blind Pass on Sanibel.

According to Lee County, Blind Pass, which typically divides Sanibel and Captiva Islands, has filled in recent weeks with accumulating sand.

The Lee County policy is to have an open pass to achieve ecosystem benefits associated with tidal exchange between Pine Island Sound and the Gulf. Lee County said that without maintenance dredging, there is a significant chance the inlet would remain closed for the near future.

The authorization will allow for permit application, processing, design, bid services, construction services, construction surveys, construction observations and more.

The authorization is for $290,580.

The county is preparing to dredge when the conditions are favorable, in order to minimize how quickly it might fill back in. Completing the work now is expected to allow for dredging in 2027.

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