The City of Punta Gorda's canal system is one of our most cherished assets, offering beautiful waterfront living and recreational opportunities. To ensure our canals remain navigable and our shorelines protected, the City's Canal Maintenance Division, a part of the Public Works Department, manages a comprehensive program of dredging, seawall maintenance, and mangrove trimming, all of which is funded through canal maintenance district assessments.

Canal Dredging

To maintain safe and navigable waterways, the Punta Gorda Canal Maintenance Division oversees a regular dredging program in our 45 miles of canals and inlets. This process removes built-up sediment and ensures adequate depth for boating. View the schedule for upcoming dredging here.

In addition to the City's maintenance dredging, property owners can, at their own expense, contract with the City's designated marine contractor for dockside dredging. This can be beneficial for clearing accumulated sediment around your private dock. For more information on this process, please contact the Public Works Department at (941)575-5050.

Seawall Replacement and Assessment

The integrity of our 91 miles of seawalls is crucial for protecting property and maintaining the structure of our canals. The Canal Maintenance Division is responsible for the ongoing maintenance and, when necessary, replacement of City-maintained seawalls.

An annual assessment of the seawall system is conducted to monitor conditions and prioritize maintenance and replacement projects. This proactive approach helps to identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.

If you have a concern about a seawall, please contact the Public Works Department. For after-hours emergencies involving a fallen seawall, please call (941)639-2057.

For residents scheduled for seawall replacement, the City and its contractors will provide advance notification and information on how to prepare your property. This includes guidance on docks, boat lifts, and landscaping.

Mangrove Trimming

Mangroves are a vital part of our coastal ecosystem, providing a habitat for wildlife and protecting our shorelines. The trimming and alteration of mangroves are regulated by Florida's Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act.

Residents should be aware of the following key regulations:

• Professional Trimmers: A licensed professional mangrove trimmer is required for any pruning of mangroves taller than 10 feet.

• Trimming Limits: No more than 25% of a mangrove's foliage may be trimmed in a single year.

• Height Restrictions: Mangroves cannot be trimmed to a height below 6 feet.

• Herbicides: The use of herbicides or other chemicals to remove mangrove leaves is prohibited.

Improper trimming can harm the mangroves and result in fines. For detailed information on mangrove trimming regulations, we encourage residents to consult the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The City contracts with licensed professional mangrove trimmers to address mangroves in the canal systems. View the mangrove trimming schedule here.

Canal Maintenance Funding

The City's canal system is divided into two canal maintenance assessment districts, Burnt Store Isles (BSI) and Punta Gorda Isles (PGI). Each canal maintenance assessment district has a separate budget which is funded through a non-ad valorem assessment. Each budget is overseen by a canal advisory committee which is composed of district residents. Each committee provides an annual assessment recommendation to City Council, with a final assessment adopted at the first budget public hearing in September. The committees receive reports on the budget, revenues, and expenditures at each meeting, and members can suggest projects to improve the canal system to City Council.

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