EAST PASS DREDGING CALLED OFF

Okaloosa County officials are concerned that a dredge that was supposed to be headed to Destin’s East Pass has been diverted to river areas in northern Alabama and Tennessee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had previously said the dredge would be in Destin by mid-March and complete dredging of East Pass by April. However, recent heavy rains have created shoaling issues on the Tombigbee River in Alabama that is hindering barge traffic and the dredge is the only one available to re-open the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The Corps of Engineers says it may be October before the dredge is available again.