Charlotte County
Charlotte County has begun a long process of cleaning up parts of its canals and other waterways after Hurricane Ian.
The crew began work on the Hayward Canal on Tuesday. They don’t know what’s in the water. It can be anything from signs to boats. Those crews walk through the canals to get to know them and clean the water.
This is another step towards recovery, but we need to look below the surface to see this progress.
Charlotte County communications manager Brian Gleason said: “Everything from boats to trees can exist.”
On Tuesday morning, Charlotte County began the process of removing debris that may be below the surface.
“Their responsibility is to make navigable waterways navigable, so they have to stay there and clean them until they reach a certain depth that vessels can pass through,” Gleason said.
Gleason says this will be a slow process, so there’s no time estimate yet.
He said contractors will launch from four different boat ramps around the county.
“They are at our boat ramp, loading the boats, using cranes and other equipment to get out onto the waterways and clearing debris. Make sure you show up and be prepared, and as you are, be careful in those areas,” Gleason said.
Gleason added that there will be maps online showing where they work and which areas they’ve already passed through.
