Repairs to the Fort Jefferson Counterscarp and Dredging of Selected Areas

Dry Tortugas National Park » Repairs to the Fort Jefferson Counterscarp and Dredging of Selected Areas » Document List

The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the March 2023 Repairs to the Fort Jefferson Counterscarp and Dredging of Selected Areas Environmental Assessment (EA). The FONSI was recommended by Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos on May 15, 2023 and approved by Regional Director Mark Foust on June 13, 2023. Copies of the EA and FONSI may be accessed by clicking on the "Document List" link at the left side of this page.

The purpose of this project is to repair sections of the Fort Jefferson counterscarp damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Ian in 2022 and remove sand deposits that accumulated from these hurricanes within the moat and finger piers. The counterscarp is the moat wall surrounding Fort Jefferson. The proposed repairs and dredging are supported by construction funds allocated through Public Law 115-123 for national park units impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Based on the analysis presented in the EA, the NPS selected Alternative B, the proposed action and preferred alternative, for implementation. The selected alternative will repair, strengthen and protect the compromised sections of the counterscarp; remove sand and silt at two locations within the moat surrounding Fort Jefferson; and dredge the finger pier slips at the Garden Key Waterfront.

Contact Information

Daniel Noon, Chief of Planning and Compliance
305-242-7717