Dredging project may ease flooding concerns but won't help Billy's Creek water quality

The City of Fort Myers will soon move forward with a dredging project in Billy's Creek that's expected to ease flooding but may not improve water quality in the ailing Caloosahatchee River tributary.

Last year the Florida Department of Environment Protection gave the city $775,000 for the project, which is expected to cost nearly $1 million.

The city was set to award the contract for the project Tuesday but pulled the item "so the city can add more environmental improvements," said city spokeswoman Stephanie Schaffer.

Schaffer said the city wanted to extend the project from Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard to Marsh Avenue.

The goal of the project is to provide more flood relief on lands within the basin while also providing better wildlife habitat, according to city records.