Dredge and Fill and Wetlands

Regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)    Call Jessica Butts (863) 314-5974

Dredging and filling in surface waters, and doing anything that impacts wetlands, is regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Environmental resource Permitting (ERP) program.  Contact Kelly Kramer in Punta Gorda at 941-575-5814.  These permits are also required if you are doing work in a pond or waterbody entirely on your own property if the waterbody is connected to an off-site water, or to a wetland, by even a small ditch.  Always call before working in wetlands - wetland violations can be very serious.  Here is a brochure from the DEP regarding dredge and fill.  Click here to view DEP's web pages on dredge and fill, or here to view DEP's web pages on wetlands.

Dredging includes everything from pulling a plant our by its roots to digging using large commercial machinery.  In all cases, permit or no, a turbidity screen MUST be present to keep silt and such from washing into the lake or waterbody.  Please report violations to the above number.

Filling includes the addition of sand or gravel to a waterbody, as well as placement of dock pilings in a surface water.