Channel Dredging

Last Stand’s challenge to the referendum was successful because:

● Last Stand published Action Alerts to educate residents and mobilize citizens to attend workshops, also encouraging submission of written comments.

● Last Stand attended all of the related public meetings and presented comments.

● Last Stand worked with Responsible Tourism Key West, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, and Reef Relief.

● Last Stand followed and actively worked on this issue for over 2 years.

See Last Stand Action Alert July 11, 2011 (this was for the first public meeting on the proposal to dredge; LS stuck with this issue for 2+ years) See Washington Post article September 30, 2013

Channel Dredging

Last Stand played a key role in defeating the Channel Dredging Referendum on October 1, 2013 which would have dredged the main Key West shipping channel to accommodate larger cruise ships. Scientists warned the proposed dredging (against FKNMS regulations; to widen by 150’ for one mile) would worsen water turbidity by creating sediments, harming ocean water quality, coral, aquatic life, and seagrasses. These are the same negative impacts about which Last Stand expressed concerns recently, working in support of the Safer, Cleaner Ships’ initiative limiting the size, capacity, and frequency of visits to Key West of cruise ships.

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