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An Information Guide to Duck Key in the Florida Keys

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Canal Building on Duck Key     Canal Building on Duck Key Four miles of canals created five small islands connected by four beautiful ornate Venetian style bridges. Many home owners and vacation villa enjoy water views thanks to the building of canals and a revetment barrier wall which encircles the ocean front of Duck Key. The digging, drilling and dynamiting on Duck Key went on for four years, day and night, without end, much to the discomfort of residents living on nearby Grassy Key and Conch Key. Coral dust filled the air and surrounding waters. Environmental impacts effecting marine life were considerable. When the heavy equipment, hydraulic dredging, and drag lines fell silent in 1956 , four miles of canals had been created and Duck Key was now partitioned into five small islands connected by beautiful ornate Venetian style bridges.  Canal excavation changed the natural contours of Duck Key. Coral rock removed during canal construction was used to build Harbour and Utility Islands and to expand on other areas of bay bottom purchased from the State of Florida. Marl and sand pumped from the sea bottom was used to fill the salt ponds and low spots on Duck Key. Seven and one-half miles of roads were created from excavation materials also. A landing strip which no longer exists for small planes was also constructed on Center Island.    Plans in the 1970's for building additional canals on Center Island never reached fruition. Although many inland lots could have been replaced by substantially fewer and larger waterfront lots on canals and lakes, concerns about dredging, dynamite blasting , and the environment kept plans from going forward.     THIS PAGE CREATED BY DUCK KEY ONLINE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL http://www.duckkeyonline.com site map email@duckkeyonline.com Duck Key Online 386 East Seaview Drive Duck Key, Florida 33050 305-289-1872