Welcome to Harbour Waterway Special District (HWSD)

The HWSD is a Special Dependent District created by the City Council of Jacksonville, Florida on October 12, 2010.  The district consists of the properties and easements associated with a canal system that is common to four independent neighborhoods in the Fort Caroline area.

The express duties of the District are to maintain the Navigability of our Canal System, to manage our spoil site on Reed Island, and to administer the regulations for the waterway. The district was created to guaranty the routine dredging of the waterway, through the collection of non-ad valorem assessments. 

BOAT RAMP & BULKHEAD RENOVATION:

The renovation was halted by Paula Johnson, US Army Corp of Engineers due to not having a permit from the USACE to repair the bulkheads and boat ramp.  Paula Johnson and Robert Halbert / Colonel Brandon L. Bowman issued a “Cease and Desist” order on August 29, 2024.  On September 4, 2024, HWSD signed a tolling agreement with USACE at the direction of our General Counsel, Wayne Flowers.

HWSD immediately hired a USACE and FDEP permitting consultant, Connie Webel-Watson, to file for the permit.  On September 23, 2024, Ms. Webel-Watson filed for the permit with all forms and drawings necessary to have the permit  issued.  Since that time, the permit has been waiting approval by Ms. Johnson, which is the only person that can approve the permit.  Ms. Johnson is the sole employee with the USACE that is in enforcement for five counties, and the USACE internal policies dictate only enforcement can issue the permit.  Ms. Webel-Watson, Stanley Pipes, Wayne Flowers, and members of the HWSD Board have requested updates from Ms. Johnson without any progress.

In March, HWSD solicited assistance from John Rutherford’s office, United States Representative, FL District 05 to contact the USACE and move this permit application forward.  Congressman Rutherford assigned one of his staff members to contact the USACE and resolve the permit approval. 

On April 7, 2025, Ms. Johnson published a public notice for permit application (SAJ-1986-21097(SP-PRJ) requesting comments from the general public in the area, which ended on April 28, 2025.  Per an exchange of emails from our consultant and Ms. Johnson, there were no adverse comments sent to Ms. Johnson.  On May 12, 2025, Ms. Johnson requested comments from the US Wildlife and Fisheries (FWS) on the potential impact to endangered species from the renovation, halting issue of the permit until after the FWS responds.

On May 30, 2025, Christopher Miller with Congressman Rutherford's office met onsite at the boat ramp to review the project. Mr. Miller committed to oversee the progress on the permit.  Mr. Miller is also an At-Large City Councilman for District 5 in Jacksonville.

On June 10, 2025, the FDEP and the USACE presented permitting requirements and procedures at the Board's monthly meeting.

As soon as there is an update from Congressman Rutherford’s office or the USACE, HWSD will publish an update.

​Warning!!!

Spammers are using the HWSD.ORG name as a fake source for EMAILS containing a ZIP file with a malware embedded in it.  Please do NOT open any of these ZIP files.  HWSD.ORG will never SEND you a ZIP file!