BRADENTON -- Dredging is expected to begin at Wares Creek toward week’s end, officials said Tuesday.

The dredge, dubbed the “T-Muskrat,” or “Little Muskrat,” in the Cajun vernacular, has been patiently waiting creek side for its turn to work, while crews set up massive equipment at a dewatering operation at the former Bradenton City Hall site, 15th Street West and Manatee Avenue West.

The work will entail dredging approximately 37,000 cubic yards of sand and silt from the Manatee Avenue Bridge to the Ninth Avenue Bridge.

Officials are in the process of finalizing permit approvals required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, according to Amanda Ellison, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of the $51.8 million Cedar Hammock-Wares Creek flood-control project.

The T-Muskrat and pipeline equipment are being set up in the creek, just south of the Manatee Avenue Bridge, to accommodate the start of dredging, she said.

“It is anticipated that dredging will begin south of the Manatee Avenue Bridge around Jan. 20,” Ellison said in a recent e-mail update to county officials.

Dredging will continue from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., seven days a week, said Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County director of natural resources.

The job of all the equipment that has been installed is to separate, dry and dispose of sediment that the dredge will unearth.

Water unearthed with the muck will be processed and returned to the creek, officials said.

Dried material will be dumped in the county landfill.

The 32-foot dredge has remained tied up in the creek since the ground breaking Nov. 14, while workers prepared the dewatering system for operation.

The $3.5 million Phase 1 is designed to clear out sediment and to deepen the creek. Future phases will entail widening the creek from 17th Avenue West south to Cortez Road, with the total project length reaching almost 5 miles.

Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7031.