BRADENTON -- Officials Friday were testing pumping equipment and simulating how well it would work as the Wares Creek flood control project nears actual dredging Monday, according to Amanda Ellison, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which leads the project.

Bradenton City Councilman Patrick Roff, who represents the area of Bradenton most affected, predicted earlier this week that the noise from dredging would be considerable, adding he was prepared to field complaints from residents.

The $51.8 million Cedar Hammock-Wares Creek flood control project has been discussed for decades, but finally officially kicked off in November.

Under its $3.5 million first phase, the creek’s channel will be dredged from the Manatee Avenue Bridge to the Ninth Avenue Bridge.

About 37,000 cubic yards of sand and silt will be removed from the creek and processed in a nearby dewatering operation. The dredge, dubbed the “T-Muskrat,” or “Little Muskrat,” in the Cajun vernacular, will do the dredging, with the spoil to be sent through dewatering equipment at the former Bradenton City Hall site, 15th Street West and Manatee Avenue.

The dried material will then be deposited in the Manatee County landfill.

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