Posted on July 30, 2025
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s (CEPD) commission received an update on the beach renourishment at its recent meeting, as well as approved two contracts related to the project.
On July 24, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company’s East Coast Region Senior Vice President Lynn Neitfeld provided the board with an update on the project schedule for the beach renourishment.
She reported that they would likely mobilize the equipment on the beach on Aug. 20, with work to hopefully start shortly after Sept. 1. The job is estimated to take about 50 days and will entail placing about 800,000 cubic yards of fill along the shoreline, located between Redfish Pass and Blind Pass.
The anticipated completion date for the project is just before Oct. 31.
Vice Chairman Rene Miville asked about the surveys to determine the exact sand needed.
Neitfeld reported that she believed the surveys were being conducting that week and the prior week. She added that the CEPD is contracted with them for up to the 800,000, plus a variance of 25%.
Chairman John Wade raised concern about the timeline, noting that the project was supposed to start in May. He pointed to possible storms and a lack of wiggle room, which is why they planned early for it.
“All of that risk has come back to us,” Wade said.
“We are really at the mercy of Mother Nature right now,” he added.
Neitfeld explained that their Galveston Island hopper dredge is at a job in New Jersey, with 40 days remaining on the contract. They have enough sand, so the risks are mechanical breakdowns or weather. She spoke with staff about bringing in an alternate dredge if the Galveston cannot arrive on time, but nothing is finalized. Once the Galveston arrives, it would switch with the alternate and finish the work.
Neitfeld reiterated that her contingency plan is to bring in a second dredge to start, if possible.
Wade shared that he thinks they need to make the alternate a confirmed, finalized plan.
Neitfeld reported that she will talk to staff again about using an alternate dredge as the contingency plan if the Galveston is delayed and will provide an update to the CEPD staff and commission.
Asked by the board about the timeline needed to process the sand surveys, APTIM Coastal Market Lead Nicole Sharp reported that it will only take three or four days to determine a final volume.
“We can turn it around very quickly,” she said.
Also during the meeting, the commission voted 4-0 to approve an interlocal agreement with Lee County regarding the beach renourishment. The county’s cost share for the project is 24.35%.
Also at the meeting, the board voted 4-0 to approve a proposal from APTIM to provide construction phase services assistance to the CEPD for the project for a not-to-exceed cost of about $478,841.
Prior to the vote, Sharp reported that the costs were the same at the 2021 renourishment.
IN OTHER NEWS
– General Manager Brighton Heard reported that the CEPD will transition from the ParkMobile payment system at the Alison Hagerup Beach Park to Oobeo after the beach project is done.
– The commission voted 4-0 to engage Maggie Mooney, with Persson, Cohen, Mooney, for legal council services.
– The commission voted 4-0 to engage one of two possible certified public accountants (CPAs), McIntosh in Boca Raton or EisnerAmper in Fort Myers, for services.
– Brighton reported that the CEPD has an open beach ambassador position.
