Posted on August 5, 2026
Nearly two years after completing the Phase 1 of its five-phase beach restoration project, Flagler County is taking the next major step.
The Board of County Commissioners Aug. 3 unanimously approved a $34 million contract with Weeks Marine for dune restoration along 5.5 miles of the coast. The work will be part of the project’s second phase, also referred to as Reach 2.
Construction is set to start in November and take between four and six months to complete, according to county staff.
The county’s beach management plan has been in place since October 2023 — one year after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole damaged the area. Reach 2 plans “to restore the dune and beach along … critically eroded coastline to improve community resilience within the communities of Painter’s Hill, Beverly Beach and northern Flagler Beach city limits,” according to the county.
But outstanding easements, cash flow and uncertainty regarding the damaged seawall near Camptown RV Resort in Beverly Beach are still concerns for officials as the plan moves ahead.
County has ‘near-term’ cash flow plan as work progresses
The bulk of the funding is from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Hurricane Recovery Reimbursement Grant Program — $19.7 million. Another $5.9 million will come from the Florida Department of Transportation; $4.7 million from FEMA; and $535,000 from the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
The majority of the funding stems from state grants, each requiring varying local contribution amounts from the county. The local match will total $4.1 million.
According to Hamid Tabassian, the county’s engineer, the local government has $10 million in hand to start the project, with the other nearly $25 million planned as both near- and long-term grant reimbursements.
Approximately $20 million, he said, is near-term reimbursements, most of which will come from FDEP. The department will allow submission of paid invoices for reimbursements once a month, and each request would be paid to the county in four to six weeks.
Approximately $5.5 million from FEMA is considered long-term reimbursements, as it will not be available for at least six months after the project is finished, possibly taking “a year or more.”
Commissioner Andy Dance said he has “become more comfortable with (the) cash flow process,” pointing out that nearly 70% of Reach 2’s funding comes from state grants.
He later suggested, and the board agreed, to have staff provide monthly reports of invoice progress.
Easements, Beverly Beach seawall still a point of concern
Another concern for officials in a segment of the beach located near the seawall in front of the Camptown RV Resort in Beverly Beach.
Strong storms and tides damaged the seawall at the end of 2025, and it is still unclear whether the site’s property owner will rebuild it.
County officials plan to place sand at least up to the erosion line, which is approximately 20 feet from the seawall. Putting sand up to the seawall could be done eventually, but removal of nearby debris from the seawall should happen first.
There are also 13 outstanding easements with other owners of properties along the 5.5 miles of Reach 2, which have concerned officials for months. According to Tabassian, talks with property owners have moved forward over the last few days, and some of them have indicated they’ll agree to allow the work to be done on their properties.
