Posted on June 12, 2021
In early May Gator Dredging mobilized their 18″ hydraulic dredge, the “Brittyn B”, an Ellicott Series 1270 model, for a beach re-nourishment project located at Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County. This project is being performed for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and behalf of the Florida Parks Service and is nearing completion.
The $1.8 mil project consists of the dredging 160,000 cubic yards of beach compatible sand from two borrow areas located within the vicinity of Hurricane Pass and placing it within a beach fill template along Honeymoon Island.
Honeymoon Island, which is a barrier island located on the Southwest Coast of Dunedin, Florida was originally developed in 1939 for honeymooners. By the December 7, 1981, the State of Florida purchased the parcels of land on the island, creating Honeymoon Island State Park. Over the years, Honeymoon Island has experienced continued chronic erosion. Since 2007, the island has had four erosion control structures built and undergone two renourishment projects, making this project the third.
With Honeymoon Island being home to one of the most visited state parks in Florida of over 1 million visitors annually, this re-nourishment project is vital to restoring the beach, improving the ecosystem for local wildlife, as well as improve navigation through Hurricane Pass.
