Posted on October 28, 2021
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Beach access in the northern part of the county will close beginning Friday so dune-restoration projects can resume when turtle nesting season ends Monday.
Beach-restoration projects were paused in April because of the start of the turtle nesting season. State law prohibits dune restoration or construction on beaches between April 30 and Nov. 1 to avoid disruption of turtle nesting.
Restoration of the 6.6 miles of coastline between the Seaview subdivision and Turtle Trail beach access was divided into two phases. The first, 3.7 miles between Wabasso Beach and north of Treasure Shores, began in January, but workers were unable to be complete the $14.5 million project by April 30.
Treasure Shores Beach access closes Friday for about 45 days so workers can place the remaining 30,000 cubic yards on the beach and complete the first phase, county spokeswoman Kathleen Keenan said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the county plans to begin the second phase of the project, costing about $14.2 million. Seagrape Trail beach access also closes Friday, to begin preparation work, Keenan said. This phase includes placing about 280,000 cubic yards of sand over about 2.9 milesbetween Seagrape Trail and Turtle Trail. More than 302,000 plants will be placed as part of the dune restoration.
The park will remain closed until the end of the project, but officials could not provide a specific date.
Much of the county’s coastline sustained erosion and damage from hurricanes Matthew in 2016, Irma in 2017 and Dorian in 2019. State and federal grants have paid for most of the restoration projects, and the county’s tourism-ax money also was used.
The county also planned to restore a 2-mile stretch of beach in the south part of the county near The Moorings, but delayed the $9.9 project because not enough beachfront property owners gave the county access to dump the sand. County officials plan to try again next year to obtain the necessary access for the project.
