Posted on June 17, 2026
PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — A $35 million project aimed to combat erosion, improve infrastructure and beautify Pensacola Beach.
From Fort Pickens Beach to County Park East, this nourishment project has wrapped up just in time for the beginning of the summer tourist season.
“8.1 miles, 1.5 million cubic yards of sand,” Santa Rosa Island Authority Executive Director Mike Burns said. “That’s moving some sand, right?”
“Helps the beach be resilient, stabilizes the infrastructure on the beach, you know, protects both the residential homes on the beach and the commercial interest at well,” he said.
A project that’s essential in maintaining Pensacola Beach’s sugar white sand, keeping folks returning year after year to enjoy the Gulf.
“We have 2.5 million tourists and visitors to Pensacola Beach every year and yet almost 250,000 just in a couple of weeks because of the Blue Angels airshow,” said Burns. “So, 10% of our visitors come in that one weekend.”
The work was completed just in time to be greeted by a glob of seaweed known as sargassum, a natural occurrence that happens every year.
Even though sargassum brings a stinky smell, it also provides food for the island’s birds.
“Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and to the east of us, Navarre, Fort Walton, Destin, they have the same thing,” said Burns. “So, naturally occurring event, you know, just have to let nature take its course.
