Posted on June 25, 2025
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County will undertake an emergency beach nourishment project to restore the sand and coastline lost during last year’s hurricanes.
County Commissioners approved the $125.7 million project, which will be funded by hotel bed tax dollars, paid for by visitors, and state grants.
The county normally works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but has struggled for years to get the required easements approved from homeowners.
Previous projects benefited from a 65 percent federal cost-share through the Army Corps, but without easements from all property owners, the County is not eligible for federal funding for this project.
“Our commission felt it was really important to get sand back on our beaches with another hurricane season right here, right now, we need to get as much protection on our beaches as possible,” said Pinellas County Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy.
The project will put sand on Sand Key (Clearwater Beach to Belleair Beach and Indian Rocks Beach to North Redington Beach), Treasure Island and Upham Beach starting in August.
In the meantime, county leaders said they are working on securing contracts for the project and trying to secure easements from property owners.
“We’re gonna go door-to-door. We’re sending out one more notification. We sent out certified mail multiple times now. We do know that there are some property owners who just said they don’t want the nourishment at all,” said Levy.
If property owners living along the beaches do not respond, the work will go around them.
“The beach will be much higher on the public side and lower on the private side, so we’re really encouraging folks to at least sign this temporary construction easement so that we can fully fill those areas and they aren’t left with a low spot,” said Levy.
Pinellas County will host three public meetings to share information on the upcoming projects:
- July 9: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Treasure Island City Hall 10451 Gulf Blvd.
- July 16: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Online: Register at Pinellas.gov/signforsand
- Aug. 6, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Belleair Beach, 444 Causeway Blvd.
