Posted on March 22, 2018
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and representatives from Pinellas County will host a public meeting on an upcoming beach nourishment project Wednesday, March 28, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Indian Shores Municipal Center, 19305 Gulf Blvd..
The meeting will provide an overview of the upcoming Sand Key and Treasure Island beach renourishment project scheduled to begin mid-April. Sand placement will begin on Treasure Island beaches, and then move north to Sand Key at North Redington Beach and continue along the beaches to Clearwater. A brief presentation will be followed by a question and answer period.
Contractors will renourish critically eroded shoreline using dredge material from Egmont Shoals as well as Johns Pass. The federal project, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with Pinellas County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, is cost-shared between the federal government, paying 75 percent, with the remaining 25 percent split between the county and the state.
The Sand Key project will place 1.4 million cubic yards of sand along the shoreline from Clearwater Beach to North Redington Beach. The Treasure Island project will place 250,000 cubic yard of sand along the shoreline from Sunshine Beach to Sunset Beach.
Beach nourishment benefits property owners and the public by providing increased storm protection, recreational opportunities and restoration of critical habitat for shorebird and marine turtle nesting.
The Pinellas County Shore Protection Project totals 21.8 miles of shoreline. Three constructed and authorized segments are actively maintained by the federal government in a cost share agreement with Pinellas County. These segments include Sand Key, Treasure Island and Long Key (currently not funded).
The federal government has invested nearly $120 million to date in restorative beach erosion control measures, including beach renourishment and the construction of groins.
Project updates will be available on the web and social media, including the Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict and on Twitter @JaxStrong.
Source: Tampa Bay Newspapers
