Florida
beaches took such a pounding from the
hurricanes of 2004 there are approximately 20
beach renourishment projects under way
statewide, according to the Department of
Environmental Protection. Much of this beach
restoration work is being funded with $180
million from the state and federal governments
made available after the 2004 devastating
hurricane season.
Volusia County has been working to restore
beaches as the peak of this year’s hurricane
season approaches.
A $14-million emergency dune restoration
project recently has been completed. Some
750,000 cubic yards of sand was pumped from
Rattlesnake Island (a spoil island in the
Intracoastal Waterway) to a five-mile stretch of
New Smyrna Beach. The sand forms a 30-50
wide, five-seven foot high dune berm that
provides temporary erosion protection for
upland beachfront properties and enhances
pedestrian and vehicular use of the beach.
“While this effort will help to restore access
to the beach, provide a level of property
protection and some habitat restoration, it is
not a permanent fix,” said Joe Nolin, Volusia
County’s Port Authority Manager. “Nor will it
restore the beaches of New Smyrna Beach to
their natural contours and profile.”
A division of the County’s Airport and Port
Services, the Ponce de Leon Inlet and Port
District plays a key role in coastal zone
management in eastern Volusia County.
Through this taxing district, the county
manages the inlet, encourages and assists in
marine-related economic development and
redevelopment, provides coastal recreation,
assists sport and commercial boaters,
fishermen and divers, and protects the quality
of life within district. Beach renourishment and
erosion mitigation long have been priorities.
The Florida Inland Navigation District
(FIND), a state coastal taxing authority, also
may assist by placing sand on the beach as a
result of an Intracoastal Waterway dredging
project to be conducted in Southeast Volusia in
2007, according to Nolin. At the same time, the
county is working on a program that will
provide longterm solutions for erosion along
the beaches of the southeast quadrant.
“We’ve got to do everything we can to
restore our beaches,” said Volusia County
Council member Jack Hayman, who represents
the New Smyrna Beach area. “This area was hit
particularly hard during the hurricanes and the
devastation has a widespread impact.”
Longrange plans for a full-scale beach
erosion control project are still in development
and cost is going to be a factor. Nolin said a
significant beach renourishment project could
come with a price tag of between $20 million -
$40 million. If approved, such a project
wouldn’t begin for two - four years. As
conceptualized, the project would result in the
restoration of eight-nine miles of shoreline with
beach-compatible sand being placed six - nine
feet high and 200 - 300 feet wide from the
seawalls to the water’s edge. Construction will
be contingent on federal state, and local
funding. This project would pump four times as
much sand as this year’s emergency dune
project. Sand would be mined offshore and
pumped onto the beaches from New Smyrna
Beach to Bethune Beach.
While renourishment operations are
complete for this year, if this season yields
another hurricane, it is expected that the
emergency restoration to a limited degree
would resume. If we are spared serious erosion
this season, renourishment efforts will have
hastened the natural recovery of area beaches, a
critical factor in withstanding future storms,
according to Nolin.
