Project Location
The Challenge
- Ocean waves and currents seasonally carry sand from north to south along the east coastline of Florida.
- This natural process is interrupted by inlets which cause the sand to accumulate on the north side of the inlet, entrain sand within the inlet, and redirect sand flow offshore.
- The south side of the inlets do not have the natural re-nourishment of new sand, leading to increased amounts of beach erosion.
The Solution
- Constructed a new sand transfer plant in 2009 to more efficiently mitigate for the erosive effects of the inlet.
- Periodically dredge sand from offshore to renourish the beach.
- Maintain healthy dunes stabilized with native vegetation.
- Dredge the trap inside the inlet periodically, and return the sand to the beach.
- Install T-groins help to stabilize the sand on the beach.
Project Overview
- The beach was renourished in late 2005.
- Sand was dredged from a borrow site 1800 feet offshore.
- The dredged sand was pumped through a submerged pipeline onto the beach.
- Approximately 558,000 cubic yards of sand was shaped into a beach approximately 1.1 miles long.
The Benefits of Beach Nourishment
- Protects the beach/dune habitat and upland resources.
- Retains the flexibility of the beach/dune system.
- Provides storm protection.
- Enables continued public use of the beach by replacing sand lost to erosion.
- Provides sand to down drift beaches.
Additional Information
Coastal
