One year after Hurricane Sandy swept the East Coast, work is set to begin to replenish sand on Brevard County beaches.
The work will impact people visiting the beach. Beachgoers are being warned that they could have limited access as crews dredge and pump sand on to our beaches.
Hurricane Sandy stayed off Florida’s coast, but the waves and winds punished the beaches causing significant erosion. “We were very vulnerable this year, there’s no doubt about it, and the fact that we didn’t have any significant storms or significant erosion events really kept us in a good position. But every year we have to roll those dice,” said Ernie Brown, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Dept. Director.
Starting next month, the nearly $40 million project will get underway. The Army Corp of Engineers is footing the $29.6 million cost for 13.6 miles of coastline. The Brevard County Tourism Development Commission and state are sharing the $10.3 million dollar cost for a smaller dune restoration projects in Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach and the south beaches.
The contractor for the Army Corps of Engineers will start dredging and pumping sand onto our beaches-starting in Indialantic and Melbourne Beach first. They’ll then move on to replenish the sand in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach-helping restore sand dunes that protect buildings and infrastructure.
The new sand will help protect oceanfront properties and the barrier island itself.
Brevard County had to wait nearly a year for help. By the time they secured funding sources sea turtles nesting season began. The season ends Nov. 1 and that’s when crews will start working on the beaches.
Besides limited access residents have been warned that the non-stop work on the beaches will be loud from the heavy machinery used.