Beach erosion has become a major concern along our coast. Some areas are seeing rapid beach erosion, resulting in narrow beaches.

  • Sand Key beach nourishment project set for fall
  • Project to correct beach erosion caused by Hurricane Hermine
  • County to use federal funding, tourist tax for project

Our beaches attract millions of visitors each year, so protecting them is paramount.

In Pinellas County, Sand Key is about to undergo a beach nourishment project after taking a hit from Hurricane Hermine.

The county will be replacing sand on some of the residents’ property and officials want to make homeowners aware of the upcoming plans.

Cathie McMahon, who lives in Sand Key, understands it is all part of Florida living.

“You have too many storms, they start to eat away at the beach. It’s definitely narrow down towards the condos, but nice and beautifully broad here,” McMahon said.

Officials said every five to seven years they nourish the county’s coastline. This year, they’re targeting Sand Key.

Sand will be pumped in from offshore, brought in on barges, then delivered to the beaches through pipelines.

“In all, we spend about $10 million between the county, the state, and the federal government per year to nourish our beaches, but the tourists that come and visit out beaches, directly for our beaches, spend about $2.3 billion in our county alone,” said McMahon.

McMahon believes it’s necessary to protect and maintain our beaches, because that is what keeps bringing the visitors back.

“It’s a natural resource and an asset. As long as we can keep them, I think they need to be kept,” she said.

County officials said construction could begin as early as fall.

The project will cost about $32 million. Pinellas County received federal funding after Hurricane Hermine to help pay for the project and the Army Corps of Engineers will provide the majority of the funds.

The money required from the county will come from the tourist tax.