The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given approval to a $32 million plan to renourish much of the critically eroded beaches near Jacksonville, a project that could throw a lifeline to tourism and insured properties in the area.
The Corps announced late last week that shorelines in Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach will part of the massive renourishment project, which will pump sand from offshore to rebuild beaches, dunes and berms. The program is 100% federally funded, the Corps said in a news release.
The contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., of Houston. Operations are expected to begin soon.
Coastal communities in Florida’s northeast corner have been requesting the renourishment since 2017, after they were hit by Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, which produced record flooding, storm surge and loss of beach sand, Florida Politics reported.
While beach renourishment has been criticized by some as a losing battle, costly to taxpayers, it has continued around the country for decades.
Photo: A beach renourishment project in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2021, similar to the one approved for the Jacksonville area. (Mike Fender/News Herald via AP)
Topics Florida
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