SPV-VILANO.COM

BEACH RESTORATION

South Ponte Vedra Beach

and Vilano Beach


South Ponte Vedra-Vilano Beach
Restoration Association, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions Page (FAQ's)

We hope that the following questions and answers will help you understand the reason that South Ponte Vedra-Vilano Beach Restoration Association, Inc. was formed. . 


Each of the categorized questions has one or more detailed questions and answers to further explain the specific process of our beach restoration. You can always click on "Main" to start back at the original categories.

Frequently Asked Questions
ANSWERS
What is the South Ponte Vedra-Vilano Beach Restoration Association, Inc.?
  1. What is SPVVBRA, Inc.?
    South Ponte Vedra – Vilano Beach Restoration Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation formed for the purpose of restoring, protecting, and nourishing the beaches of South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Beach, including the coastal properties from South Ponte Vedra Boulevard to Coastal Highway, and to the Vilano area. In 2006 the Association began working on your behalf to expeditiously restore our damaged beach and protect our valuable assets. We have grown to over 100 contributing members.
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  2. How can everyone stay informed?
    The success of this project depends on the understanding and support of each and every one of our property owners. While the engineering and finances are formidable challenges, an even more difficult challenge is communicating with every property owner along our coast. Our experience, along with that of the County, in trying to contact everyone via our newsletter or regarding the emergency sand petition, indicated that updated contact information is needed for many property owners. We expect to be soon gathering support for the MSBU for the full beach restoration, so accurate contact information will be necessary.

    To enable communication, we are using multiple methods including US Postal Service paper mailing, email, internet website, monthly meetings, and block captain personal phone calls. Email and the internet are the most efficient and cost-effective methods of communicating, so we encourage everyone to provide us updated email addresses and to check our website. If you previously provided an email address but are not currently receiving emails from us, please confirm that our messages are not being mistakenly directed to your junk mail folder. If you have not yet provided us with an email address, or updated us with any changes, please do so by sending an email to the association by contacting Tom Turnage
    Please also send any additions or changes in telephone contact information and preferred mailing address, since unexpected items like the emergency sand opportunity are sometimes best explained orally and some items must be delivered by mail.

    We advise that you check the facts with us whenever some news is made available through the television and newspaper media. Many of the local reporters have communicated with us numerous times; we applaud them for learning so quickly so much about this topic and thank them for their continued coverage. Nevertheless it is sometimes difficult to present the complete, accurate picture in brief news clips and articles.
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  3. How can you help?
    We appreciate the efforts of all our participating members and of our very active volunteers who have been working diligently. If you have not yet joined us, we invite you to become a contributing member of the Association. We are a 501 (C) 3 organization, Tax ID #20-5350109, so your contribution is fully tax deductible. While we encourage contributions of $3000 per property owner, we value any amount you feel you can contribute and we welcome your participation.
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  4. Who can you contact for more information or to express an opinion?
    We would like to continue to hear everyone’s voice (questions, comments) on this topic. We intend to update the website so we can better keep everyone up to date as efficiently as possible.

    For more information, you may contact any one of the following:

    Tom Turnage, President 904-387-0770 TTurnage@SPV-Vilano.com
    Linda Chambless 904-829-9861 Lcc320@bellsouth.net
    Gary Close 904-823-3362 GaryClose@mac.com
    Mark Gupton 904-743-6708 GuptonRM@aol.com
    Bob Moore 904-824-4571 BCM1959@aol.com
    Lisa and Guy Rasch 904-829-1895 L_Rasch@hotmail.com
    GRasch@alliancellc.net
    Alice Talbert 904-829-3566 --


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What has happened to our beach?
  1. How bad is the erosion?
    The erosion rate has accelerated. As we reported in our first newsletter, in the past few years our beach has eroded significantly, far beyond the normal ebb and flow that we typically experience during the various seasons. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has designated the shoreline segments from FDEP survey monuments R84 to R94 (Gate Station south to South Ponte Vedra County Park across from new Fire Station) and R109 to R117 (Reef Restaurant to just south of the Beachcomber) as “critically eroded.” That means that in FDEP’s opinion the erosion and recession of the beach or dune system threatens upland development (such as our houses, as well as the road), recreational interests, wildlife habitat, or important cultural resources. Since the beginning of 2006, 27 property owners in the R84-94 segment have had to construct bulkheads to protect their homes. Between the two critically eroded segments is a 3 mile segment, which saw significant erosion during the Oct-Nov-Dec 2007 storms. That area, as well the areas to the north and south, will continue to be monitored for possible additional critical erosion designation.

    A preliminary analysis of beach profile survey data from 1972 to 2007 indicates the change rate has accelerated from -0.1 cubic yards per linear foot per year (1972-2003) to just under -2.0 cubic yards per linear foot per year (2003-2007). The result is a loss between 2 and 24 feet of shoreline per year. During the severe storm events of the past few years, some locations (“hot spots”) lost on the order of approximately 30 feet of dune over the period of a few high tide cycles, resulting in dramatic, and structure-threatening, loss of land. Lately, nearly every storm event seems to result in expanded or new hot spots. For our area, storm events are usually coastal nor’easters, and they seem often to coincide with the highest tides of the month or season, further worsening the erosion.

    South Ponte Vedra Beach Erosion
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  2. Can we expect the beach to restore itself naturally?
    Some of our property owners have commented that “nature always brings it back.” Unfortunately, not always. The extensiveness and speed of the recent erosion of our beach are indicative of some serious problems, which might not have existed before. There is some speculation by coastal engineers that the busy hurricane seasons of the past few years may have impacted the sandbars to an extent that natural beach recovery is no longer likely. In addition, many property owners have observed a correlation of the increased erosion with the recent dredging of the St Augustine Inlet and the lack of maintenance of the Inlet’s jetties. A Feasibility Study will analyze the data to understand the processes affecting our area.

    Some property owners have commented that while they have seen the sand come and go over many years of observation, now the sand no longer seems to be coming back, and they are very concerned about the recent severe erosion and the potential threat to their homes. The FDEP, after a 2007 review of the erosion data for our beach, determined the situation and trend were “alarming.” Although a full-scale beach restoration is needed to restore the health of the beach, FDEP indicated that the beach badly needs sand added back into the system. As a result, the FDEP offered the County a matching grant, up to a maximum of $1.5 million, for an emergency sand placement project via truck-haul in the near-term.

    Recently, at the same time that new areas were devastated with erosion of the bluffs all the way back to the foundations of the homes, other areas experienced some accumulation of sand, visible in the form of a more sloping profile as well as deeper sand measurable by buried walkover steps. While we remain hopeful, it is much too early assume the beach will be able to heal naturally.
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  3. How much coastal armoring has been constructed?
    Since April of 2006, 27 property owners have constructed bulkheads (i.e., “coastal armoring”) within the crtitically eroded area of South Ponte Vedra Blvd. Several more, both along South Ponte Vedra Blvd and Coastal Highway are in the permit application process.

    Following the most recent erosion event in April 2008, four of the affected five property owners along Coastal Highway, whose homes do not qualify for armoring because they were built post-1985, are in the process of applying to the Florida DEP for a variance to permit armoring. We are hopeful that these owners can acquire permits, but we are also not aware of any precedent for such a variance. For some of these homes, the erosion has begun to undermine the sand from around the foundation pilings. While the houses were designed to withstand this, they could become uninhabitable if the undermining results in safety issues associated with septic and electricity.

    The recent costs for armoring have been in the range of $700/foot, or approximately $55,000+ for a lot with 75 feet of oceanfront.
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  4. How do I know if I qualify for coastal armoring?
    Florida statute defines Coastal Armoring as a manmade structure designed to either prevent erosion of the upland property or protect eligible structures from the effects of coastal waves and current action. Because of the significant potential impacts associated with coastal armoring, strict site and design criteria are applied, and construction must be conducted in a way that provides protection to nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, and their habitat. It is important to note that vacant lots and properties with structures built post-March 1985 (which should have been constructed on deep pilings) are not eligible for armoring, with the exception that such properties may become eligible if a continuous line of rigid coastal armoring exists on either side of the unarmored property and the gap does not exceed 250 feet. The process for obtaining a permit, which generally cannot be initiated until the erosion is within 20 feet of the building’s foundation, is lengthy; the Florida DEP, U.S. and Florida Fish and Wildlife, and St Johns County requirements must be met.

    For more information visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Beaches website

    The rigid armoring, which is not even available as an option to many of us, is discouraged by the State, whereas beach restoration and dune restoration is often the recommended solution, so that the beach can better withstand future storms’ erosion events. Furthermore, rigid armoring should be viewed as emergency protection and not a full solution, since armoring itself causes further damage to the beach.
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  5. Have property values been affected?
    The County Property Appraiser is sensitive to the negative impact the eroded beach has had on the market value of the properties. In 2007, the assessed land values on 98 properties between 2659 and 2891 SPVB were reduced by as much as 50% depending on their proximity to the erosion “hot spots” through May 2007. The total 2007 reduction in “just values” on these eroded properties was more than $20,000,000. At a tax rate of 16 mils, that represents a decline in County tax revenues of $320,000 per year, and a significant loss of equity for property owners. The loss in value for coastal properties is expected to result in softening of overall real estate values in the area.

    After the April 2008 nor’easter event, the assessed land values on the five severely affected properties on Coastal Highway were reduced by 52% of their previous values.

    The good news is that properties located in areas with managed beaches normally enjoy increased property values after restoration, as documented in a recent study conducted under a contract with the Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems. The economic benefits apply not only to individual property owners, but also to the area’s economy in general, as well as the county property tax collections. Healthy beaches also contribute to federal, state, and local tax bases, providing increased income and employment opportunities for residents as well as increased visitor spending.
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  6. Has there been any impact on the habitat, specifically turtle nesting?
    Sea turtles have difficulty nesting on an eroding beach, and those nests are more susceptible to overwash and predators. On a narrow or nonexistent beach, birds have no place to nest or feed. The profile of more than half of our 10 mile beach is primarily a deep scarp at the edge of the bluff or dune, and the highest tides continue to wash up to that scarp line. Sea turtles will not nest in wet sand or climb a 90 degree incline to reach dry sand. Nests created in vulnerable areas after June will be in danger of storms that normally occur in September and October and cause very high tides. Some of our property owners also are volunteer members of the Sea Turtle Patrol; they noted the reduced number of attempted nests in the critically eroded area during last year’s turtle season.
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  7. Is our erosion situation unique?
    Perhaps what is most unique about our situation is that we are fortunate in that we are being faced with these erosion issues much later than other coastal areas, in Florida and other coastal states. Numerous other shorelines have already been protected through restoration and other means since the 1970s.

    The state of Florida recognizes the serious implications of beach erosion. “Because beach erosion is a serious menace to the economy and general welfare of the people of this state and has advanced to emergency proportions, it is hereby declared to be a necessary governmental responsibility to properly manage and protect Florida beaches fronting on the Atlantic ocean, gulf of Mexico, and straits of Florida from erosion and that the legislature make provision for beach restoration and nourishment projects . . .” [Florida statutes 161.088]

    There are more than 50 beach restoration projects currently being monitored by the Florida DEP. Other coastal states have numerous projects as well. Many of you may remember the devastating erosion in Jacksonville Beach, St Augustine Beach, and South Amelia Island before those beaches were nourished and restored.
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Is there a solution to the erosion problem?
  1. What is full beach restoration?
    A full beach restoration project typically involves dredging beach-compatible sand from an offshore site, pumping it onto the beach, and then moving it around with bulldozers to achieve the designed shape. The sand is placed both above and below the water level of the beach, elevating and widening the beach and constructing or inflating dunes. The design includes additional “sacrificial sand,” which is intended to feed the expected erosion that occurs over the life of the project, both slowly and rapidly, as in storms. Restoring or maintaining a beach through restoration is not a new process. This is a proven, DEP acceptable, environmentally-friendly method of preserving the dunes, the turtle and other coastal wildlife habitat, and the quality of life for all of us who love the beach. There are a number of other solutions that are either no longer permitted (e.g., rock revetment), or are in experimental stages (e.g., removable porous groin), or not appropriate to the scope and conditions of our coast.

    Note that beach restoration is very different from the Emergency Sand Project (see faq "What is the Emergency Sand Project?"), intended to provide interim protection.
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  2. What are the benefits of beach restoration?
    It has been demonstrated from both field studies and theory that a wide beach provides significant benefits in the form of storm damage reduction. During storms, a wide beach absorbs the wave energy rather than impacting on the upland structures and infrastructure. The storm damage reduction benefits of beach restoration projects have been well established. The protection extends to all the properties behind it – including the roads, buildings, and sewer and water lines. That means fewer flood insurance claims and disaster assistance requests.

    Beach restoration can also improve habitat for sea turtles, sea birds and beach flora. An eroded beach removes the habitat for sandy beach creatures and so restoration is a positive contribution. There are numerous controls in place to protect the environment during the restoration process.

    An additional important benefit of restoration is that after a beach has been restored, and if it also meets certain Federal criteria, it will be considered an engineered beach and will qualify for FEMA funding assistance to repair extensive storm damage. Following a declared disaster, FEMA will pay for up to 75 percent of recovery efforts for the restoration of an engineered beach.

    Finally, restoration of property values should follow the restoration of the beach.
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  3. How long does a beach restoration last?
    Some of our property owners expressed concern that beach restorations don’t last. That is often true. Beach restoration usually has a finite lifetime and maintenance is almost always required. There are instances where the nourished beach has continued to grow naturally, adding secondary and even tertiary dunes. The time between projects, when required, and the extensiveness of those projects, is predicted at the time of initial design but cannot be guaranteed. In addition, the project expects, and designs for, expected erosion that occurs over the life of the project, both slowly and rapidly, as in storms. This is referred to as “sacrificial sand.”
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  4. How soon could we have a beach restoration project?
    The process for beach restoration is lengthy and constrained by State and Federal standards. A non-Federal beach restoration project usually takes 2-3 years, so the very soonest we could begin restoration of the beach is late 2010, and it would be safer to assume that it would be at least another year or two beyond that due to typical challenges encountered regarding engineering, permitting, and financing. In contrast, a Federal beach restoration project has more requirements to be met (such as the project must be considered of “benefit to the nation”), requires multiple Congressional authorizations and separate Federal funding appropriations, and takes many more years to complete.

    As a result of our efforts over the past year, our state-matched, non-Federal Feasibility Study is fully funded, underway, and scheduled for completion by December 2008.
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  5. How much will a beach restoration cost?
    The exact cost of the project depends on many factors, such as length of shoreline, width of beach, and the source of sand and the associated process for moving the sand. The exact cost will not be known until after the feasibility study and then the detailed engineering analysis and design are completed, and contractors have submitted bids for the project. Similar projects have cost in the range of $1.5-4 million per mile. So, for the entire 10 miles of our coastline, the cost could be $15-40 million; if only the two critically eroded sections were nourished, the cost could be $5-11 million.
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  6. Who would pay for our beach restoration project?
    Funding the project in cooperation with the State of Florida is the most expeditious way to fund a full beach restoration. We will seek to maximize our qualification for matching funds from the State DEP, and to finance the project cost over several years through a county financing vehicle such as a Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU). Numerous coastal areas, within the State of Florida as well as in other coastal states, are funding beach restorations this way.

    At the State level, the Florida Beach Erosion Control Program is the primary vehicle for implementing a state-wide beach management effort. The Program works in concert with local, state, and federal government entities. Financial assistance in an amount up to 50% of project costs is available to Florida’s county and municipal government districts or special taxing districts for shore protection and preservation activities.

    While the State of Florida has previously budgeted $30,000,000 per year, in matching funds for local government beach erosion control projects, and more for hurricane or other emergency conditions, with the current budget crises at all levels of government, we are already seeing those annual funding level commitments to be reduced. One result of the budget reductions is that projects that are approved for matching funds must wait longer to receive those funds.

    We have already benefited from this State financial assistance in that our Feasibility Study, which costs $280,000, qualified for matching funds from the State DEP, so that the property owners’ cost is only $140,000. To qualify for as much as 50% state matching funds toward the subsequent (and much more expensive) engineering and construction tasks, two requirements must be met: first, the Beach must be declared “Critically Eroded” by the FDEP, and second, requirements for public access and parking must be met. Part of the beach is already designated critically eroded, from R84-R94 and R109-R117. Currently public access and parking is limited particularly in the South Ponte Vedra Blvd segment of the beach, but numerous accesses are platted and could be made available. Our engineering contractor is beginning to explore the possibilities of additional parking and marked accesses. It is important to note that it is possible to obtain DEP permits and nourish a segment of beach that is not determined to be critically eroded, or for which public parking and access does not meet state requirements; however there will not be matching funds for that segment of the project. Numerous other beach restoration projects in the State are composed of multiple segments that meet the requirements to different degrees.
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  7. What is an MSBU?
    The Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) is a special financing vehicle commonly used by the County for sewer lines, water lines, and paving of dirt roads, but which also can be used for beach restoration projects.

    The MSBU is a financing vehicle wherein the cost of a project can be financed over a period of years using low-interest, tax-exempt county bonds. The County borrows the money and pays for the project, then repays the bonds with funds collected from the affected property owners via an assessment included on their annual property tax bill. Other municipalities in Florida as well as in other states have funded, or are in the process of funding, beach restoration using this vehicle. Some examples include: Amelia Island, Navarre Beach, Longboat Key, Stump Pass, Gasperilla Island, Okaloosa Island and City of Destin. Others, for example Captiva, Marco Island/Collier County, Vanderbilt Beach, Hutchinson Island, and St Joseph Peninsula Beach, are using variations such as MSTUs or special taxing districts.
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  8. Will the Federal Government contribute toward our beach restoration?
    In addition to our state-matched Feasibility Study, which is fully funded and scheduled to be completed in November 2008, there is an ongoing Federal Feasibility Study, which now includes the South Ponte Vedra coastline. The Federal Feasibility Study for St Johns County, which initially included the critically eroded Vilano Beach segment and Summerhaven, was initiated in 2005, with a total cost estimate of $1.54 million. In 2007, South Ponte Vedra Beach was added to the scope of the study. It is not known how many more years until its completion. Over the four years through 2008, approximately $650,000 of the total $1.54 million study cost has been funded through a combination of Federal, State, and County funds, with a remaining unfunded cost of approximately $900,000 over an unknown number of remaining years. Congressman Mica is aware of our beach erosion issues and is very supportive of our efforts. He has introduced bills to attempt to provide the additional Federal funds in 2009 to complete this Federal Feasibility Study, but the result of that request will be uncertain for many more months. Once the study is funded and completed, there is no guarantee that a Federal restoration project for our beach would be authorized. If it is subsequently authorized, there is still great uncertainty as to when funding for the restoration construction project would be appropriated.

    Note that the Federal government does not consider beach restoration a priority, and Federal funds had not been appropriated for such projects for the last several years, other than in states of emergency such as following a major storm and when very stringent criteria are met. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 was enacted into law in November 2007, the first WRDA since 2000. WRDA authorizes projects for a Federal study. After a study results in recommendations for a Federal construction project, WRDA separately authorizes a construction project. In either case, having authorization is only part of the Federal process, since each project must also have an appropriation to fund the work. Many of the projects authorized in WRDA are awaiting funding from future fiscal year budgets.

    Even in cases where it can be shown that some action taken by the Federal government contributed to the beach erosion, the process for study, approval, and funding appropriation to restore the beach takes many years. A common example is the erosive impact on a beach downdrift of an inlet created by dredging, such as the St Augustine Inlet (there are numerous other such examples).

    For example, the St Augustine Beach Restoration project was originally authorized in 1986, its authorization then revised in 1999, and the initial beach restoration completed in January of 2003. That’s 17 years.

    As another example, North Topsail, NC had agreement from the Federal government in 2002 to help fund a restoration project in 2007, but that was slipped in 2004 to a 2009 project, and then slipped again in 2006 to a 2012 project. That’s 10 years and still counting.

    Because the federal process takes so long and there is no guarantee that a “federal interest” in our area would be identified, we are continuing to focus our effort on the local and state-only approach for the initial restoration. Our best hope from the Federal process is that a subsequent restoration might be included in a Federal program. Other municipalities, such as Okaloosa Island and the City of Destin, have chosen the same path. That is, they are funding an initial beach restoration through a cooperative effort with the State only, while concurrently proceeding along the long process to attempt to secure Federal funds. If the Federal approval and funding is ultimately secured, a subsequent maintenance restoration project could be constructed under the Federal process.
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  9. How much will it cost an individual property owner?
    As mentioned before, the exact cost of the project depends on many factors, such as length of shoreline, width of beach, and the source of sand and the associated process for moving the sand. The exact cost will not be known until after the feasibility study and then the detailed engineering analysis and design are completed, and contractors have submitted bids for the project. Similar projects have cost in the range of $1.5-4 million per mile. For the calculation below we’ve assumed a cost of $2.5 million per mile, inclusion of the full 10 miles of coastline, and qualification for full 50% state matching funds. The funding period of 7 years is used, because that is the average length of time until a follow-up beach restoration might be required. One can easily adjust the bottom line annual cost to different assumptions. For example, double if zero state matching funds, double for a 150 foot lot, or add 50% more if our costs come closer to $4million/mile. Even at triple the cost estimate, the annual expense buys a great deal of protection and peace of mind during our frequent storm events, as well as restored beauty and habitat.

    Rough Cost Estimate (rounded):
    Project Cost, assuming $2.5 million/mile for 10 miles $25,000,000
    Reduced project costs, assuming full 50% match by State DEP $12,500,000
    Annual payment against cost, with 5.5% bond interest, and county administrative fees $2,200,000
    Annual payment allocated per foot of oceanfront $41
    Annual payment for 75 foot oceanfront lot $3,125


    Some property owners are concerned that this is yet another significant annual expense that may not be affordable. Although the payment mechanism is in the form of an annual tax assessment, it is useful to consider the payment as if it were an insurance premium to insure the land that you own. Homeowners hazard, wind, and flood insurances all provide compensation to restore the structures on the property; but none of those insurances compensate for the lost sand (and resulting receding property line). It is also helpful to compare the cost of an individual property owner’s share of restoration (which provides substantial storm protection) to the cost of constructing coastal armoring, which provides much less substantial protection and is not permissible for everyone.
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  10. Will the GTM NERR support or oppose a beach restoration?
    Some of our property owners have expressed concern that nothing can be done because much of the affected coastline is part of the GTM NERR. We have met with the NERR Director at GTM, and have confirmed the NERR is as concerned about the impacts of the erosion as we are, and it is not opposed to beach restoration as a solution so long as the appropriate studies are done and the criteria for restoration are met.
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What does a beach restoration project involve?
  1. What is the first step in a beach restoration project?
    The first step is a feasibility study, which is now underway and proceeding on schedule. That is followed by definition of the MSBU, development of cost estimates and the cost-sharing formula for property owners, formation of the MSBU, establishment of the funding, final geotechnical investigation, final engineering design and permitting, and finally the beach restoration. The beach restoration must be scheduled to comply with various environmental constraints, including weather seasons and coastal wildlife seasons. Following the restoration, a monitoring and maintenance plan will be established.

    The Florida DEP defines standard work plans, technical specifications, and permit requirements for the engineering of coastal erosion control projects. The major engineering steps include Feasibility Study, Design and Permitting, Construction, and Monitoring.

    The Feasibility Study develops an understanding of the coastal processes affecting the project area and determines the feasibility and extent of improvements necessary to restore the beach, usually involving beach restoration. Beach restoration generally involves extending the beach through a process of dredging sand and returning it to the beach. St Johns County selected PBS&J as the engineering firm for the Feasibility Study. So far, only the Feasibility Study is funded.

    Upon completion of the Feasibility Study, the detailed Geotechnical Investigation (sand search) and detailed Design and Permitting are next. The minimum duration for these tasks is 18 months and they could take longer. Once completed and permits are approved, contractor selection and project construction can begin.

    Once implemented, the project will become an ongoing process which will include monitoring and usually also includes maintenance (adding additional sand) every 5 to 7 years to maintain the beach.

    The Schedule below, which illustrates the earliest construction could begin, should be considered notional only, since delays are inevitable and funding for tasks beyond the Feasibility Study has not been identified.

    2008 2009 2010 2011
    Feasibility Study January - December
    Final Geotechnical Investigation November-December January-September
    Final Design and Permitting November-December January-December January-June
    Bid Package Prep and Contractor Selection July-December
    Project Construction June-December January-July



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  2. What is the Feasibility Study?
    The purpose of the study is to provide a clear understanding of the coastal processes affecting the project area (from the northern end of South Ponte Vedra Beach to St Augustine Inlet) and to recommend a practical shore stabilization solution. Key elements of the study include:

    • Collect and organize historical and current data.
    • Evaluate public access criteria for potential cost sharing.
    • Examine influence and impact of St Augustine Inlet and Porpoise Point.
    • Examine implications of increased armoring structures within the project area.
    • Identify potential borrow source material (e.g., offshore sand reserves) with beach compatible material
    • Consider individual project reaches versus one large project area.
    • Compare estimated costs with associated benefits and identify potential funding sources.
    • Determine funding eligibility through state and federal programs.
    • Coordinate with state and federal agencies on preferred stabilization solutions.
    • Assist the County in evaluating potential local funding sources (e.g., special assessments, municipal benefit service unit (MSBU).


    The study will result in presentation and evaluation of alternative shoreline stabilization solutions as well as a recommended project design and probable costs. The alternative solutions might include emergency sand replenishment, beach restoration, improvements to Inlet jetties, no action, and others. Each alternative will be evaluated for longevity, cost sharing eligibility, performance, environmental impacts and permitting constraints, and shore protection value. Workshops to present and explain the results will be scheduled in the coming months, , so please watch for announcements of these events. In parallel with the engineering project, we are working with the County to establish the MSBU for financing the project. The Feasibility Study results will be needed before the boundary of the MSBU can be determined. The probable costs will then be used to estimate the individual property owner’s annual expense; the exact amount will be adjusted as the project costs become more exact. Subsequently, property owners in the area benefiting from beach restoration will be voting to establish the MSBU.
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Is there anything a property owner can do before the beach gets restored?
  1. What can I do immediately to help?
    We continue to remind everyone to be protective of the existing dunes, and diligent in beach preservation activities such as leaving dunes intact, installing sand fence (in locations where the sand stays relatively dry), planting native vegetation, and following rules and regulations regarding the design and construction of walkovers and stairs.

    Property owners should monitor and record the movement of the sand – taking photos from constant reference points, and measuring the depth and location of their bluff and vegetation line (relative to their property survey, existing survey markers or monuments, walkovers, etc.) as well as the depth of the sand. Without the reference point, it is very easy to become adjusted to the changed profiles of the dunes and beach slope and to lose sight of what they were before.
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What is the Emergency Sand Project?
  1. What is the Emergency Sand Project?
    The Emergency Sand project is interim protection. For the property owners in the critically eroded area in SPVB, that is, from 2719 to 2979 SPVB, the opportunity still exists to execute the emergency dune sand placement project. In February, the County mailed to the mailing address of record for each property in that area two documents to be signed and returned to the County. A majority of the property owners have returned their signed Petitions and Permissive Use Agreement forms with a positive response, and a few have returned a negative response. Since the County would like to hear from yet more property owners, please return your forms if you have not already done so. If you don’t recall whether or not you signed the official County forms or if you need to have the forms resent, please contact the Association. If you signed an earlier petition distributed by the Association, you still must sign and return the official County forms. In the meantime, we are working with the County toward establishing an MSBU to allow for distributing the cost of this project over 2-3 years.

    Similar to the Feasibility Study, the project would be funded half by the property owners, passed through the County, and then matched by the State. Since this project is an emergency measure from the DEP, only the critically eroded criterion needs to be met, not the access and parking requirement. Unlike the full restoration, the sand would be placed entirely on owners’ property, landward of the Mean High Water Line, which is the reason each owner has been asked to sign an easement granting permission for the ingress/egress. Access will be entirely from the beachside. As of this date, the project is expected to be permitted soon, and work could begin immediately following the current turtle season. Each property would receive approximately 500 CY of compatible beach sand at a cost not to exceed $12000 per property, plus the cost of any required future environmental monitoring (estimated to be $200-500 per property to cover periodic surveys, beach sampling, and possible tilling over a 3 year period).
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  2. Is the Emergency Sand Project a substitute for the full restoration project?
    The Emergency Sand project is not the same as full beach restoration and would not eliminate the need to nourish the beach, which involves a much larger amount of sand and is a more permanent solution. The table below contrasts the two projects. This emergency project should be thought of as a short-term solution for an emergency situation. It is a project that can be designed, permitted, and constructed in a much shorter amount of time than a full beach restoration project. Some or even all of the sand could wash away if we experience severe storms, but if so, it will have served its purpose and protected the dunes we still have. In addition, this emergency sand may save additional homeowners from installing armoring and buy time until a full beach restoration project becomes a reality. For homeowners who already have had to install armoring, this emergency sand provides protection for those seawalls and helps prevent further deflation (lowering) of the beach height in front of them.

    Full Beach Restoration Emergency Sand Project
    Area to be included TBD by Feasibility Study recommendation; as few as 3 miles and as much as 10 miles from 2345 SPVD to St. Augustine Inlet R84-R94 (10.000 feet)
    2719-2979 SPVD
    Total Cost TBD - $1.5 to $4.0 million per mile Max. $3,000,000 half matched by State DEP
    Volume of Sand Millions of CY at 50-100 cu. yd./linear foot of oceanfront 65,000 CY at 6.5 cu. yd./linear foot of oceanfront
    Source of Sand/Transport Offshore / dredge pipe Upland / truck haul
    Placement of Sand Both above and below Mean High Water Line (MHWL) on private and public property Above MHWL on private property only
    Funding

    Property Owners
    State DEP    		 Final percentages depend on meeting cost sharing qualifications
    50-100%
    50-0%    		 No additional cost sharing criteria need to be met for this emergency project
    50%
    50%
    MSBU duration Estimated 7 years 2-3 years
    Projected Life 6-8 years Indeterminate; provide some protection for dunes and bulkheads prior to full restoration
    Status Feasibility Study in progress Engineering design completed. Permitting, petitions, and MSBU in process.
    Estimated Start Date Earliest possible start Fall 2010 into Spring 2011 November 2008
    Duration to Completion 6-8 months 2-3 months


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Frequently Asked Questions added

NEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS section added which addresses the most commonly asked questions Go to the FAQ page.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO

We would like to extend a special thank you to all of you who are in support of this effort, especially those of you that have personally contributed towards this project. 

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