Pinellas County Beach Re-nourishment Project
Is it just us or does it look like the ocean is being pushed away from the beach? If you have been to
Treasure Island, Sunset, or Sand Key Beach recently you may have noticed roped off areas with
bulldozers, tractors, and large pipes, this is for the 5-7-month long Coastal Management
Beach Nourishment. The $52 million project is much needed after the hit of hurricane Irma last year.
Our beaches attract tourists and visitors from all over. Not only do our beaches support tourism they also
help to protect the barrier island and the property which our homes, schools, and businesses thrive.
Marine life and marine environment depend on our beaches for survival.
Our beaches erosion levels are constantly monitored, and projects are scheduled based on the amount of
erosion that occurs. Although, because of the hit from hurricane Irma last year, this beach nourishment
program is our largest in more than a decade. The ongoing erosion is managed by pumping sand along
the coast to re-build our beaches. This will help to maintain our beach front properties, businesses, and
the overall look of our beaches that tourist and visitors are drawn to every year. We know the noise may
be bothersome, but a couple months of noise is nothing in return of keeping our beaches beautiful and
marine life safe.
For the last month crews have been working on Sunset and Treasure Island beach and now have moved
on to Sand Key. Work ended on Susnset Beach June 9th and began June 13th behind Ultimar on Sand
Key. Sand Key is projected to be done by beginning to mid-July, from there it will move to Belleair and
on to finish on Redington Beach.