USA: Martin County Beach Renourishment About to Begin

Approximately four miles of beach stretching from the north Martin County line south to Indian River Plantation will be renourished as part of a federal, state and local project to protect and rebuild local shorelines and dunes.

The project, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is required to maintain local beaches. These beaches were last renourished following the hurricanes in 2005.

Equipment for the project will be staged in the south side of the parking lot at Jensen Beach. This area will be fenced off, making it inaccessible to the public for the duration of the project. Beachgoers may use the northern end of the Jensen Beach, which will remain open and guarded during the project. A hopper dredge will collect sand several miles offshore of the northern portion of this project. Once the dredge’s hopper is filled, the dredge will return to shore where it will connect to one of two pipelines which will be used for the project. Sand will be pumped onto the beaches via the pipeline. This process is repeated until the beaches are renourished.

All Martin County beaches within the four mile stretch will be impacted at some point during the project. The renourishment project will begin in the Jensen Beach area at the end of March, with crews working their way south, where they will connect to another pipeline. The project is expected to be completed in May.

Consultants will monitor turtle nests to ensure there are minimal impacts. Additionally, the project calls for experimental, turtle-friendly dunes to be constructed in between the conventional dunes so that turtles can easily come up on the beach and lay their eggs.

Renourishment adds sand to the shoreline in order to widen the beach. It is the only management tool which serves to protect coastal lands and preserve beach resources by creating a buffer against coastal erosion and flooding while also providing recreational and aesthetic benefits.

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Source: Treasure Coast Community, March 14, 2013