FAQs

Flagler County beaches and dunes have experienced significant impacts from several hurricanes starting with Matthew in 2016. The effects of long-term erosion, combined with episodic storm impacts, has highlighted the need to consider and develop a programmatic, and comprehensive long-term approach to managing the coastline.

No. Without the signed agreement, we will not be constructing any dunes on your property. We can only proceed with dune work at your location if we have your signed agreement.

The primary goal of beach nourishment is to protect infrastructure such as highways, utilities, buildings, and drainage systems from damage due to storm surge and overwash. By widening the existing beaches through nourishment, we are creating a larger buffer between the Atlantic Ocean and the infrastructure, which ultimately provides it with a higher level of protection and stronger defense against storms.

It’s important to note that shoreline erosion following a beach nourishment project is expected and does not mean the project was unsuccessful. The additional sand that was placed on the shoreline during beach nourishment serves as a buffer that prevents the roads, buildings, utilities, etc. from bearing the brunt of wave action and storm surge. Sand that is placed on the beach during beach nourishment is expected to erode over time in order to achieve the primary goal of protecting the infrastructure while also serving a number of other purposes like providing wildlife habitat, increasing tourism, providing recreational resources for residents and visitors, and boosting the local economy.

Because of delays of the initial project from Marineland to Flagler Beach it will began after turtle season. However, depending on scheduling, weather and other issues it may go into next year's turtle season beginning May 1. Also, additional phases of the project could also require work during next turtle season.

If work during turtle season is necessary, we still do not plan to harm any turtles. There are many rules for working during Sea Turtle nesting season designed for the protection of Sea Turtles and their nesting activities. These are all contained in a Biological Opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with very detailed requirements. These requirements are included as part of the County's Army Corps of Engineers Permit.

To help us manage this issue the County has enlisted the help of our local Sea Turtle Group and outside consultants specifically for this purpose. Their work will involve walking the beach daily to check for new nests; construction site inspection; testing; and, if necessary, nest relocation. The dunes project the County will be constructing in the 6 months outside of turtle season will improve nesting habitat and prevent the flooding of nests in the future where today there are currently are bluffs or no dunes at all.

Beach nourishment projects must be monitored and maintained through subsequent re-nourishment (maintenance) projects on a regular interval due to long-term erosion processes, combined with storm effects. The USACE project will be re-nourished every 11 years, and the Flager County sponsored project will be maintained every 6 years.

1. The USACE will begin a beach nourishment project that will build a 140’ wide beach along over 3 miles of the coastline in the City of Flagler Beach from 7th ST North to 28th Street South. The work will begin in late summer 2024.
2. Additional beach nourishment is being planned for the area from the south end of Beverly Beach through Painter’s Hill and up to just north of Varn Park. Flagler County is at the beginning stages of this project, and permitting for this project is expected to take until late 2024. There is a chance that the beach nourishment project could take place immediately after the USACE project in Flagler Beach, however, it depends on the timing of the design and permitted phase.
3. The goal of Flagler County’s Beach Management Plan is to nourish as much of the 18 miles of coastline as possible, while having minimal impact to the protected beach and nearshore rocks that are located in the northern 7.6 miles of the County’s coastline. These rocks are a State and Federally protected habitat for fish and wildlife, so burial of the rocks should be minimized when building a beach in these areas.

A study will begin in early 2024 that will characterize the habitat that these rocks provide so that Flagler County can move forward with applying for a permit for beach nourishment in these areas. The study and permitting process will take approximately 2 years, therefore, beach nourishment wouldn’t be possible in these areas until 2026.

The County is being required to meet DEP's sand specifications(PDF, 62KB) and to obtain sand only through DEP approved sources. The sand is evaluated for color, grain size, shell percentage, and chemical makeup. Throughout the construction process, the County will test the sand to ensure it conforms to the State standards.

At this time, it is anticipated the sand will be trucked in from upland sources. There are no known permitted sand quarries currently within Flagler County meeting the DEP sand specifications, although we believe that these can be established over time. There is an identified large offshore source of material, approximately 7 miles out to sea, but it has not been permitted by DEP. The time for permitting the offshore source is estimated to take one-two years.

The USACE and Flagler County have identified and tested (through extensive sampling) the sand in a borrow site approximately 10 miles offshore of Flagler Beach that has shown to have enough beach compatible sand to renourish the beaches in Flagler County for over 50 years.

The sand on the newly built beach will not be the same color as the coquina rock derived sand (cinnamon color) because Flagler County’s coastline is very unique in this way. The sand offshore is similar to beaches from other beaches in Northeastern Florida, the whitish-grey color- and may initially be a bit darker in the beginning since it has been on the ocean floor; however, it will eventually lighten over a period of time once it has been exposed to sunlight.