FAQs

Flagler County's 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, have highlighted the need for a programmatic, comprehensive and long-term approach to managing the coastline.

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. Widening the existing beaches creates a larger buffer between the Atlantic Ocean and that infrastructure, giving it a higher level of protection and a stronger defense against storms.

Shoreline erosion following a beach nourishment project is expected and does not mean the project was unsuccessful. The added sand serves as a buffer that keeps roads, buildings and utilities from bearing the brunt of wave action and storm surge. It is expected to equilibrate and settle into the nearshore system, which encourages storm waves to break farther from shore.

The primary goal of beach and dune projects is to protect infrastructure, while also providing wildlife habitat, increasing tourism, offering recreation for residents and visitors, and boosting the local economy.

Because of long-term erosion combined with storm effects, beach nourishment projects must be monitored and maintained through renourishment (maintenance) projects on a regular interval.

• The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project is predicted to be renourished every 11 years.
• The Flagler County sponsored projects are designed to be maintained every 6 years.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed a beach nourishment project in 2024 that built a 140-foot-wide beach along 3 miles of coastline in the City of Flagler Beach, from 7th Street North to 28th Street South. The USACE authorization for the 50-year program was based on a study that predicted the project would need to be renourished every 11 years on average. The project is monitored to determine when it has eroded enough to meet the criteria for renourishment.

The county has hired a contractor to build a beach nourishment project (Reach 2) from the south end of Beverly Beach, through Painters Hill, to just north of Varn Park. As of October 2026, the contractor is estimated to mobilize equipment and begin pumping sand onto the beach in mid-March 2027. The project is expected to take two to three months, depending on weather and equipment.

Flagler County has a consultant developing a project in Reach 3, from approximately Varn Park to Washington Oaks. This stretch of beach has nearshore rocks that are a state and federally protected habitat for fish and wildlife. The ongoing design and permitting work includes characterizing the habitat these rocks provide, so the county can apply for a permit for beach nourishment in these areas. Alternatives are being developed for the size of project that can be permitted and funded. Depending on the alternative chosen, permitting and procurement could be completed for construction to start in mid-to-late 2028.

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

If work during sea turtle nesting season is necessary, we do not plan to harm any turtles. Many rules for working during nesting season are designed to protect sea turtles and their nesting activities. These are contained in a Biological Opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with very detailed requirements, which are included in the county's Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and US Army Corps of Engineers permits.

The county partners with our local sea turtle group and outside consultants for this purpose. Their work includes:

• Walking the beach daily to check for new nests
• Construction site inspection
• Testing
• Nest relocation, if necessary

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

At this time, the county has access to the same offshore sand source used by the USACE in Flagler Beach, and the 2027 Reach 2 project will dredge sand from this offshore site.

The sand on the newly built beach will not match the cinnamon color of the coquina rock derived sand that is unique to Flagler County's coastline. The offshore sand is similar to other beaches in Northeast Florida, a whitish gray color. It may look a bit darker at first since it has been on the ocean floor, but it will lighten over time once it is exposed to sunlight.

Sand can also be trucked in from upland sources for projects where offshore sand is not practical, either because the project is too small to make offshore sand economical or because of environmental constraints from nearshore hardbottom habitat.