Flagler County will hold a workshop at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 (Monday) to update the Board of County Commissioners about the Beach Management Plan study that has been underway by consultant Olsen Associates since May 2021.
“Flagler County has been trying to address this for a very long time,” said Engineer Faith Alkhatib of the long history of beach studies that started in the late 1990s, before her tenure began with the county. “Data shows that we have lost 3.5 million cubic yards of sand since 1972. This isn’t something that just happened with Hurricane Matthew and recent nor’easters.”
Olsen will provide an analysis of the historical information, current conditions, and what is expected for the future of the beach and dunes in Flagler County.
“All of the alternatives will be presented for the entire span of the beach in Flagler County,” Alkhatib said. “They will also discuss the preliminary borrow area (for sand) analysis – and whether we will dredge or truck – cost estimates, and the funding evaluation.”
The encapsulated timeline of the historical efforts is as follows:
- 2002 – The Army Corps of Engineers was authorized to review the feasibility of providing shoreline erosion protection and storm damage reduction in Flagler County.
- 2003 – The reconnaissance phase of the study was initiated, funded federally, and completed in 2004.
- 2004 – Flagler County entered into an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers for continued development of a Feasibility Study of all 18 miles of Flagler’s coastline.
- 2004 through 2014 – Flagler County, Flagler Beach, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Transportation, and the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the Feasibility Study, which included locating and permitting an offshore sand source, and identifying funding sources.
- 2014 – Received federal authorization for the “recommended plan” commonly referred to as the 2.6 mile Army Corps of Engineers project, and began to pursue federal funding to proceed with that plan.
In 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused significant damage. That storm was followed in subsequent years by Irma, Dorian and several nor’easters that caused beach and dune erosion, and localized flooding.
Flagler County restored 11.4 miles of frontal dunes in-house following Hurricane Matthew. The project was completed in 2019. There has been a degradation in the project because of nor’easters and other weather events since its completion.
There are several projects currently in the works. They are as follows:
- The “Federal Coastal Storm Risk Management” project, also known as the Army Corps of Engineers project, to restore the dunes and the beach
- 2.6 miles – 7th Street South to 28th Street South in Flagler Beach
- $17.49 million – $11.37 million to be funded by the Army Corps of Engineers, and another $6.12 million to be funded by the Florida Department of Transportation
- Status – design and permitting is complete, and the acquisition of construction easements is ongoing
- In partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation for dune and beach restoration in sections of Flagler Beach and Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
- 2.8 total miles in three segments – 20th Street North to 7th Street South (north of the Army Corps of Engineers project); 28th Street South to Gamble Rogers (south of the Army Corps of Engineers project); and, Gamble Rogers south to the Volusia County line
- $10.52 million – design costs of $1.82 million and construction costs of $8.7 million to be funded by the Florida Department of Transportation
- Status – design and permitting is complete, and the acquisition of construction easements has started
- In partnership with FEMA and the Florida Department of Emergency Management, efforts are underway to complete the design and permitting to reestablish the dunes and beach previously constructed as part of the Hurricane Matthew restoration project and later destroyed by Hurricane Dorian
- $2.72 million cost estimate – $2.07 million FEMA obligated funds, and $339,478 Florida Department of Emergency Management obligated funds, as well as a required local match of $339,478
- Status – this project is in the design phase
“Restoring the dunes and beaches in Flagler County is extremely complex,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “We have to work in partnership with many regulatory agencies to make sure everything is done to required specifications for funding.”
