Volusia County presents beach feasibility assessment showing accelerating erosion and community concerns

Jessica Fentress, coastal director for Volusia County, and Dr. Christopher Bender of Taylor Engineering presented preliminary results of a countywide beach feasibility assessment at a public outreach meeting, describing long-term erosion trends, community survey results and early risk mapping for upland infrastructure.

The feasibility study, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, examined historic shoreline surveys, sand-volume changes and community input to recommend shoreline management strategies. "This is more than just a study. It's about shaping the future of Volusia County's beaches and ensuring they remain a vibrant and valued resource for generations to come," Fentress said.

Why it matters: County presenters said decades of monitoring and recent extreme storms have reduced sand volumes and narrowed some beaches, affecting public recreation and shoreline infrastructure. The county plans additional public workshops and a draft feasibility assessment for the county council in fall 2025 that will identify vulnerable communities and candidate management strategies.

The county's data sources and comparisons

Fentress said Volusia County has been surveying beaches periodically since 1972 and that survey coverage has varied by year; presenters noted the team reviewed more than 30 surveys and selected four primary comparison periods that cover the county: June 1988–Aug–Oct 2024, Aug 2003–Aug–Oct 2024, June 2016–Aug–Oct 2024 and Nov 2022–Aug–Oct 2024. Dr. Christopher Bender, who directs Taylor Engineering's coastal engineering group, explained the team uses dune position, maximum dune elevation, shoreline position (mean high water), beach width, berm elevation and sand volume (above mean high water and to −15 ft NAVD 88) to measure change.

Long-term volume and width trends

Presenters reported countywide net sand-volume losses and accelerating erosion since 2016. The study team summarized volume changes as roughly: a net loss of about 35 cubic yards per foot (about 6,800,000 cubic yards) for the 1988–2024 comparison; about 45 cubic yards per foot (about 8,700,000 cubic yards) for the 2003–2024 comparison; and about 65 cubic yards per foot (about 12,700,000 cubic yards) for the 2016–2024 comparison. The 2022–2024 comparison showed a small net gain of about 10 cubic yards per foot (about 2,000,000 cubic yards), reflecting partial post‑2022 storm recovery that, according to the presenters, was largely eroded again following Hurricane Milton.

Fentress and Bender emphasized that countywide averages mask local variability: northern communities generally lost beach width in the 1988–2024 comparison while communities south of Daytona Beach gained width. The area immediately north and south of the inlet showed the largest shoreline-position and volume changes; the team cited that behavior as expected because inlet systems and ebb shoals are "complex and constantly changing features," and noted the county maintains an inlet management plan for sand placement around inlet banks.

Community beach-user survey

Fentress said more than 12,000 people responded to the county's online beach user survey (conducted Dec. 11–Jan. 12), including about 1,000 businesses and about 300 visitors. She summarized respondent patterns: a majority of respondents were full‑time Volusia County residents; roughly 30% lived within walking distance of the beach and about 60% within a 30‑minute drive. More than half reported visiting the beach every week and about 25% said they visit monthly. Most respondents (more than 75%) go to the beach alone or with one other person.

Survey respondents named Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores and New Smyrna Beach as the most popular areas. The leading concerns were increased erosion and loss of sand, and reduced habitat for sea turtles and marine life; Fentress reported that 90% of respondents said they were worried that future weather events would further damage the beaches and that 91% agreed the beaches' quality plays a major role in tourism and the local economy.

Early risk assessment findings and metrics

Bender described a preliminary parcel‑level risk assessment that combines three parameters: shoreline encroachment (horizontal distance between mean high water and upland infrastructure), elevation buffer (vertical distance between ocean and infrastructure) and historical erosion rate. He reported an average horizontal separation of about 200 feet between mean high water and upland infrastructure, with a range from about 40 feet to about 1,000 feet, and said average upland infrastructure elevation used for the assessment is about 16 feet NAVD 88 (range about 4 to 30 feet NAVD 88). The team plans to weight these and other factors (for example, presence of coastal armoring and proximity to important resources) to create a community risk index and present detailed results at upcoming spring workshops.

Options and next steps

Bender listed 10 beach management options the team will evaluate for each community, including no action, beach nourishment, breakwaters, seawalls and nearshore artificial reefs. He said Taylor Engineering will produce a matrix comparing practicality and applicability of those options across Volusia County's communities and prepare recommended priorities based on historic trends and the risk analysis.

Fentress said the study is in the first round of public outreach (winter 2025). Taylor Engineering will submit preliminary risk results to the county and a draft economic-impact report; the project will hold a second round of public meetings to present the draft feasibility assessment; and the county expects to provide the county council with a draft feasibility report including recommended shoreline management strategies in fall 2025.

Ending

Fentress closed by encouraging public engagement at breakout stations and online resources and said county staff and representatives from beach safety, environmental management and Park Volusia were available at the meeting to discuss current projects and next steps.