Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Beach Restoration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County outlines $6.5 million Sector 5 beach, dune restoration; construction underway
Summary
Indian River County coastal staff told the Vero Beach City Council the Sector 5 beach restoration will place about 153,000 cubic yards of sand and 117,000 native dune plants, cost roughly $6.5 million and is on track for an April completion with three years of post-construction monitoring.
Quintin Bergman, coastal resource manager for Indian River County, told the Vero Beach City Council that construction has started on the Sector 5 beach and dune restoration project and that the work is funded by a mix of FEMA, state and county funds.
“About 153,000 cubic yards of beach‑compatible sand” will be placed along roughly three miles of shoreline in Sector 5, Bergman said, and crews plan to install roughly 117,000 native dune plants on the rebuilt dune. Bergman said those volumes are equivalent to about 47 Olympic‑sized swimming pools of sand and that the total project cost is approximately $6.5 million.
The county secured roughly $2.3 million in FEMA funding and about $800,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; the county’s share is estimated at $3.3 million and is expected to come from the tourist development tax, Bergman said. He said construction began after a notice to proceed was issued on Nov. 10 and that the county anticipates finishing major work around April, with three years of post‑construction monitoring including sea‑turtle, physical and reef monitoring.
Johnny Sabin, a county coastal specialist, gave a construction update, saying crews have been placing sand at JC Beach Park and had about eight days of active placement since the notice to proceed. Sabin said work is progressing along a stretch that extends south to the Con Beach Boardwalk, where visible erosion has occurred.
Council members asked about the precise share of the tourist development tax funding; Bergman said he would confirm the percentage with the county budget director. Bergman and Sabin also explained permit constraints, noting the project required DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits and that work avoids critical sea‑turtle nesting times and some holiday dates.
The county said the sand will come from an upland mine and will be processed to meet permit specifications. Bergman emphasized that nourishment is a management strategy, not a permanent solution to coastal erosion: without renourishment, he said, erosion would continue and could lead to lost buildings and infrastructure.
The council did not vote on the project at the meeting; Bergman and Sabin offered to follow up with requested budget and permitting details.
