County accepts DEP living-shoreline planning grant and readies $38M breakwater sand-pumping project

Gulf County commissioners accepted a Department of Environmental Protection planning grant to study a living shoreline and received a pre-construction update on a large breakwater and sand-pumping project.

Staff said the DEP agreement covers planning only: any design or construction would return to the board for approval. "This is just planning, so any decisions to be made on location as we move forward, we construct if we even design still has to come back to the board," a staff member said.

Commissioners discussed potential placement near the Butler's canal entrance on the Saint Joe side of the bridge rather than in front of docks, noting living shorelines are intended to protect shorelines and encourage grass and oyster recruitment. One commissioner cited successful early results from a living-shoreline effort in neighboring Franklin County, saying it led to increased juvenile fish habitat and oyster growth.

Separately, public-works staff reported the pre-construction conference for the Cape breakwater project had concluded and regulatory permits were in place. The contractor plans to mobilize after the new year, start sand pumping and build breakwater segments in mid-to-late January, and complete work and be off the beach by April 1. Staff cited a project cost in the vicinity of $38,000,000.

No board votes are required for the breakwater update; the DEP planning agreement was accepted by motion, with the board noting that any construction or site-specific design must return for approval.

Board members asked staff to return with study results, design recommendations, and schedules for any permitting or construction approvals.