County engineer details multi‑reach renourishment plan; Reach 2 bids, $6 million FDOT reallocation expected
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Summary
The county engineer told the TDC that Reach 2 of the beach renourishment program needs about 1.8 million cubic yards of sand (estimated cost roughly $35 million) and that FDOT plans to reallocate approximately $6 million in surplus Reach 1 funds to Reach 2; bids are expected in March with possible construction starting in summer.
County Engineer Hamid Tabasian updated the Tourist Development Council on the county’s beach management plan and renourishment projects along the 18‑mile coastline.
Tabasian said the coastline is divided into four reaches and summarized work by reach. The US Army Corps of Engineers (CSRM) completed a review after October 2025 storm impacts and determined the Reach 1 migration of sand did not meet the threshold for emergency federal renourishment. For Reach 2, the final design and bid documents are complete and the project requires an estimated 1.8 million cubic yards of sand to be placed via dredge operations; the estimated project cost is approximately $35 million with anticipated participation from FDOT, FDEP and FEMA where applicable.
Tabasian said FDOT has $6 million in funding reallocated from Reach 1 surplus and that the county expects to receive formal reallocation documentation in late February before requesting board approval in the second March meeting; staff anticipates issuing the invitation to bid in early March and potentially awarding the contract in April or May. The county would provide contractors a 365‑day window from notice to proceed to allow favorable bids based on hopper availability and equipment timing.
Board members asked whether dune heights and taper damage would affect resilience comparisons to Reach 1. Tabasian explained that design volumes and dune height vary by site condition; some sections will be built to higher cubic‑yard‑per‑foot profiles (60–70 cy/ft in parts) while others will be lower depending on existing conditions and budget. He noted that bid outcomes may require design adjustments to meet the project budget.
On riprap and portions of coastline where mechanical armoring exists, staff said federal funding and permitting constraints limit some renourishment options, but FEMA reconstruction remains a possibility if armoring is damaged to reconstruction levels.
Next steps: staff will pursue formal FDOT reallocation paperwork, issue bid documents for Reach 2, and present any funding approvals to the board in March.
