Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Army Corps and Martin County mark near completion of Martin County Shore Protection Project
Loading...
Summary
Federal and county officials gathered at Hutchison Island to mark the near completion of the Martin County Shore Protection Project, which officials said placed roughly 400,000–450,000 cubic yards of sand, cost about $15 million this cycle and was fully funded by federal sources.
Martin County and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials gathered at Hutchison Island to mark the near completion of the Martin County Shore Protection Project and to cut a ceremonial ribbon.
“It's a pleasure to be with you here today to celebrate the forthcoming conclusion of the Martin County Shore Protection Project,” JP Rebello, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, said at the event. Martin County Commissioner Sarah Hurd said the county's first beach renourishment on this four-mile stretch occurred in 1995, when "3 and a half million cubic yards of sand" were placed, and that this seventh renourishment is "estimated at 450,000 cubic yards of sand, and the project cost is $15,000,000 and is fully funded by the Army Corps of Engineers."
Col. Brandon Bowman, commander of the Corps’ Jacksonville District, said Corps crews have placed "almost 400,000 cubic yards of sand" on the current project and described the rebuilt dune and beach system as engineered to "absorb storm energy and reduce risks to families, homes, and businesses" inland. He said work on the project was supported by federal flood-control and coastal emergency funding following Hurricane Nicole in 2022 and praised Martin County as the nonfederal sponsor that helped move the work forward.
"That partnership with Martin County has been critical in delivering this project," Bowman said, noting the Corps' broader civil-works mission and long history of engineering projects. Congressman Brian Mast also praised the Corps’ responsiveness and partnership with local leaders and said the agency is trying to be "nimble" in assisting coastal communities and adjacent navigation districts.
Martin County Administrator Don Donaldson placed the project in historical context, recounting his role as a coastal engineer when the county first completed work decades ago and citing U.S. Army Corps research (ERDC) that examined storm-protection benefits. Donaldson said the program has adapted over time to include turtle-friendly design elements and considerations for sea-level rise. He said that, with federal assistance coordinated with Congressman Mast and the Office of Management and Budget, "we didn't require any local share this time."
Speakers credited local consultants and community groups for ongoing monitoring and stewardship; Donaldson specifically thanked ecological consultants and an island preservation group he identified during remarks. Organizers then counted down and moved to a ribbon-cutting photo opportunity, followed by a planned brief question-and-answer period with Corps and county officials.
Why it matters: Officials said the renourishment and dune rebuilding are intended to blunt storm damage, protect coastal property and infrastructure, and support local businesses and fisheries dependent on nearby estuaries such as the Indian River Lagoon. The project also reflects multi-level funding and long-term collaboration between federal, state and county partners.
Next steps: Officials said the ribbon cutting and photo opportunity would be followed by a short Q&A with Corps and county leadership; no formal votes or local actions were announced at the event.
