Sally
Beach Fanatic
By DOTTY NIST
With an offshore sand source now identified, the restoration of Walton County's central and eastern beaches could start by 2008 or 2009, according to Brad Pickel, beach management coordinator for the South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC).
Pickel said consultants looked for suitable sand all through 2005 and 2006. Just last month, large sand deposits, the remains of ancient beaches, were discovered offshore from the Sandestin/Topsail Preserve and Camp Creek areas, but much work remains to be done if the estimated $65 million project is to begin within the next couple of years. TDC consultants are continuing to collect sand samples. Pickel said 70-100 more "cores" will be taken from proposed sand source areas. A joint state/federal coastal permit will be required. Pickel expects the application procedure to take over a year, possibly two years.
Another challenge will be the fact that some of the county's most eroded beachfront areas are short sections lying next to state park property and other property that is not designated as critically eroded. Only property so designated is eligible for matching state restoration funding. Pickel said that restoring a short 1000-foot section of beach "does not work."
The Walton County Beach Nourishment Committee is therefore recommending restoring continuous sections wherever possible, even if that means restoring across state park land or other property not eligible for state matching funding.
It will be necessary to seek state approval for restoration on the park properties.
The TDC is generating $2 million per year for beach restoration through a portion of the bed tax collected on short-term rentals in south Walton County, but restoration is expected to cost $4 million per mile.
Pickel said the TDC is looking at doing a bond to finance the project, using the $2 million per year as a revenue stream, with the state expected to pick up part of the project cost. What may be most helpful costwise is that once the beach restoration is completed, the local expense to renourish the beach after storm damage will be only 12.5 percent.
The TDC has scheduled a workshop to present information and seek public input on the proposed restoration along CR-30A. The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 in the Azalea Room at the Baytowne Conference Center, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
Meanwhile, the western Walton County beach restoration project, which was suspended by state officials last month due to the loss a fourth federally-protected sea turtle, remains on hold until October at the earliest. Seventy percent of the almost five-mile Walton County project area had been completed, and about 50 percent of the total project, which included about two miles of Destin beach.
Pickel said the project contractor has demobilized from the area, but does want to finish the project once Walton County and Destin are able to begin restoration again. It may be possible to continue with the existing contract, but costs may be different due to the delay. Walton County and Destin representatives are discussing these matters with the state and with the contractor.
Pickel said the city and county may want to consider delaying the restart of the project past Oct. 1, since the gulf waters will still be very warm at that point, resulting in the presence of more sea turtles offshore. There would likely be less chance of "taking" additional turtles while dredging if restoration were to begin in November or December.
With an offshore sand source now identified, the restoration of Walton County's central and eastern beaches could start by 2008 or 2009, according to Brad Pickel, beach management coordinator for the South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC).
Pickel said consultants looked for suitable sand all through 2005 and 2006. Just last month, large sand deposits, the remains of ancient beaches, were discovered offshore from the Sandestin/Topsail Preserve and Camp Creek areas, but much work remains to be done if the estimated $65 million project is to begin within the next couple of years. TDC consultants are continuing to collect sand samples. Pickel said 70-100 more "cores" will be taken from proposed sand source areas. A joint state/federal coastal permit will be required. Pickel expects the application procedure to take over a year, possibly two years.
Another challenge will be the fact that some of the county's most eroded beachfront areas are short sections lying next to state park property and other property that is not designated as critically eroded. Only property so designated is eligible for matching state restoration funding. Pickel said that restoring a short 1000-foot section of beach "does not work."
The Walton County Beach Nourishment Committee is therefore recommending restoring continuous sections wherever possible, even if that means restoring across state park land or other property not eligible for state matching funding.
It will be necessary to seek state approval for restoration on the park properties.
The TDC is generating $2 million per year for beach restoration through a portion of the bed tax collected on short-term rentals in south Walton County, but restoration is expected to cost $4 million per mile.
Pickel said the TDC is looking at doing a bond to finance the project, using the $2 million per year as a revenue stream, with the state expected to pick up part of the project cost. What may be most helpful costwise is that once the beach restoration is completed, the local expense to renourish the beach after storm damage will be only 12.5 percent.
The TDC has scheduled a workshop to present information and seek public input on the proposed restoration along CR-30A. The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 in the Azalea Room at the Baytowne Conference Center, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
Meanwhile, the western Walton County beach restoration project, which was suspended by state officials last month due to the loss a fourth federally-protected sea turtle, remains on hold until October at the earliest. Seventy percent of the almost five-mile Walton County project area had been completed, and about 50 percent of the total project, which included about two miles of Destin beach.
Pickel said the project contractor has demobilized from the area, but does want to finish the project once Walton County and Destin are able to begin restoration again. It may be possible to continue with the existing contract, but costs may be different due to the delay. Walton County and Destin representatives are discussing these matters with the state and with the contractor.
Pickel said the city and county may want to consider delaying the restart of the project past Oct. 1, since the gulf waters will still be very warm at that point, resulting in the presence of more sea turtles offshore. There would likely be less chance of "taking" additional turtles while dredging if restoration were to begin in November or December.
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