FEMA Dune Enhancement Project

FEMA Dune Enhancement Project

Announcements

Damage Due to Hurricane Ian, September 28-30, 2022 – County Crews have conducted pre and post Hurricane Ian beach assessments, to include LIDAR, in efforts to capture the most accurate erosion forecast for our 42 miles of coastline. Data is still being collected and is expected to take the next couple weeks to be analyzed to quantify loss and to identify opportunities for mitigation of the storm damage.

On October 11, 2022, County Personnel met with FEMA and FDEP to conduct FEMAs Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) along the 42 miles of coastline. The Coastal Management Team and its Federal and State guests started in Ponte Vedra and headed south, eventually ending this assessment south of St Augustine Beach.  With the data previously collected by St Johns County Coastal Management in conjunction with FEMA’s PDA, this tour was the next step for the County to pursue additional Federal funding sources and possible projects.

Sand Placement Continues in Ponte Vedra – The contractor continues on the project in the central reach of Ponte Vedra Beach. Work will continue on the FEMA Dune Enhancement Project, delayed by the impacts of Hurricane Ian, September 28-30, 2022, with proposed completion now by November 2022.

Safety First

• Be advised of submerged debris along our coast, both on and off the beach. County and State personnel are diligently working to remove all hazards.
• Eroded dunes and beach escarpments (sand cliffs) are unstable. Do not dig into them for danger of collapse and burial. The beach escarpments (sand cliffs) caused by the tide will eventually repair themselves to a gentler slope. Safety, caution and patience are needed at this time.
• Pedestrians are urged to exercise caution due to heavy equipment removing debris or carrying sand to and from the project site.
• Use extra care supervising children around the truck travel corridors on the beach for the project in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Dune Preservation – Please stay off the remains of the newly constructed dunes in all project areas throughout the County as well as the healthy remaining dunes. It is imperative that beachgoers stick to the designated dune crossings areas.

Updates

Current Work Zone – The area between Mickler's Landing and the 900 block of Ponte Vedra Boulevard is currently receiving sand. Sand Placement Progress Map

Project Details

• Description

• The project will enhance the existing dunes on 11.5 miles of beaches by placing up to 480,000 cubic yards of sand and planting dune vegetation, as conditions allow.

• Project Location

  • The northern 9 miles of Ponte Vedra from the Duval County line to the GTMNERR northern boundary
  • The GTMNERR southern boundary to 2537 S Ponte Vedra Blvd - COMPLETE
  • Fort Matanzas Ramp North to 8324 A1A S - COMPLETE

• Staging Areas

• Cornerstone Park

• 965 Ponte Vedra Blvd.

• Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park has reopened for daily public use.

• Environmental Considerations

• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Wild life Commission, in consultation with the National Fish and Wildlife Service, have approved the sand quality, the geometry of the sand placement, and the efforts to protect marine turtles and their eggs.

• The parts of the beach that will have sand placement or truck traffic are monitored every morning by specially permitted experts before construction activity can begin.

• If any nests have been laid in those areas the previous night, they will be carefully relocated to a safe area outside of the work zone.

Schedule

• Construction Start – October 2021

• Construction Completion – November 2022

Please see the Project Progress Map for the latest projections of timing for individual segments of the beach.

Funding

The project does not cost any additional money to the oceanfront homeowners. The project is funded through the FEMA Public Assistance program and County funds.

Temporary Construction Easements

• St. Johns County will still accept easements from property owners as long as the request is made before the project reaches the property related to that particular easement.

• The easements will last for 18 months, or until the project is complete, whichever is less.

• The easements do not authorize access through the properties yards. All work will be done from the beach.

• Please contact the Coastal Management team at 904-209-0260 or coastalprojects@sjcfl.us if you have not sent in your easement.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where will the sand be placed?
• Sand will be placed on the seaward portion of the existing dune, landward of the high tide line and lower than the current dune crest.

• How will the project affect current beach walkovers?
• No sand will be placed over any part of the dune walkover, unless specifically requested by the property owner.

• Will this project obstruct ocean views?
• The new dune feature will not be higher than the existing dune crest.

• Will this project impact my property tax?
• No, and the homes that receive sand will do so at no additional cost.

• What is the project schedule?
• The project began construction in October 2021, and the current schedule for completion is October 2022.

• Where can I track the progress on this project?
• Regular project updates are posted on this webpage.

• Will the project affect access to the beach?
• Every effort will be made to safely maintain pedestrian and vehicular access to the beaches, but there will be temporary closures to the parts of the beach where work is occurring.

• How were the sections of the beach selected?
• FEMA policy determined which portions of the coastline are eligible and how much sand each section could receive. The reaches included in the current construction had Temporary Easements granted for over half of the project areas.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact the Coastal Management team at 904-209-0260, or coastalprojects@sjcfl.us.

Non-project Beach updates can be heard on the Beach Services Hotline at 904-209-0331.