State of the Beaches Update
- 25 July 2024
- Category: SJC News Beaches Coastal Projects
- Tags: 2024
County shares its efforts to manage 32 miles of shoreline
St. Johns County Coastal Management recently shared how it manages more than 32 miles of eroded shoreline. Seven projects kicked off in 2023, and four launched in 2024. The County’s Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlight the presentation.
The County’s “State of the Beaches” presentation was featured at a joint Chamber at Noon event on July 17 in partnership with the JAX Chamber and St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. The presentation provided an update on beach restoration, construction projects, and the importance of the dunes and beaches in the St. Johns County ecosystem.
Most funding for St. Johns County coastal projects is provided by federal and state grants and tax dollars paid by tourists. The County recently announced it will receive $4.75 million from the state for the South Ponte Vedra Beach Dune Restoration project.
Stephen Hammond, St. Johns County Coastal Environment Project Manager, provided the presentation to various business leaders from throughout the northeast Florida region.
“One of the big things we push is education to the public,” Hammond said.
He promoted the information on the County’s special webpage, www.sjcfl.us/departments/coastal-projects, which is dedicated to all coastal projects.
St. Johns County has 42 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline and manages 32 miles of shoreline. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection designates 17.1 miles as critically eroded. There is another 7.6 miles designated as non-critically eroded beach. In 2023, the County completed six coastal projects and started four new projects in 2024.
St. Johns County recently completed the Ponte Vedra Beach Restoration Project two months ahead of the originally anticipated schedule. It was a $38.6 million dune restoration project covering nearly nine miles of coastline. The County also recently produced a public awareness video to amplify the importance of the dunes to public safety and wildlife habitats.
In 2023, St. Johns County beaches saw a record 133 green sea turtle nests as part of 1,205 total nests and an estimated 79,811 sea turtle hatchlings. St. Johns County recorded these historic conservation successes amid multiple full-scale beach nourishment projects, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Augustine Shore Protection Project, the South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Army Corps Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, the South Ponte Vedra Dune Project, and the FEMA Dune Enhancement Project that has been renourishing St. Johns County beaches in the wake of erosion from Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole.
In related coastal management project news, St. Johns County hosted a community forum and a boat tour with elected officials on June 21 to share options to address stormwater flooding in North Beach area neighborhoods due to outfalls from the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The activities included participation from Henry Dean, St. Johns County District 5 Commissioner; Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, Florida House of Representatives, District 17; and U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford, U.S. House of Representatives, District 5.
“The beaches bring in a lot of revenue and tourism, and they protect our residents,” St. Johns County Emergency Management Director Joe Giammanco said. “The beaches are a vital part of our community.”