Beach Restoration Restarts

On May 7th at approximately 2am, a second Kemp's Ridley sea turtle was taken by the dredge. The project was initially suspended on Monday to October 1, 2006. After additional coordination and discussion by numerous agencies, the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) loaned the Jacksonville District a Kemp's Ridley turtle take to allow the project to restart.

On Monday, May 15th, representatives from USACE will be conducting a risk assessment to determine additional safeguards that must be put into place, and the project is expected to restart by mid-week. To date, we have completed approximately 18,070 feet (47 %) of the total project, and more than 70% of the Walton County portion. This week's construction is expected to continue westward completing Seascape/Majestic Sun beach area. At the completion of this segment, construction will continue westward through Frangista Beach and move into the Costa del Sol area. The following areas are expected to be under construction in the next three weeks barring inclement weather or mechanical difficulties.

Week of May 22nd
Construction is expected to be underway through Costa del Sol , Mediterranea, Pompano Joe's Restaurant, and into the Miramar Beach Access area nearing completion of the western segment of the third landing

Week of May 29th
At the completion of the third landing, construction will begin moving eastward from the fourth landing area which is near the Walton County/Okaloosa County Line. Construction is expected to be moving eastward from the fourth landing past Maravilla toward Avalon Beach Estates

Week of June 5th
Construction is expected to be completed in the Miramar Beach Access and Pompano Joe's restaurant area completing the Walton County portion of the project. At the completion of the eastern segment of this landing, construction of the project will continue westward into the City of Destin.

Published on Tuesday, May 16, 2006