Beach Renourishment in Walton County

Walton County leaders are looking at local, state and federal partnerships to help restore beaches where Hurricane Isaias left parts of the shoreline eroded.

Walton County Administrator Brian Kellenberger said beaches help power the local economy.

“Our beaches are our number one economic engine in Walton County. They provide, I want to say, 33,000 jobs, contributes billions to our economy,” Kellenberger said.

Kellenberger said the county has collected a portion of its bed tax for beach renourishment.

“We have collected a portion of our bed tax. The tourist development tax is earmarked for beach renourishment,” he said.

Kellenberger said getting permission to place sand on private property remains a challenge.

“Whenever we want to place sand on private property, we have to gain authorization from that property owner, and that’s really where the hard part of any beach restoration, beach nourishment, or beach renourishment (is),” he said.

Kellenberger said reaching an agreement with Gulf-front property owners will be key to moving the project forward. He described three ways the county can gain access.

“Construction easement: the property owner signs an easement for us to come on their property, place the sand, monitor the sand for a period of time. The second way is voluntary purchase sale. The landowner says, ‘Hey, you know what, Mr. Government, if you want my property, you got TO buy it.’ The third way is what we call eminent domain, and that is a legal public taking of land for public use,” Kellenberger said.

The last beach nourishment project in Walton County was in 2007. Kellenberger said he believes it is time for another project.

“I feel confident we can still have a beach renourishment project in Walton County. Everybody is going to have to compromise some,” he said.

Discussions are expected to continue at the next county commission meeting.