beach restoration update

SJ is right - they were emergency and temporary permits for structures that were in danger of collapsing. It seems that was interpreted loosely to mean "properties that would be in danger from another storm". The owner was to apply to the state within 60 days of the original permit if a permanent wall was desired.

The county is working on a blanket take permit to allow all walls to be declared permanent. This may involve some type of mitigation of habitat loss. Although I don't know how you can create alternative habitat for dune-dwelling critters. I guess it doesn't have to be like-kind habitat.

Seawall, beach structures, and sand rules.

One of the requirements of the "emergency seawalls" should have been that the property owners should be required to weld the parcel ID onto every piece of the seawalls, so that they could bill the homeowners for the clean-up that is sure to come. It will look worse than the beaches of Normandy. You just thought there was a lot to clean up after Hurricane Ivan ripped apart and scattered the walkovers. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

thanks for the link kurt, interesting read. i'm sure county code enforcement is right on top of compliance.

joe, great idea, you know some of that stuff will eventually end up in LA and Texas. be good if owners were to be responsible for their own 'stuff'.


jr

Western Walton County beach restoration project timetable

The Western Walton County Beach Restoration Project is entering the construction phase of the project. After more than six years of studies and permitting, the project has been awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company. More specific information will be provided as the project continues and beach construction can be better estimated.
Week of Jan. 23

? Delivery of equipment to project site

? Installment of submerged pipeline leading to the beach
Week of Jan. 30

? Dredge Liberty Island arrives

? Construction is expected to begin at the Sandestin Resort approximately 1,000 feet west of Finz restaurant. The project will be moving eastward toward the Sandestin Hilton
Week of Feb. 6

? Construction is expected to continue eastward within the vicinity of the Sandestin Hilton and Tops?L Resort
Week of Feb. 13

? Construction is expected to continue eastward within the vicinity of Tops?L Resort and the western portion of Four Mile Village For continually updated information visit www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com, the Web site will be updated weekly beginning Jan. 23.

Seawall / dune restoration question...

There is a awful lot of seawall and dune restoration work going on. My question is this: would all this work not have to be completed, or either halted, in time for turtle nesting season?

Re: Seawall / dune restoration question...

There is a awful lot of seawall and dune restoration work going on. My question is this: would all this work not have to be completed, or either halted, in time for turtle nesting season?

You would think so.

Here's a photo from today at Emerald Hill condos in Seagrove Beach.

Yikes. Hard to disguise the color of that sand.

Is that the new garden???? SHAME!

Re: Seawall / dune restoration question...

You would think so.

Here's a photo from today at Emerald Hill condos in Seagrove Beach.

We used to jump through hoops in the "olden daze" marking turtle nests and keeping the lights turned off to give the little 'ins a chance at survival....from the looks of things, turtle season will no longer be an issue.

Re: Seawall / dune restoration question...

We used to jump through hoops in the "olden daze" marking turtle nests and keeping the lights turned off to give the little 'ins a chance at survival....from the looks of things, turtle season will no longer be an issue.

Looks like the turtles need you now more than ever, SHELLY.

HELLO...is this sand color/grade not an issue?

turtles are not that dumb - after one failed season of nesting in an area, they will move to a less messed with place - but you're bound to see the broken or 'laid as best she could' turte eggs this year and all the whoop-ti-doo that will go along with that - protect and serve as best you can, and as is possible with today's 'go ahead foul the nest 'cause it don't matter - we're all gonna get Raptured' mentality - just do what you can and let mother nature handle it, she's a big girl and she's been doing her job for millions of years - it just sad, that's all.

Re: Seawall / dune restoration question...

You would think so.

Here's a photo from today at Emerald Hill condos in Seagrove Beach.

That looks like seawall sections stacked over to the right.

it just sad, that's all.

I agree.

Did anyone see the Daily News today? It looks like there is going to be a discussion of seawalls at the February 14th Commission meeting to discuss seawalls, turtles and permits. I wonder if there will be any love for the turtles on Valentines Day. Also, I've heard rumors that the temporary permits are being extended if work is underway. Does that mean they will be going over this summer too? Anyone know? :shock:

One would think there has to be a cutoff date for this seawall construction. Not only because of turtle issues, but as the tourist season begins, people paying thousands of dollars per week for gulf front accommodations are simply not going to put up with heavy equipment and noise just a few feet from where they are trying to enjoy their vacations.

I think most property owners are shooting for April 1 as a "soft deadline" for completing their work. If it goes much longer than that, there are going to be some pissed-off renters. Can't say I would blame them. Make that kind of investment in a vacation, only to have a backhoe and pile driver working ten feet from your children's sandcastle.

The Western Walton County Beach Restoration Project is underway with the delivery of equipment to the project area. The first delivery of a D7 bulldozer occurred on Monday and additional equipment and pipeline for the project will continue through Jan. 29. As equipment arrives, it will be moved to the construction area and assembled as needed. The following outlines activities that should be occurring in the next three weeks.

Week of Jan. 30

? Completion of pipeline installation and other items necessary for construction to begin

? Dredge Liberty Island arrives and commences construction

? Construction is expected to begin at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort approximately 1,000 feet west of the Finz restaurant. The project will be moving eastward toward the Sandestin Hilton Beach, Golf Resort & Spa

Week of Feb. 6

? Construction is expected to continue eastward within the vicinity of the Sandestin Hilton Beach, Golf Resort & Spa and Tops?L Beach and Racquet Resort

Week of Feb. 13

? Construction is expected to continue eastward toward the western boundary of the Topsail Hill State Preserve

? Construction is expected to continue eastward within the vicinity of Tops?L Resort and the western portion of Four Mile Village

For continually updated information visit the project website www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com.

Is this Phillips Inlet Access at the end of Walton Lakeshore Drive? I am not familiar with just Lakeshore Drive. We rent off of Walton Lakeshore Drive on Walton Magnolia Ln. and there isn't a public walkover there even though there is an access. Does Walton County rebuild the dunes that are destroyed in front of privately owned beach houses and townhouses like the one we rent? That walkover was half gone back last September. He says he cannot build it back until his dunes are restored.

Is this Phillips Inlet Access at the end of Walton Lakeshore Drive? I am not familiar with just Lakeshore Drive. We rent off of Walton Lakeshore Drive on Walton Magnolia Ln. and there isn't a public walkover there even though there is an access. Does Walton County rebuild the dunes that are destroyed in front of privately owned beach houses and townhouses like the one we rent? That walkover was half gone back last September. He says he cannot build it back until his dunes are restored.

No, the renourishment is on the other end of the county. He might have meant the scraping where they pushed sand up against the dune line, but there will be no actual government dune restoration other than that.

Thanks for the info. No matter what the area looks like as to dunes we still enjoy the stay! Hope the water is back to the pretty emerald green color we were accustomed to seeing!

Yikes. Hard to disguise the color of that sand.

Is that sand? Looks like dirt.

From Walton Sun

After years of hold ups and delays the Western Walton County beach nourishment project will finally get under way next week.
?We are all excited. We?ve been waiting to see sand pumped back onto the beaches,? Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the Walton County Tourist Development Council.
Sand will be dredged from a borrow site off the East Pass in Destin then barged over to the construction site. An underwater pipe will then pump the sand onto the beaches from the barge.
The pipe has been delivered and the dredge will be in place next week, Pickel said. Construction is set to begin at Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort and will be completed in10,000 sections. The project will extend 5,000 feet east and west. The entire pipe will then be pulled up and the operation will move 10,000 feet west and started again, Pickel said.
?The pipe?s maximum pump distance is about 5,000 feet (in either direction of the construction site),? Pickel said.
?It?s kind of like building a house and we?ve got the lot cleared now,? Pickel said.
The nourishment project will restore 7.1 miles of beaches from Topsail Hill State Preserve in Walton County to Henderson State Park in Destin. The cost is being split by Walton County and the city of Destin. Walton County will shell out $16 million for the project.

Beach officials are ?pumped? at the arrival of restoration equipment. High winds kept the tugboat carrying the pipeline needed for dredging and the dredge boat from arriving on time. However, both did arrive midweek and will be in place to finally begin pumping sand onto the beach on this week. ?We?re excited to finally get started,? said Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the Walton County Tourist Development Council.

Next week

? The pipeline is expected to be put into place and construction to start at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
For continually updated information visit the project website www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com.

Rough seas hindered the laying of a 2,000-foot offshore pipe used to transfer sand from a barge to the beach this past week. ?We?re in a holding pattern until the waves come down,? said Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the Walton County Tourist Development Council. Sand was scheduled to be pumped onto the beaches Thursday morning in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort area. The start of the beach nourishment could begin this weekend if the weather improves. Calm gulf waters will help speed along the project, Pickel said. ?Two fronts converged on the area this past week and it wrecked havoc with the sea,? Pickel said. Dunes were constructed this past week out of existing sand on the beaches, said Pickel. When construction begins it will move east toward the boundary of Topsail Hill State Preserve.

Got word this afternoon that dredging has begun.

I saw a short news clip last night that showed sand (looked white to me!) that had been pumped on the beach at Sandestin and was being moved around by bulldozers. There were stakes out in the water with flags on them that showed where the sand would end up. That's a LOT of sand! I can't wait to go see it in person.