Flagler County is inviting the public and key stakeholders from the beachside to attend the kickoff meeting for a comprehensive Beach Management Study at 6 p.m. May 20 in the Board Chambers of the Government Services Building.
The study will review historical data about Flagler County’s 18 miles of beach, the current conditions, and anticipated future needs, as well as offer proposed project alternatives to address beach and dunes management strategies, coupled with funding alternatives, and opportunities for cost-sharing.
“This is a very large undertaking, and a very important project to establish long term goals,” said County Engineer Faith Alkhatib. “Our coastal engineering consultant, Olsen Associates, will conduct this countywide beach management study, and we want the public and our stakeholders – beachfront homeowners associations – to share their thoughts, concerns, and opinions associated with long-term beach management.”
Two presentations will be made that evening – one by Alkhatib, and a second by Olsen Associates. Those who cannot participate in person are welcome to provide written input to the county by email to grezba@flaglercounty.org.
The county’s presentation will outline its shoreline protection accomplishments, current work, and future management of the beach in the post-Hurricane-Matthew reality.
An in-house emergency coastal dune project was completed in 2019 that partially restored 11.4 miles of frontal dunes from River-to-Sea Preserve (located within the Town of Marineland) to just north of the City of Flagler Beach – a stretch that experienced significant erosion as a result of the 2016 Hurricane Matthew storm event. The initial construction cost was $17.05 million, and it was funded as follows: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, $8.27 million; FEMA, $1.42 million; Florida Department of Emergency Management, $236,198; and, from local governmental and private homeowners associations contributions, $7.13 million.
Flagler County is currently coordinating with state and federal officials on the “Federal Coastal Storm Risk Management” project – the Army Corps of Engineers project between 7th Street South and 28th Street South. The initial construction is estimated at $17.49 million, and it will be funded as follows: Army Corps of Engineers, $11.37 million; and, Florida Department of Transportation, $6.12 million. Project design and permitting are complete. Acquiring and recording construction easements is still in process.
Similarly, the Florida Department of Transportation has partnered with Flagler County to complete the design and permitting, as well as the upcoming construction of a project that will provide protection for State Road A1A (and residents of Flagler Beach) that incorporates dune restoration as part of the project. That project area is from 20th Street North to 7th Street South, and from 28th Street South – with a .44-mile cutout for the Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area – to the Volusia County border.
The project design, which is complete, was funded through a $1.82 million Florida Department of Transportation grant to protect State Road A1A and adjoining property. As with the other project, acquiring and recording construction easements is still in process. The upcoming construction, also funded by the Department of Transportation, will cost $8.7 million.
Flagler County has partnered with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to complete the design, permitting, and plan for the upcoming construction project that will provide shoreline protection within the limits of the Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area. The design is complete, and the county is currently finalizing the use agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection.
The $3.85 million Department of Environmental Protection funded construction of the project will be done concurrently with the Department of Transportation funded work to the north and south of Gamble Rogers.
Additionally, Flagler County is working with FEMA on a design and permitting project to replace a portion of the dunes lost to Hurricane Dorian that had been replaced by the county following Hurricane Matthew.
The anticipated cost of that project is $2.72 million. FEMA has obligated $2.04 million to that project, and the Florida Department of Emergency Management has obligated $339,478. The local match to Flagler County is also $339,478.
The only area that currently has long-term beach and dune management plan is the 2.4-mile project being undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers, where there is a 50-year agreement.
“There are a lot of projects underway,” Alkhatib said. “I think the presentations will help to clarify things. We are looking forward to getting input.”
The Government Services Building is located at 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Bunnell.
Media Release: Flagler County, Julie Murphy MPIO
