St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment Project

November 21, 2019: Construction activities have officially finished and thus concludes the construction of the 2019 St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment Project. Additional videos highlighting project construction and the finished beach re-nourishment project can be found on MRD Associates, Inc. YouTube page found at the following link St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment Project Videos..

November 1, 2019: County Beach Project Completed! Construction activities finished this week as Manson Construction succesfully placed beach fill within the construction template over the project limits (South End of Rish Park to Stumphole.) Manson has begun cleaning the beach (rut removal) and removing their equipment. Additionally, as part of the contract and in compliance with our permits, they will be tilling the beach this coming Monday (11/4) from roughly R-100 (just north of the southern subline location) to the southern end of Rish Park. Please note, the tilling will make the sand extremely soft and it is advised not to drive on it immediately after the tilling has occured.

October 22, 2019: Project Update! Construction activities have resumed following Tropical Storm Nestor. Construction is currently progressing in Segment 3 heading south to tie into the northern portion of Segment 2, which ended roughly in the vicinity of Aruba Drive and Belize Drive (~R-97). Construction activities are currently in the vicinity of Haven Road (~R-94). Pending any unforeseen delays, the project is expected to wrap up sometime next week.

October 17, 2019: Project Update! Construction activities have been temporarily suspended due to the imminent effects of Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen. The dredge is currently underway to Panama City for a previously scheduled re-fueling and will remain there until weather conditions allow for safe passage back to the project site. Additionally, shore pipe and beach equipment are in the process of being secured. The current northern extent of the beach fill is at approximately R-97 (Aruba Drive). An updated completion date will be determined once post-storm assessments are made and construction begins again.

October 11, 2019: Schedule Update! Segment 2 is expected to be completed in the next couple of days. Construction is expected to continue northward from the current location (Cliffton Beach Drive, R-99) to approximately Cancun Drive (Between R-97 and R-96) and then stop. Construction activities will then commence near the northern subline in the vicinity of Seagrass Circle (R-93) and then proceed south (Segment 3) towards Cancun Drive to tie back into the northern part of Segment 2. In preparation of switching from the southern subline to the northern subline, mobilization and construction related activities will start in the next couple of days near the northern subline and beach access may be temporarily limited in that area. Additionally, the renourishment project is now expected to be completed on or around October 26th, 2019, subject to change pending any weather or other delays.

October 10, 2019: Progress Update & Project Videos! Segment 1 has completed and progress is being made on Segment 2 as of this morning. Segment 2 ends in the vicinity of R-97 if you reference the provided Construction Drawings below. The speed at which construction is being completed will pick up as the volume of sand being placed in the coming sections is less than the volume placed on the southern end of the project. Please see the map below for a relative location of the beach and dune placed to date and the current direction of the beach fill placement. Also, please remove any sand fencing prior to the fill being placed in front or your property.

Additionally, We have posted a collection of videos taken to date onto YouTube that highlight the progress of the project. We intend to update this video playlist overtime as construction progresses. The videos can be found here: St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment Project.

St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Project October 10th, 2019 Project Update | Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida, USA

October 9, 2019: Boardwalk Locations in the Template! Please find below a link that provides a list of properties that should remove their boardwalks up to the dune line in order to recieve the maximum amount of sand. You may choose to leave your boardwalk/walkway in place, but it may either get buried or the contractor may elect to not fill underneath of it. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us as via the contact link on this site and we will do our best to answer any questions we can as soon as possible.

October 4, 2019: Project Update! The project is well underway and the contractor is actively working in the phase 1 section. The figure below shows the relative locations of where the contractor has completed placing sand and in which direction they are actively pumping. Additionally, in the coming days, we will be reaching out to certain homeowners that are located within the phase 2 segment about their boardwalks that are located within the fill template. We anticipate accomplishing this next week by placing notes on any boardwalks that should be removed in order to get the maximum amount of sand possible in front of your property. Please note the contractor cannot place sand under your boardwalk and is not required to leave a stockpile. The project is currently on schedule and is expected to wrap up in 30 days depending on unforseen circumstances. Unfortunately, we cannot provide schedule estimates as to when the project will be located near your property or vacation rental. We do have a planned delay coming up in the near future as the dredge will have to take on fuel at a nearby harbor. More to come. Thanks!

St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Project 2019 Subline Location | Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida, USA

September 18, 2019: Project Update! Mobilization is well underway at the moment and we are anticipating beginning the pumping of sand on September 23rd, subject to change from any unanticipated delays. We have also provided revised construction plans that have been updated as a result of the damages from Hurricane Michael and the continued background erosion along the Cape. You can find images of the plans here: 2019 Construction Drawings

September 11, 2019: Schedule Update! We are getting closer to beginning construction of The St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment and Environmental Enhancement Project. The Contractor is currently mobilizing to the site this week with equipment already on site. The dredge vessel is now expected to arrive sometime around September 23rd. Unfortunately, Hurricane Dorian had delayed the Dredge vessel's transit around the Florida Peninsula to the project site and has pushed the schedule back by approximately a week.

August 30, 2019: Schedule Update! The Contractor is mobilizing to the site in the next couple of days with the dredge vessel arriving sometime around September 13th, plus or minus several days. Hurricane Dorian has the potential to impact this schedule, but as of today, we are still moving forward with construction plans for the beach project. The phasing plan as described below remains the same at this time and more updates are to come.

August 9, 2019: Revised Schedule! Due to delays on another dredging job, Manson Construction has had to delay mobilization efforts to the Peninsula by approximately three weeks. At this point mobilization is expected to occur at the end of August, with sand pumping set to begin in the first or second week of September. Site assessment and project planning are still underway to kickoff this project in September!

July 16, 2019: Schedule Update! Construction related activities for the St. Joseph Peninsula beach renourishment project are set to begin within the first week of August. The project limits include the area of beach between the Stumphole revetment and the southern boundary of Billy J. Rish Park. Mobilization efforts by the Contractor, Manson Construction Co., will be beginning shortly in anticipation of starting to pump sand around the third week of August. Sand pumping is set to begin in the area of the beach south of the Scallop Cove Convenience Store, and will progress southward initially. Staging and stockpiling of construction equipment will be occurring near the Stumphole revetment. The following image illustrates where the sand pumping will begin and the initial direction of construction. Project phasing is also briefly discussed below.

St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Project 2019 Subline Location | Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida, USA

In general, the beach project will begin at the southern end of the project area and advance to the north toward Rish Park. There will be two “Sublines” (Southern and Northern) where pipes are connected to a hopper dredge anchored offshore, so that sand can be pumped directly onto the beach. Manson intends to use the Hopper Dredge GLENN EDWARDS for this project (link to vessel statistics). Pumping will begin on the beach in the area shown above just south of the Scallop Cove Convenience Store (“Southern Subline”) and will proceed to the south along Segment 1 toward the Stumphole revetment. Once Segment 1 is complete, the contractor will then proceed to the north from the “Southern Subline” along Segment 2. Upon completion of Segments 1 and 2, the contractor will move to the “Northern Subline” to fill Segment 3 and end with Segment 4. Please note, all schedules provided are tentative and subject to change.

St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment Proposed Project Phasing | MRD Associates, Inc.

April 12, 2019: Schedule Update! We are getting closer to restarting the St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment project. Manson Construction is still Gulf County's Contractor to construct the beach project and have provided us with an updated schedule. Our tentative schedule to begin construction and to begin pumping sand is slated for the end of August 2019, with mobilization and staging beginning approximately two weeks prior to that date. We will be posting more information in the future as it becomes available for public release. In the meantime, please feel free to browse through the FAQ's for any project related questions and for any additional questions not answered in the FAQ's, feel free to contact us through the email form below.

January 17, 2019: Status Update! We have been working behind the scenes to get the project back up and running since Hurricane Michael's landfall. The beach renourishment project is tentatively slated to begin construction in late spring/ early summer time of 2019. We are still assessing the post-storm beach conditions and are beginning to re-design the project to account for changes to the beach as a result of the Hurricane. As more information becomes available, we will be sure to update this site more frequently.

October 16, 2018: Due to the recovery efforts in Gulf County associated with the Category 4, Hurricane Michael, the start of the proposed beach renourishment project has been delayed until further notice. We will continue to post updates on the project status as they become available to be released to the general public. We will continue to work with the County on the restoration of the St. Joseph Peninsula beaches.

October 8, 2018:Project Schedule Update! The Project is temporarily delayed due to the arrival of Hurricane Michael this week. We are estimating starting the project around the end of this week at this time. An update will be provided once we assess the beach conditions after Michael passes.

October 1, 2018: Project Schedule Update! The Project is still set to begin on October 8th south of the Scallop Cove convenience store. The following image illustrates where the pumping will begin and the direction. Manson Construction has mobilized to the Peninsula and is making the necessary preperations to begin pumping sand this coming Monday. At this time, it is unknown if we will have a full project or not. Further updates will be provided as we confirm more information. Thanks for your patience to date!

St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Project Subline Location | Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida, USA

September 24, 2018: Project Schedule Update! In response to the special BCC meeting last Monday, the project is tentatively set to begin on or around the week of October 8th, 2018 with reduced project limits due to the reduction in funding (RESTORE Act Grant.) The contractor, Manson Construction Co. will begin to mobilize to the site in the next couple of days near the Stumphole rock revetment. Following the completion of mobilization efforts, sand will begin being pumped from an area south of Scallop Cove from a contractor installed subline, and will progress southward. Depending on the award of a grant from the RESTORE Act, the project will either end near the rock revetment or then proceed to the north towards Billy J. Rish Park. Additional project related details to be provided soon. Please visit the FAQ's for questions commonly asked relating to construction of the beach project such as what to do about your boardwalk.

August 3, 2018: The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) have been updated to add additional information on what visitors and homeowners can expect while the project is under construction. Also included are links to articles published with an update on the status of the project from Gulf County.

July 31, 2018: We currently do not have an anticipated start date at this time. An update on this website will be provided once we have the final details in order.

June 15, 2018: Manson Construction Co. was awarded Bid No. 1718-13 for a total of $10.2 Million to place roughly 705,000 Cubic Yards of sand on the southern end of St. Joseph Peninsula. The Contractor intends to start in the vicinity of the Stumphole revetment and progress northward. Construction is estimated to begin on or around August 1, 2018, subject to change.

March 19, 2018: Plans and Specifications have been released to potential bidders for the 2018 St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Renourishment Project - Rebid, Bid Number: 1718-13. BIDs will be received until 4:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on Monday, April 23, 2018 at the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court, 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Boulevard, Room 148, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456.

January 25, 2018: MRD Associates, Inc. made a presentation to the Gulf County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) on January 23, 2018 regarding the upcoming beach re-nourishment project. Based on the recommendations made by MRD Associates, Inc., the BCC approved the re-bidding of the St. Joseph Peninsula Beach Re-nourishment Project. The presentation made to the BCC including recommendations can be found below in PDF format.

November 15, 2017: As of today, we do not have an anticipated start date for the beach renourishment project due to the recent bid submittals. We are actively working with the County to assess all options. When further information is available, we will publish it via this website. Please check the website periodically for further updates regarding the project.

History and Background

The 2008/2009 restoration project was constructed between R-69 (R-67 with taper) to R-105 (R-105.5 with taper) with approximately 3.6 million cubic yards of beach compatible sand obtained from an offshore borrow area(s). The 7.5 mile restoration project consisted of two segments: 1) the 5.9 mile County Beach Segment (R-74.8 to R-105.5); and, 2) the 1.6 mile State Park Beach Segment (R-74.8 to R-67) within the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Borrow Areas “A” and “C” were excavated to supply the project. The Proposed 2017/2018 renourishment project consists of two segments: 1) R-74.8 to R-85.5 (2.1 miles); and, 2) R-89.6 to R-105.5 (3.1 miles). The design is based on the volume losses measured between the end of construction in 2008/2009 and August 2014. This renourishment project will utilize a new borrow area, BA "F" located offshore of the northern portion of the peninsula.

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Construction

Q: When will the pumping and dredging start?

A: Construction is anticipated to begin around spring to early summer of 2019. This is largely contingent upon weather and other external factors.

Q: How long will the pumping go on?

A: Construction of the 3.1-mile beach project that extends from Stumphole to Rish Park will take approximately 60-days. This timeframe will depend on weather conditions, equipment issues and other external factors.

Q: Where will the pumping and dredging start?

A: In general, the beach project will begin at the southern end of the project area and advance to the north toward Rish Park. There will be two “Sublines” (Southern and Northern) where pipes are connected to the dredge anchored offshore so that sand can be pumped directly onto the beach. Pumping will begin somewhere just south of the Scallop Cove Convenience Store (“Southern Subline”) and will proceed to the south along Segment 1 toward the Stumphole revetment. Once Segment 1 is complete, the contractor will then proceed to the north from the “Southern Subline” along Segment 2. Upon completion of Segments 1 and 2, the contractor will move to the “Northern Subline” to fill Segment 3 and end with Segment 4. This plan is contingent upon receiving RESTORE Act funding.

Proposed Subline Locations

Q: Will they pump sand up in more than one place at a time?

A: It is not likely that the contractor will pump sand up in more than one place at a time.

Q: How long will the construction be in front of my property?

A: How long it will take to construct a beach segment is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are external, so we cannot predict the actual time. However, it can be expected that the project will advance down the beach at a rate of 100 to 500 feet per day. The advancement will include the discharge of sand from the end of the pipe followed by construction equipment that will move and grade the beach. The rate of advancement will be dependent on any potential delays caused by inclement weather, equipment issues or the presence of an endangered species such as a sea turtle. Even though the active part of the project will move down the beach fairly quickly, there will be sections of pipe and equipment on the beach for most of the construction period.

Q: Will I be able to get onto the beach while the project is going on?

A: Temporary access points in the form of "sand ramps" will be constructed every 500 feet or so to allow everyone a way to get to the beach during the construction process. It might mean that you will have to walk north or south of your property to one of the temporary accesses, but you will always be able to get to the beach during construction. Pedestrian traffic may be prohibited in the 300- or 500-foot segment under “active construction”, but that would be a temporary situation for a relatively short period of time, and you can simply enjoy the beach north or south of the construction activity.

Q: Does the contractor work certain days of the week or certain hours of the day?

A: The beach restoration project is anticipated to be constructed on a 24-hour a day, 7-days a week basis. The amount of construction activity will be dependent on any potential delays caused by inclement weather, equipment issues or the presence of an endangered species such as a sea turtle.

Q: Is the construction noisy?

A: YES. The beach will be an “active construction” site that will take place 24 hours a day, 7-days a week. Bulldozers, front-end loaders and other large pieces of equipment will be used in the construction of the beach project. You will be able to tell there is an “active construction” site in your area when the operations are near or seaward of your property.

Q: Will construction equipment and laborers be accessing the beach through our property?

A: NO. The limits of construction are from the top of the dune out into the Gulf of Mexico and the contractor is prohibited from going through your property without permission from the property owner. The contractor is allowed access to the beach at the southern end of the project near the Stumphole revetment.

Q: Will I still be able to rent my home or condo during construction?

A: Yes. As with many other beach communities during construction of a beach project, rentals and owners still enjoy the beach and typical vacation activities during construction. However, it should be noted that some safety restrictions around the “active construction” site will limit access to the general public but, the beach will remain open. This will be a fast-moving project, so at this time we cannot predict where and when the crews will be working and, if it will impact your property during a given week. We will do our best to provide updates through this website as to where the crews are working and where beach access is temporarily restricted.

Q: Will I have to take my dune walkover down?

A: Not necessarily. It will depend whether or not the dune fronting your property has been eroded and will be restored during this project. Whether you remove your dune walkover before the project begins is up to you. When the dredger encounters any structure that is not removed (dune walkover, gazebos, etc.) they will only place sand up to and around it. If you leave a structure intact and the dredger places sand around it, it may not be as much sand as your property would have received if you had removed it. If you wish to remove and then reinstall your boardwalk or other structure, we suggest you check with the individual who constructed them for the best way to remove and perhaps reinstall them after construction.

Q: Will I have to get a permit to rebuild my gazebo or boardwalk that was destroyed in past storms?

A: Any activity on the beach and dune requires a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). However, the type of permit you need will depend on the size and type of structure. For walkovers that meet certain DEP criteria, a field permit may be issued. For other structures, such as gazebos, you may need to apply for and obtain a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) permit from DEP.

It is extremely important that you do not begin construction of any boardwalk or other structure without obtaining the necessary permitting to do so.

The DEP CCCL Permit Manager for Gulf County is:

Ronard Ivey, Environmental Specialist II
Ronard.E.Ivey@dep.state.fl.us
850-245-7591

You can view the Sand Fence Guidelines and Dune Walkover Guidelines here. Link

Q: Will I have to plant sea oats myself?

A: As part of the restoration project, the replanting of the dunes will be undertaken at a later date. If you wish to plant your own sea oats or add additional plantings on the dune, you certainly welcome to do that.

Q: How long until the beach is the width, height and color it's going to be long-term?

A: Once the sand is placed on the beach, the shape of the constructed template will begin to adjust to a more natural shape. This adjustment is built into the design and is called "profile equilibration." This simply means that the way the beach was constructed and looks immediately post-construction is not what it will look like after the profile adjusts. The width of the dry beach will get smaller and will appear to quickly erode. This is intentional and this quantity of sand that leaves the dry beach will be deposited in the nearshore sand bar just seaward from where it was placed by the dredge. How quickly a profile equilibrates depends on the nearshore waves and currents. Once equilibration has taken place, the beach will "settle in" and the shoreline should perform as designed by our engineer. The length of time the sand remains will be dependent upon the varying intensities of storm events.

With regard to the color of the sand, when pumped on the beach the sand is wet and therefore appears darker than the existing sand. It will dry quickly and will also continue to lighten over a period of time. The sand that is proposed to be placed on the beach has been very carefully selected and put through rigorous testing by the Florida DEP and the County’s Coastal Consultant to meet criteria for color, shell content and grain size that are important to a healthy and attractive beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Easements

Q: If I signed the construction easement in 2008 for the first beach nourishment project, do I need to sign the new easement?

A: Yes. The original easement you signed from the first project expires on November 1, 2017. Please sign, notarize, and return the new easement, which will be effective for a 10 year period until November 1, 2027.

Q: Why is the easement duration for a period of 10 years?

A: The 10-years allows for the initial construction of the project, conduct post-construction field monitoring, post-storm assessments and mitigation, and may allow a second re-nourishment within the 10-year period. The Easement for the first project constructed in 2008-2009 was also for a 10-year period.

Q: If I don't sign a construction easement, does that mean the Erosion Control Line will not go into effect for my property?

A: No. The implementation of the Erosion Control Line, or ECL, is completely independent of your construction easement. Public hearings on the ECL were held on May 22, 2007. The ECL was drawn where the existing Mean High Water Line was surveyed in November of 2006. There will be no updates to the location of the ECL.

Q: If I sign a construction easement, does it mean I am giving away some of my property to the County or the State?

A: No, you are not giving away property or property rights. You are simply signing a construction easement that will allow the temporary placement of the pipeline on your private property, will allow workers to step onto your private property during the construction process, and will allow the placement of a large amount of sand on your private property to reconstruct the dune line and berms.

Q: If I don't sign a construction easement, does that mean I don't have to pay the MSTU tax anymore?

A: The MSTU is a tax that will continue to be levied on your property's value whether you sign the construction easement or not.

Q: If I don't sign a construction easement, will that stop the beach project?

A: We do not require 100% return of the construction easements for the beach project to be constructed.

Q: If I don?t sign a construction easement, will they still put sand in front of my property?

A: Without permission to come onto your private property, the contractor will not be able to place sand landward of the Erosion Control Line, on your private property. The construction will, instead, "build around" your property seaward from the ECL. The beach will be the same width as your neighbors on either side, but you will not have the dune and berm in front of your property as they will if they have signed a construction easement.

Q: If my property is "built around" by the project, what will it look like?

A: It is impossible to say precisely what the appearance of your property will be if you elect not to sign a construction easement and sand is only placed from the ECL seaward. A photo of what one such property looked like after construction can be viewed below. Typically, however, you will have no berm or dune structure in front of your property. You will have an area that is much lower than the surrounding beach as a result. Sometimes these areas will fill with water for some period of time.

Missing Construction Easement | Lake Effect

Q: If my neighbor doesn't sign a construction easement, is there anything I can do about it?

A: It is your neighbor's legal right to choose not to sign a construction easement. Please be sure, however, they have seen the FAQs with regard to the construction easement and what it does and does not mean to them as a private property owner.

Q: How do I fill out the easement paperwork?

A: Please fill out all highlighted items as shown in the example below. The owner, two witnesses and a notary need to sign the document. We will have to re-mail the easement to you if it is not correctly filled out.

Example Construction Easement

Q: Who can sign the Easement and do all the owners need to sign?

A: Only the legal owner of the property or Power of Attorney can sign the easement. If the property is jointly-owned, only one of the listed owners needs to execute the easement.

Q: What address do we use in the first paragraph of the Easement?

A: Your home or mailing address is sufficient.

Construction Easement Map

Shown below is a web map that allows you to see your property in relation to the Erosion Control Line (ECL) and the expected landward limits of the Construction Easement. Additionally, you may follow this link to view it in a larger format (*Link takes you to www.arcgis.com). Please note, greater detail is provided as you zoom in towards your property.

*Disclaimer: This map is a public resource of general information. MRD Associates, Inc or Gulf County makes no warranty, representation or guaranty as to the content, sequence, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of any of the database information provided herein. The reader should not rely on the data provided herein for any reason. Map information is believed to be accurate but accuracy is not guaranteed, and the information contained within this map is NOT to be construed or used as a "legal description". In no event will MRD Associates, Inc. or Gulf County be held liable for any damages, including loss of data, lost profits, business interruption, loss of business information or other pecuniary loss that might arise from the use of this mapping service or the information it contains.

Construction Drawings For the 2019 Beach Renourishment Project

Provided below are images of the plans that will be utilized for Construction. The plans provide details as to the proposed widths and profile shape along the proposed project. Please note the provided plans are not valid for construction without being signed and sealed and are being provided for review only.

Contact Us

If you have a specific question not addressed in the FAQ's, please feel free to send us a message. Typcial response times are between 24 and 48 hours during business hours.