Corps aces beach restoration  

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association also cited Captiva Island, another Jacksonville District beach restoration project, as a winner in the 2006 Top Restored Beaches in America Award. (Photo courtesy of Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau)

Mar. 27, 2007

By Susan Jackson
Jacksonville District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District partnered in two of six beach renourishment projects that received national awards.

American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) officials made the announcement during a beach ceremony earlier this year, when they cited Pinellas County as one of six winners in the 2006 Top Restored Beaches in America Award.  Captiva Island, another Jacksonville District beach restoration project, also took a national award.

"There were many nominees from across the country, both federal and non-federal projects, and we have two winners in our district alone," said Jacqueline Keiser, Coastal and Navigation Branch project manager.  Keiser was one of three partners recognized at the ceremony. 

In addition to providing shore protection, the restoration projects offer a tropical vacation haven for more than 12 million visitors a year.  More people visit beaches than all federal and state parks combined, according to the ASBPA.  Added to that, tourists at Pinellas beaches alone boost the region's economy by spending $5.2 billion annually, said Nicole Elko, Pinellas County coastal manager.   

Just minutes before the awards ceremony, a young couple and their wedding party traversed the white sands to a perfect spot to take their vows.  Several New Yorkers said they were having a wonderful time and thought the beach was "absolutely gorgeous."  It wasn't an accident of nature that made the beaches look picture-perfect.

Keiser, Elko and Catherine Maclean-Florko, with the Florida Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, made an effective team as they partnered through two hurricane seasons and battled damages caused by four hurricanes to bring the renourishment project to fruition.  Keiser said the work was done in the chaos of hurricane season with the whole team working overtime and weekends to get it accomplished in time to protect the beach from the upcoming hurricane season.  The work continued throughout the 2005 hurricane season.

"The fact that these projects were accomplished in 'emergency' mode during and after hurricane season is a real testament to the team.  Without these projects, Captiva Island, Long Key and Treasure Island would be very vulnerable to storms and dangerously eroded," Keiser said.  

The key to the program's success, Elko said, has been the sound partnership between the local, state and federal agencies.    

The Treasure Island/Long Key federal nourishment project has a partnering history that dates back to 1969, when the first nourishment project in Florida was constructed on Sunset Beach.  Due to proximity, two additional projects have been combined since 1996. The three-mile long project now also includes Sunset, Upham and Pass-a-Grille beaches. 
 
There are public parks with amenities on all the beaches.  In addition, the beaches provide habitat for shorebirds and nesting sea turtles.   

An active turtle caretaker at St. Petersburg Beach since 1978, Bruno Falkinstein said he worried about the dredging impact on the turtles but soon became satisfied with the renourishment process. 

"I contacted the dredgers and they completely stopped their work twice because the turtles were nesting.  Their cooperation was just great," he said. 
 
Founded in 1926, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association represents the scientific, technical and political interests along the coast in an effort to shape national research and policy concerning shore and beach management and restoration. 

For more details about other Corps beach restoration projects, visit the Jacksonville District Web site at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/shore/index.htm.