Feds To Renourish Brevard Beaches Eroded By Hurricane Sandy
BREVARD
COUNTY, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved Project
Implementation Reports that will result in renourishment of North and
South Reach beaches in Brevard County, with the federal government
footing virtually 100 percent of the estimated $29.3 million cost to
restore parts of the county’s eroded shoreline.
In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused high winds and seas that
damaged Brevard County beaches. Brevard County government employees worked with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to assess erosion to beaches within the federal
Brevard County Shore Protection Project (BCSPP) area.
As a result of
that assessment, the Army Corps on March 28 announced approval of the
Project Implementation Reports (PIR’s) for the North and South Reaches.
That approval means the Army Corps plans to renourish the North and
South Reach beaches using 100 percent federal funds. The most recent
benefits cost study by the Army Corps for the BCSPP yields a B:C ration
of 5.5:1, meaning for every dollar spent on the project, the county
receives $5.50 in economic benefits.
The North Reach, including Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, will receive
about 1 million cubic yards of sand with an estimated cost of $16.8
million. Funding for the North Reach will come from both the Flood
Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) Hurricane Sandy response fund and
normal operation and maintenance funds.
The South Reach, which covers 3.8 miles of shoreline in Indialantic and
Melbourne Beach, will be renourished with 585,000 cubic yards of sand.
South Reach funding of $12.5 million will come entirely from the FCCE
account to restore Hurricane Sandy damage.
The Army Corps has not released an intended construction schedule, but
work on both projects is expected to take place between November 2013
and May 1, 2014.
Brevard County is also working to secure state beach restoration funds
to repair other county beaches where an Army Corps project has never
been constructed, including the Mid Reach and South Beaches areas.
