The Sebastian Inlet District is making steady progress on a critical beach restoration project, with ATL Diversified, Inc. transitioning from truck-based sand delivery to dredging operations to nourish a 2.5-mile stretch of coastline south of Sebastian Inlet.
The effort, mandated by the Florida Beach & Shore Preservation Act, aims to replenish eroding beaches by redistributing sand that naturally accumulates in the inlet’s channel.
Since the project began, ATL has placed approximately 92,000 cubic yards of sand by truck along the beaches between Ambersand Beach and the McLarty Treasure Museum. As of April 19, the company has shifted to dredging the inlet channel, depositing an additional 38,250 cubic yards of beach-compatible sand onto the project site.
The dredged material is being strategically placed on downdrift beaches, extending from the state park’s day-use beach south of the inlet to the McLarty Treasure Museum.
The project, however, has faced hurdles, including equipment failures and construction delays casting doubt on whether ATL will meet its goal of dredging 215,000 cubic yards from the inlet’s sand trap and navigation channel. But the Sebastian Inlet District and ATL are collaborating to address the issues to keep the project on track.
The dreding is essential to maintaining the health of the area’s coastal ecosystems and the local beaches. The restoration effort fulfills the District’s obligation to bypass sand that migrates into the inlet system, preventing erosion on downdrift beaches. Local residents and visitors can expect to see ongoing activity as the dredging operation continues to pump sand onto the shoreline.
The sand project needs to be finished by May 12 to avoid disturbing sea turtle nesting. In Florida, sea turtles are most active in nesting from May to July. These turtles are endangered, so it’s against the law to harm them or their nests.
Since November, the Sebastian Inlet District has been fixing the north jetty, which was damaged by storms. The plan is to add about 200 feet of tough stone or concrete to prevent erosion, along with seawalls and a new concrete sidewalk. The contractor, Shoreline Foundation Inc., has already poured the sidewalk for this 200-foot section. They’ll keep adding the stone through April and May. The District aims to reopen the north jetty in July.
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