species of undersea life. In some areas of Florida, private homeowners
have attempted to take beach renourishment into their own hands,
which has often led to disruption of habitat for undersea and beach
wildlife.
This project was federally funded through the Flood Control and
Coastal Emergency Act and Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.
Construction was broken down into what USACE called the “North
Reach” and the “South Reach.” The North Reach ran from about 1st
Street north to18th Street, approximately 1.4 miles. The South Reach
ran from near South Beach Bar & Grill to a portion of Gasparilla State
Park, approximately 0.4 miles.
The beach was open during construction, and many visitors got an
interesting eyeful as to what really goes on with a $6.4 million beach
renourishment project. Barring weather or mechanical delays, the work
usually progressed an average of about 500 feet along the shore per
day, or one to two blocks.
22 GASPARILLA ISLAND September/October 2019