As the only county in Florida with the word beach in its name, maintaining the quality and sustainability of this beautiful Palm Beach County natural resource is of the highest importance.
The PBC Department of Environmental Resources Management works diligently with federal, state and local partners to acquire the dollars needed to undertake beach re-nourishment and dune restoration projects. Bringing these projects to fruition can take a long time to get through all the permitting agencies, but I am pleased to tell you about three projects that are advancing toward construction.
Jupiter/Carlin Segment 1:
The US Army Corps of Engineers is funding and will manage this federally qualified project to pump
517,000 cubic yards of sand along 5,500 feet of beach from Jupiter Beach Park to the south end of Carlin Park, which includes the shoreline in front of Ocean Trails, Jupiter Beach Resort and the Jupiter Civic Center. The project will restore material eroded by Hurricanes Irma and Dorian. The cost is approximately $8.4 million. The stabilized beach and dune will provide storm protection, recreational opportunities, and sea turtle nesting habitat.
With projected construction between December and March, residents may notice changes in the sand color, odor or cloudy water. Sand will be dredged from an offshore borrow area 70 feet deep and about 1.6 miles northeast of the Jupiter Inlet. It will appear dark during and immediately after placement, but will lighten after a few weeks of sun exposure. Odors occur from the decay of organic fauna in the sand, which will also subside after a few weeks of exposure.
Cloudy water is turbidity associated with hydraulic pumping of sand on the beach and may persist throughout the duration of pumping activities. Turbidity will subside after project completion, but can periodically re-occur during heavy wave events.
Palm Beach County will place signs at public access locations within the project area that will include a web address for project updates.
A significant development in connection with this project is the extension of the federal authorization until 2045. This is important in that it maintains the project’s eligibility for future federal funds, reducing state and local costs.
South Jupiter Dune Segment 2:
This FEMA funded project will restore the dune along 1,200 feet of beach immediately north of Jupiter Reef Club. Mobilization is anticipated in mid- to late-January, with construction lasting up to three weeks. All sand will be place above the mean high water line and planted with native dune vegetation.
The county is working with the Town of Jupiter on easements needed for staging and access, while minimizing impacts to traffic on A1A.
Juno Beach Segment 3:
This re-nourishment project, anticipated to commence in November/December 2020, will place approximately 1.3M cubic yards of sand along 12,750 feet of beach in Juno Beach. FEMA will provide $17.2M toward this $23M project, with the State and local partners splitting the remainder at $2.9M each.
This particular project will leverage additional sand placement within the Jupiter/Carlin segment.
Palm Beach County is grateful for the partnerships we have with Jupiter, Juno Beach and all of our coastal cities that help us accomplish these ongoing beach improvements, so that all of us can enjoy our magnificent beaches that are vital to our tourism, recreation and economy.
Your input on areas of concern is very helpful. As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance at (561) 355-2201, or by email at
hvaleche@pbcgov.org.
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