FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — An emergency sand operation is underway along South Beach in Fort Pierce as crews work to slow rapid beach erosion that officials say has now reached a critical point.
The project near Jetty Park is being led by St. Lucie County and is about 30% to 40% complete, according to Fort Pierce City Commissioner Michael Broderick. Crews are hauling in about 10,000 cubic yards of sand to help temporarily rebuild parts of the shoreline.
Workers are placing sand along roughly 200 yards of beach in both directions from the work zone, Broderick said. Broderick said crews are also moving in to address three weak spots in the existing sand berm about a quarter mile down the beach. Those areas are at risk of being breached if conditions worsen.
“On this end of things has been outstanding. We have other problems about a quarter mile down the beach that we’re quite concerned with, that we’re starting on today that is separate from this project. We need to reinforce those areas of sand. Access to those areas is somewhat difficult, but we now have the equipment package of personnel and material to execute,” said Broderick.
Severe beach erosion on Hutchinson Island is inching dangerously close to homes in Fort Pierce. City and county leaders are trucking in thousands of tons of emergency sand as homeowners worry about flooding and structural damage. (WPEC)
The emergency sand placement is meant to buy time until a much larger beach renourishment project can begin in March. That upcoming project will involve dredging sand from offshore using barges and pumping it onto the beach through large pipes — a complicated process that requires staging areas and weeks of construction.
See also: Why is Fort Pierce beach erosion so bad this year?
Broderick said the emergency phase should wrap up by the beginning of next week. After that, the shoreline will remain vulnerable until the larger project gets underway. In the meantime, some island homes are already facing tight conditions. Broderick said at least one home along South Beach now has only about seven feet of embankment remaining in front of it. Still, he said there are no plans to order evacuations at this point.
“Seven feet of embankment wouldn’t go through in one night. I’m not nervous. I think we have a great plan in place to mitigate this. We have a great team out here that’s organized material, personnel and equipment start on those areas today to protect them in the next several weeks until the renourishment,” said Broderick.
This year is different
Fort Pierce deals with erosion regularly, but city leaders say this year is different. They point to increased surf from offshore hurricanes last fall, combined with king tides and strong winds, which sped up the erosion and pushed the shoreline much farther back than usual.
Officials also say a break in the federal renourishment cycle made the situation worse. For years, South Beach had been replenished annually. But Broderick said the project was skipped last year after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers put the work out to bid three times and received no contractors.
See also: Fort Pierce businesses hurt as beach erosion worsens
“That’s really why we’re in the position we’re in right now,” Broderick said.
Looking ahead, city and county leaders are considering longer-term fixes, including offshore T-groin structures designed to slow wave energy and help hold sand in place. Those projects, however, would depend on federal funding. If everything moves forward as planned, officials say funding for those permanent solutions could come around 2030.
Broderick also pushed back on criticism from some taxpayers who question why public money is being spent along a stretch of beach lined with expensive homes.
“There’s been a lot of complaints from taxpayers that we’re expending taxpayer dollars on needless protection of wealthy people’s beachfront homes. That’s not what we’re trying to accomplish here. What we’re trying to do, is protect the island from erosion and from water intrusion onto the island, damaging very expensive infrastructure. So that’s a key component,” said Broderick.
St. Lucie County is the lead agency for the emergency work, with the city of Fort Pierce providing support to help keep residents safe.
Until the larger renourishment project begins next month, crews will continue reinforcing vulnerable areas in an effort to stay ahead of the next round of rough weather.