A massive beach renourishment project is underway on Captiva Island, bringing tons of sand to its shoreline.

This initiative aims to build tall sand dunes to protect the island from future storms and erosion.

The Captiva Erosion Prevention District emphasized the importance of these barriers for long-term coastal defense. However, some residents have expressed concerns about the height and placement of these man-made mounds.

“The dune height is maxed out to and approved by the Department of Environmental Protection state authorities to 12 feet,” said John Wade, chairman of the Captiva Erosion Prevention District. “Historically, the dune height has always been around 10 feet.”

Wade explained that the island has been hit by three major storms since 2022, necessitating efforts to catch up on protection measures. The dunes are part of a multi-million dollar project to safeguard the shoreline and replace what previous storms have washed away.

Andreas Bieri, owner of The Mucky Duck, expressed dissatisfaction with the dunes, stating, “If you sit in the restaurant, or even outside on the patio, there’s no view. We’re looking at sand. You can’t even see the water anymore.”

“We are known for being on the water, looking at the beach, looking at the sunset,” Bieri said. “So everybody is upset with what they are doing.”

Despite these concerns, others on the island, like Will Oliver, general manager for Tween Waters Resort, understand the necessity of the dunes. “The beaches got beat up bad by the storms, Ian and then Milton and Helene,” Oliver said. “It’s definitely, absolutely necessary to keep the beach healthy for the ecosystem, and for tourism.”

Wade acknowledged the concerns and assured that there is still time to consider the dune height near properties like The Mucky Duck.

“We always take into account the property owners and how the dunes interact with their coastal frontage,” Wade said. “By all means, if there’s any sort of concern, they know that the CPD is local and ready to address those concerns.”

The project is expected to conclude by mid to end of November. The next phase will be presented to affected property owners, and suggestions are welcome.

Stay with WINK News for updates on this project.