The most recent phase just wrapped up at Belleair and Upham Beach, where crews finished pumping in new sand and are now smoothing things out through grading work.

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A multi-million-dollar beach nourishment project is rolling right along across Pinellas County — part of an effort to restore and protect the shoreline after repeated storm damage.

“If more storms come, and if this wouldn’t have been done, it would take out these neighborhoods more than it did during Helene,” Jason Beisel, the public information officer with Treasure Island, said.

Work began in August, with the first stop at Indian Shores Beach. From there, crews moved south to Indian Rocks Beach, Clearwater Beach and Belleair Beach.

The most recent phase just wrapped up at Belleair and Upham Beach, where crews finished pumping in new sand and are now smoothing things out through grading work.

Now, the next stop is Sunset Beach in Treasure Island.

For residents like Lori Meislahn, this is good news:

“I think that’s great. They’re gonna put the sand back on the beach where it belongs. I think they’re doing a good job. I was peeking over there today,” she said.

But longtime Treasure Island resident John Watters disagrees:

“It looks good for a couple months, until we get a storm. I think it’s a waste. I’ve seen the renourishment maybe five or six times. Mother Nature takes back what she wants. First storm that comes, we’re right back to here,” he explained.

Ashley Giovannetti with Pinellas County explains that this program, with its trucks, crews, and heavy machinery, is meant to stop exactly that.

“We estimate that Sunset Beach alone is placing around 400,000 cubic yards. So if you imagine a three-foot by three-foot by three-foot cube, times 400,000, that’s how much sand we’re talking about,” she said.

A wider, stronger beach acts as a buffer for homes, infrastructure and neighborhoods, especially in the face of future storms. By pumping in massive amounts of sand and rebuilding the dunes, the county is aiming to reduce damage and protect against erosion and storm surge.


Want to check beach access?

If you’d like to find out which beach access points are currently open and where parking/amenities are available, you can visit the county’s official access page: Pinellas County Beaches & Beach Access.