LONGBOAT KEY (WSNN) – The beaches of Longboat Key are getting a makeover.
The Town’s beach renourishment project began mid-March and is now actively dredging the sand and moving it to the beaches.
The project entails three contractors working to pump sand along different segments of the island.
As well as creating groins or rock structures to help with the erosion.
They’re renourishing for recreational and property values, to provides critical habitats for sea turtles and nesting shorebirds, and to provide storm surge protection to the nearby properties.
“And that also holds true with sea-level rise. All the studies, if you go to conferences, they all basically talk about how one of the first signs of defense against sea-level rise is taller, engineered beaches.”
Crews are dredging the sand from Passage Key and Longboat boat pass.
Different beach access will be closed temporarily as crews work in certain sections.
All four segments are going to have about 800,000 cubic yards of sand by the end of this project.