The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved Project Implementation Reports that will result in renourishment of North and South Reach beaches in Brevard County, with the federal government footing virtually 100 percent of the estimated $29.3 million cost to restore parts of the county’s eroded shoreline.
In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused high winds and seas that damaged Brevard County beaches. The County worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess erosion to beaches within the federal Brevard County Shore Protection Project (BCSPP) area. As a result of that assessment, the Army Corps on March 28 announced approval of the Project Implementation Reports (PIR’s) for the North and South Reaches.
That approval means the Army Corps plans to renourish the North and South Reach beaches using 100 percent federal funds. The most recent benefits cost study by the Army Corps for the BCSPP yields a B:C ration of 5.5:1, meaning for every dollar spent on the project, the county receives $5.50 in economic benefits.
The North Reach, including Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, will receive about 1 million cubic yards of sand with an estimated cost of $16.8 million. Funding for the North Reach will come from both the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) Hurricane Sandy response fund and normal operation and maintenance funds.
The South Reach, which covers 3.8 miles of shoreline in Indialantic and Melbourne Beach, will be renourished with 585,000 cubic yards of sand. South Reach funding of $12.5 million will come entirely from the FCCE account to restore Hurricane Sandy damage.
The Army Corps has not released an intended construction schedule, but work on both projects is expected to take place between November 2013 and May 1, 2014.
Brevard County is also working to secure state beach restoration funds to repair other county beaches where an Army Corps project has never been constructed, including the Mid Reach and South Beaches areas.
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Press Release, April 2, 2013