The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has provided more than $116 million in grants over the last three years to coastal communities to assist with the nourishment of some of Florida’s beaches.
Grants are administered through the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program, which develops and implements a long-term, comprehensive beach management program for Florida.
Nearly half, or 409.9 miles, of the state’s 825 miles of sandy beaches are experiencing critical erosion. To date, funding provided by the state’s Beach Management Funding Assistance Program has resulted in the restoration and subsequent maintenance of more than 227.4 miles, or nearly 55 percent, of those critically eroded beaches.
Working together with local, state and federal government sponsors to achieve protection, preservation and restoration of coastal sandy beaches, the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program provides financial assistance up to 50 percent of qualified project costs.
The program is available to Florida’s counties, municipalities or special taxing districts for shore protection and preservation activities located on the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean or Straits of Florida.
Here are a few examples of some recent beach projects by coastal region that have received financial assistance:
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA’S GOLD COAST
FLORIDA’S WEST COAST
For fiscal year 2015-16, the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program will administer $32.1 million to 29 projects for feasibility, design, construction and post-construction monitoring efforts. More than $658 million in grants has been awarded to local governments since the dedicated funding source was established in 1998.