A project to restore beaches in Saco, Wells and Old Orchard Beach left raw and bare of protective barriers after devastating back-to-back storms in January 2024 has received the final green light and is poised to commence early in the new year.

York County officials and the three municipalities had initially planned for the work to begin in November – the start of Maine’s dredging season that ends in March, but until very recently, clarification on federal approvals for the projects had not been in hand.