ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Following another bout of wicked weather that swept through Northeast Florida over the weekend, the St. Johns County Commission discussed the results of a nearly $400,000 study on coastal erosion.
The comprehensive engineering study was completed by a Texas-based company, INTERA-GEC.
Summer Haven is one of the southern St. Johns County communities hit hardest by storm surge and beach erosion. In November 2021, a nor’easter hit causing a breach along the coast. Since then, the breach has gotten significantly worse with tropical systems Ian and Nicole.
Overall, the county says it has spent more than $10 million since 2008 addressing erosion issues in this community.
INTERA-GEC’s report discusses plans to address the ongoing erosion in the Summer Haven area, presenting three options:
- Seawall: The 14-foot seawall with pilings 20 feet apart, stretching for 5,500 feet. The construction cost would be $47 million with $12 million for maintenance over 50 years, totaling $59 million
- Beach renourishment and dune restoration: This involved raising the beach and dunes to a height of 14 feet over a stretch of 9,000 feet. This project would cost $34 million and $87 million for maintenance over 50 years, making the total $121 million. However, 50% of the dunes would be washed away in five years, so the county would need to do renourishment every five years.
- Managed Retreat: This option would involve buying out 20 beachside properties at a cost of $3 million. This means each property owner would get $150,000 for their homes along the shore.
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The county would need to identify and apply for state and federal funding sources and possibly consider “special purpose taxes” to fund the project.
The engineering firm suggested that previous beach fill projects in Summer Haven have failed due to their small scale. To provide long-term protection, the Matanzas Inlet needs to be dredged.
There were no decisions made on Tuesday, but the commissioners voted unanimously to continue to work toward finding solutions and conduct an economic impact study to look ahead and see how the county can continue to keep the Summer Haven River flowing.
A formal inlet management plan study will involve the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and provide a detailed look at the Matanzas Inlet. The study would look at how much sand should be going north and south of the beach when the intercostal waterway is dredged if it should all be going down to the Summer Haven beaches, or if some of the sand should be going to the beach in front of Summerhouse Beach & Racquet Club.
The amount of sand reaching Summer Haven’s beach is decreasing annually, making it more susceptible to breaches. The erosion is also impacting the health of the Summer Haven River, leading to a decline in wildlife and game fish diversity. There are 275 residential and commercial properties affected by the changes to the river.
The report recommends beach and dune renourishment as the most viable alternative, as securing regulatory approval for a seawall may be challenging. Suitable sand sources like offshore sand are needed, as it is more resistant to erosion.
Residents also want to see the county help rebuild the roads. They’ve had to build sand roads just to access their homes.
Read the entire study below: