Fort Pierce - Tuesday February 28, 2023: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the St. Lucie County Erosion District, has announced that a beach sand replenishment program in Fort Pierce is scheduled to begin March 9.
USACE will place approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand from authorized borrow areas off the coast of Fort Pierce Beach on approximately 1.3 miles of shoreline immediately south of Fort Pierce Inlet. Offloading of the sand will take place from inside the inlet’s south jetty. Operations are planned to be complete by mid-May.
The re-nourishment is the continuation of a federal shore protection project that began in 1971. There have been an additional 12 periodic and emergency federal re-nourishments carried out since 1980. Manson Construction has been hired to restore sand to the beach under an $11.6 million contract awarded on January 12 this year. The project will be 77.76 percent funded by the federal government and 22.24 percent funded by St. Lucie County.
The re-nourishment strengthens shoreline resilience and reduces storm damages to residential and commercial infrastructure, critical transportation arteries, developed land and helps offset persistent coastal erosion impacts caused by the inlet.
The work will be ongoing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That includes weekends and holidays until completion. All equipment will be lighted in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements. USACE urges all boaters and navigators to exercise caution when transiting work areas and to consult local Notices to Mariners for any relevant updates.
Temporary restrictions to immediate work areas on the beach will be in effect while sand placement is under way.
For more information about Corps projects, please visit www.saj.usace.army.mil.