The Town sent out over 140 easements and has only received about 30 back thus far. Unfortunately, they are too scattered to warrant a project being designed at any one location. I was told we need at least 700 – 800 contiguous feet at a minimum to justify the county mobilizing a project anywhere in our town.

Thank you to everyone that has signed a temporary construction easement and brought it in to Town Hall or mailed it back to Pinellas County. Please reach out to your friends and neighbors and ask them to participate in this Emergency Beach Erosion Control Project.  

If you haven’t returned your easement yet, please keep these things in mind:

• Hurricane Idalia passed us by and took half of our dune system. Our dunes did what they were designed to do. What damage would a direct hit or another brush with a hurricane do?
• If your neighbors sign the easement and dunes are constructed, any area that is open and not protected by a dune will be the path of least resistance for water to come rushing in, thus exposing that property to a much higher risk of damage.
• If you don’t sign your temporary easement for the erosion control project, know that if the Army Corps of Engineers does not nourish due to lack of easements, it could be 2-3 years before a County-led nourishment occurs. Without a dune or other protection, your homes are more at risk.  Please participate in this important emergency protection project. 

Pinellas County’s webpage on the project: https://pinellas.gov/projects/emergency-beach-erosion-control-project/

Here are some before and after photos from the last nourishment project to show what a difference this could make to our beaches.

Click on each photo below to enlarge