WASHINGTON (September 10, 2019) – To replenish the shoreline in Bevard County, FL, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has partnered with the US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, the US Air Force 45th Space Wing, Brevard County. The partners have signed two agreements for the use of up to 1.9 million cubic yards of sand from federal waters to construct three Brevard County project segments located at Mid-Reach, South-Reach, and Patrick Air Force Base.
“The Trump Administration is committed to protecting our coastlines through habitat restoration and conservation efforts, notably coastal erosion from tropical storms and hurricanes,” says Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “I applaud the collective efforts from the federal, state, and local partners involved who facilitated the agreements and delivery of almost 2 million cubic yards of sand for the Brevard County coastline. These efforts will be critical in restoring these iconic beaches.”
To stabilize the shoreline, sand from the Canaveral Shoals sand borrow area on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) will be used. BOEM has authorized the use of up to 1.3 million cubic yards of sand for the Brevard County Mid-Reach and South-Reach segments, which would restore 7.8 miles of Mid-Reach shoreline and 4 miles on the South-Reach. For the Patrick AFB segment, BOEM has authorized up to 600,000 cubic yards of sand to restore 3.8 miles of shoreline. The total portion of shoreline to be redeveloped totals 15.6 miles and stretches from Patrick Air Force Base southward to Spessard Holland Park.
“As Florida and other states address long-term coastal renourishment needs, BOEM stands ready to work closely with its partners, including the Corps, as they assess the impacts of those storms,” says BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank. “These renourishment projects help maintain an area’s vitality and protect valuable infrastructure.”
BOEM is the only federal agency with the authority to lease marine minerals from the OCS under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. "Brevard County values its long-standing relationship with BOEM and the opportunity to partner with the agency to utilize offshore sand for our Mid-Reach Project. This sand is both cost-effective and provides the ideal match to native sand on our beaches,” says Brevard County’s Program Manager for Beaches Mike McGarry.
With these two new lease agreements, BOEM has signed 58 leases for coastal restoration projects since 1995, including 22 in Florida; authorized more than 164 million cubic yards of sediment for eight states; and will be on track to provide sand to restore nearly 360 miles of shoreline.
OCS sand and gravel resources are vital sources of material for the construction of coastal protection and restoration projects, including efforts to protect coastal communities, national defense facilities, and federal and state infrastructure.
