Introduction to Beach Restoration
The white sandy beaches along a swath of Florida’s Gulf Coast were battered by three hurricanes last year, leading to a multimillion-dollar effort to repair a coastline that is the region’s economic engine. Crews are working with dredges, trucks and pipelines along the 35-mile (56-kilometer) stretch of beach in Pinellas County that includes cities such as Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach and Redington Beach. It’s a prime tourist destination that is still recovering from hurricanes Helene, Milton and Debby.
The Impact of Hurricanes
Helene was the most destructive for the beach towns, even though it made landfall far to the north. Twelve people died in Pinellas County because of strong storm surge that reached 8 feet (2.4 meters) high in some places. The devastating effects of these hurricanes have highlighted the need for urgent beach restoration efforts to protect the coastline and the local community.
Beach Restoration Efforts
In past years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a major role in beach restoration, but not this time. The Corps wants private landowners to sign up for permanent easements that would allow government access in perpetuity — a change that has met with stiff resistance. So Pinellas County is doing the beach restoration itself, spending more than $125 million in tourism tax revenue to cover the costs. The county also has an easement program, but because some property owners won’t sign up, there will be gaps in the beach renourishment that could lead to damage in future storms.
Challenges and Concerns
“We can’t do it as well as we could,” said Barry Burton, the Pinellas County administrator. “Our desire is to place sand across as much of the beach as we can.” The project calls for using 2.5 million cubic yards (1.9 million cubic meters) of sand that’s being dredged and pumped from offshore. In places where property owners refused to sign the easements, new sand is being placed toward the Gulf side of the beach, which is public. The beaches are being widened by as much as 100 feet (30 meters). For its part, the Army Corps said it can’t justify spending millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars on beach renourishment without permanent easements to allow access. “The Corps cannot construct a project with ‘gaps’ due to missing easements,” the agency said in a statement. “The Congressionally authorized, engineered project cannot provide the level of protection when constructed with gaps.”
The Future of Beach Restoration
Those gaps mean that properties with sand dunes and an elongated beach might be next to another one with nothing — and that’s where the storm surge in future hurricanes will go. In the past, the Army Corps paid about 65% of the beach restoration costs. Now, Pinellas County is footing the bill alone, with money that had been earmarked for a new Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium and related development that fell through. The team’s current ballpark, Tropicana Field, was heavily damaged in Hurricane Milton last October but is being repaired in time for next season. The Rays were sold to a new group of investors this year, and where the team will play in the future is in limbo. The county won’t be able to afford beach work like this again, said Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy. “This is the last and only time,” she said. So it’s really important that going forward, we have federal support.
Conclusion
The beach restoration efforts in Pinellas County are a crucial step towards protecting the coastline and the local community from future hurricanes. However, the challenges and concerns surrounding the project highlight the need for federal support and cooperation from private landowners. The success of this project will depend on the ability of the county to work with the Army Corps and other stakeholders to find a long-term solution to the beach restoration needs of the area.
By CURT ANDERSON
Originally Published: October 8, 2025 at 12:04 AM EDT
FAQs
Q: What is the extent of the beach restoration project in Pinellas County?
A: The project covers a 35-mile (56-kilometer) stretch of beach in Pinellas County, including cities such as Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach, and Redington Beach.
Q: How much is the county spending on the beach restoration project?
A: The county is spending more than $125 million in tourism tax revenue to cover the costs of the project.
Q: Why is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers not involved in the beach restoration project?
A: The Army Corps wants private landowners to sign up for permanent easements that would allow government access in perpetuity, but this has met with stiff resistance from some property owners.
Q: What are the challenges and concerns surrounding the beach restoration project?
A: The project faces challenges and concerns, including gaps in the beach renourishment due to missing easements, which could lead to damage in future storms.
