Due to the impacts of several hurricanes and nor'easter storms since Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Flagler County’s coastline has seen unprecedented damage that it has not recovered from.  As time goes on, the conditions of the beaches and dunes continues to degrade with each passing storm.  The condition of the County’s beach and dune system is important to protect our community during storms, provide environmental habitat, and support a strong economy. 

To-date, the County has only been able to implement piecemeal dune restoration projects that do not address the larger problem of sand loss from the beach and dune system.  Although the dune restoration projects help to buy us time, the County needs an effective beach nourishment project to restore the coastline to historical conditions.

The Flagler County Beach Management Plan was passed by the Board of County Commissioners on October 16th, 2023.  This Beach Management Plan is focused on restoring and maintaining a healthy beach and dune system through periodic beach nourishment to benefit the community at-large.  The document lists the implementation strategies, as a "roadmap", for how the County plans to build the beaches and dunes back to a level that offers storm protection, a healthy coastal ecosystem, and supports a thriving tourism industry in Flagler County.  

See the information below to find out more about beach nourishment.

WHAT IS BEACH NOURISHMENT? 

The process of restoring the beaches is called beach nourishment, which provides protection by rebuilding natural systems while reducing or preventing the consequences of beach erosion. Healthy beaches absorb the brunt force of waves, wind, tides, currents, and storms, allowing dunes to protect infrastructure.  

Ongoing maintenance, provided through periodic nourishment, is required to protect our beachfront’s accessibility, natural beauty, and ecological vitality, as well as our community's economic viability.

The photo above shows a beach undergoing beach nourishment by using dredged sand from offshore and pumping it onto the beach to build the beach.  This is typically how the beaches are built, pushing the mean high-water line seaward.

The photo below shows the narrow pre-construction beach before the nourishment and the wide beach that was built by using offshore sand.

WHY DOES FLAGLER COUNTY NEED BEACH NOURISHMENT?

Beaches are an integral part of the quality of life in Flagler County and support homes, businesses, and related infrastructure (roads, utilities) for many residents and visitors. More than just a playground, beaches are an important economic asset for our community, provide a buffer to flooding during large coastal storms, and provide a healthy environmental habitat. 

The beach shown below is in Painter's Hill in Flagler County, where the dune and vegetation have been eroded away from frequent storms.  Over time the beach has become steeper and narrower. 

The below beach in South Carolina looked very similar, where persistent long-term erosion from hurricanes and nor'easter storms resulted in very little beach at high tide.

 After a beach nourishment project, the same houses now have a dune and a wide beach as seen in the drone image below.  

CONCLUSION 

Flagler County is one of many coastal areas that will need to decide how to increase resilience in the face of coastal erosion and flooding. We are facing a time in history where the decisions that we make today will affect the future of the beaches, and in extension, our local communities.  The Board of County Commissioners is dedicated to restoring the natural beauty of the beaches in Flagler County.