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BEACH RESTORATION
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Western Beaches: Mid-Destin & Holiday Isle (last updated: 7/16/08)
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Update: May-June 2008
Regarding Western Beaches: Mid-Destin and Holiday Isle
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Project Length: 3.1 miles (R-17 to R-33.5)
From east jetty (or Destin Pointe) to Silver Shells
Estimated Project Cost: $13.4 million
State Cost Share Eligibility:
FUNDING:
The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council (TDC) developed a blended funding stream for Destin and Okaloosa Island’s beach restoration projects based on:
Destin Project Cost Distribution: (actual dollar amounts are estimates only)
FDEP State Share: 6% or $800,000
TDC: 58% or $7.79 m
MSBU: 36% or $4.81 m
Annual MSBU Revenue needed: $740,300 for 7 years.
PERMITTING:
The permits required to construct a beach restoration project are called Joint Coastal Permits (JCP). Both JCP applications for western Destin and Okaloosa County are currently under review by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Other agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, will also conduct a review. Once these permits are approved, we will be able to request bids from dredging contractors to construct projects for the City of Destin, Okaloosa Island, and Eglin property.
EROSION CONTROL LINE (ECL):
An Erosion Control Line, once established, becomes the boundary between public property and private property. Establishment of an erosion control line is a prerequisite to the construction of a beach restoration project and is established in accordance with a statutorily imposed process. The location of an erosion control line is established along the mean high water line.
SAND SOURCE:
Two sand sources have been identified off of Okaloosa Island for all three jurisdictions’ beaches. Engineers are currently testing the sand grain size, consistency, and color to make sure our beaches remain white and crystalline.
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COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO’S IN DESTIN’S MSBU DISTRICT?
Destin’s MSBU boundaries are outlined on a map.
HOW WAS THE MSBU RATE DETERMINED?
The TDC engaged the coastal engineering firm, COASTAL TECH, to determine a fair funding mechanism to ensure that the remaining beaches of Destin and Okaloosa County can be restored in a timely manner. Although the costs are just projections and cannot be firmly established until a contract is negotiated for actual construction, Coastal Tech and the City of Destin are confident that the projected costs are realistic.
MY PROPERTY FALLS WITHIN DESTIN’S MSBU DISTRICT. HOW MUCH WILL I PAY, AND FOR HOW LONG?
The MSBU formula was designed to distribute the costs equitably among those assessed over a seven-year period. Assessments are based on Benefits to parcel owners within the MSBU boundary
The MSBU splits the cost between the two benefit categories:
The allocation was based on available data, public hearings, and the fair allocation of costs.
I OWN BEACHFRONT PROPERTY. WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS TO THE NEW BEACH?
On a natural beach in Destin, private beachfront property extends to the Mean High Water Line (MHWL), a 19-year average of the high tide line. Prior to a restoration project, the State surveys the MHWL and renames it the Erosion Control Line (ECL). All new beach built seaward of the ECL is, therefore, not on private property, but is being built on sovereign state land. It will continue to be state land, even if it is not funded completely by tax dollars. Any addition of sand to the upland property landward of the ECL, however, shall remain the property of the upland owner.
Florida Statute 161.141 states clearly that no structures may be erected on the newly created beach and that no activities shall be allowed on the newly created beach that may be injurious to the upland property owner. Destin’s Beach Ordinance requires that beach vendors be licensed through an upland property owner and must retain an office at the upland structure. No other form of beach vending is permitted in the City of Destin.
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January 9, 2008
There will be no construction anywhere along Destin’s 6 miles of beach during 2008 Spring -Summer Seasons. The restoration of Destin’s eastern beaches (the Crystal Beach area) was completed last summer, and that 2-mile stretch of beach is now100 feet wider.
The Holiday Isle area is slated for a similar restoration later this year or early 2009. The City of Destin and the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council are in the permitting and design phase right now, and squaring away our funding sources. By summer of 2009 we hope to have all of Destin’s remaining four miles of beach restored.
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March 15, 2007
VISUAL OF HOLIDAY ISLE SHORE LINE
This document shows the original 2004 Destin shore line on Holiday Isle near the Jetty East Condos. The yellow line shows the current shore line based on a GPS reading in March 2007.
Click on photo to enlarge.
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February 23, 2007
REGARDING DESTIN'S WESTERN BEACHES
The City of Destin is currently conducting a sand search for the restoration of its western beaches (Holiday Isle to western boundary of
Henderson
Beach
State Park ).
We also have funding to perform the design, engineering, and permitting of the new beach, which we will initiate as soon as a source of sand is found (early summer).
The permitting process takes 6-9 months. Under the best of circumstances, the soonest we could build a new beach is spring 2008-- and that is if funding is in place. Currently, the City has no funding available for this $10,000,000 project.
We are working on that daily in conjunction with
Okaloosa
County and the Tourist Development Council, and a possible partnership with Eglin Air Force Base.
We will update any significant change in the status of this project as soon as possible.
June 2006
Mid-Destin & Holiday Isle Area Update
April 9, 2006
Mid-Destin & Holiday Isle Area Notice
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Today: Sunny with a high of 90
