$27M beach restoration project in Venice underway

A nearly $27.5 million beach restoration project is underway in south Sarasota County. The federally funded initiative covers a stretch of critically eroded shoreline from south of the Venice Inlet to south of the Venice Fishing Pier.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is managing the 3.2-mile beach renourishment project, which began in late June and is expected to be complete by September.

Image courtesy of the city of Venice

Beaches from the Humphris Park South Jetty to South Brohard Park, including Venice Beach and Service Club Park, will be part of the restoration effort.

To obtain “beach-compatible sand” for the renourishment, crews said they began dredging about 11 miles offshore off the coast of Englewood in June. An offshore pipeline was installed to direct the sand onto the beach.

Contractor Weeks Marine Inc. had placed about 58,000 cubic yards of sand on the beach from Gulf Manor to Golden Beach as of July 1, and installed heavy equipment in the project area.

While beaches will remain open to the public for the duration of the work, in active construction areas officials say there may be access restrictions. City of Venice officials advise against diving, swimming, anchoring or operating near active dredging equipment, pipelines, tow wires and marked work zones.

During construction, Mote Marine will monitor any sea turtle nests in the area and safely relocate them, according to the city of Venice. Federal funding constraints forced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform the work during sea turtle nesting season, city officials say.

The beaches in Venice were previously renourished in 2015. This project will replace sand lost since then due to erosion and storm impacts. City officials say the work will restore beach width, preserve sandy areas for critical habitat and public enjoyment and protect upland property and infrastructure.