St. Johns County updates on beach restoration projects (VIDEO)

St. Johns County Coastal Management recently shared how it manages more than 32 miles of eroded shoreline.

Most funding for St. Johns County coastal projects is provided by federal and state grants and tax dollars paid by tourists. The County recently announced it will receive $4.75 million from the state for the South Ponte Vedra Beach Dune Restoration project.

This appropriation matches $9.75 million in federal funds for a critical beach erosion project south of GTMRR beaches. Once complete, this engineered beach will provide durable protection of property, public infrastructure, and vulnerable ecosystems.

The County has 42 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline and manages 32 miles of shoreline. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection designates 17.1 miles as critically eroded.

There is another 7.6 miles designated as non-critically eroded beach. In 2023, the County completed six coastal projects and started four new projects in 2024.

St. Johns County recently completed the Ponte Vedra Beach Restoration Project two months ahead of the originally anticipated schedule. It was a $38.6 million dune restoration project covering nearly nine miles of coastline.

In 2023, St. Johns County beaches saw a record 133 green sea turtle nests as part of 1,205 total nests and an estimated 79,811 sea turtle hatchlings.

The County recorded these historic conservation successes amid multiple full-scale beach nourishment projects, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Augustine Shore Protection Project, the South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Army Corps Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, the South Ponte Vedra Dune Project, and the FEMA Dune Enhancement Project that has been renourishing St. Johns County beaches in the wake of erosion from Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole.