As the Florida Gulf Coast endures another hurricane season, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District have joined forces to be prepared when coastal counties need sand for shoreline restoration.
Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary David Bernhardt, a historic agreement, which was signed this summer, clears the way for offshore work to begin on a much-needed sand inventory offshore Southwest Florida. The Southwest Florida Offshore Sediment Inventory will help further BOEM’s collection of data for the National Sand Inventory to foster coastal rebuilding.
“This Administration is better serving the Florida Gulf Coast through the support of the Southwest Florida Offshore Sediment Inventory, resulting in enhanced coastal resiliency. We look forward to working with USACE on this much-needed coastal restoration project,” said Walter Cruickshank, Acting BOEM Director.
Under the agreement, BOEM and USACE will start collecting geotechnical and geophysical data this month to identify sand resources off the Gulf coasts of Manatee and Sarasota Counties in Florida. The data can be used to support restoration projects needed to address erosion, which often follows hurricanes and other severe storms in the Gulf region.
The study and the resulting sand and gravel inventory will ensure that USACE‐Jacksonville District and BOEM’s Gulf of Mexico Office can assess available resources for the protection of communities and critical infrastructure from future coastal storms in Southwest Florida.
"I am very pleased to sign this interagency agreement in support of the Southwest Florida Offshore Sediment Inventory," said U.S. Army Jacksonville District Engineer, Col. Andrew Kelly. "The funding for this study builds on and strengthens the Corps of Engineers' longtime partnership with BOEM in current and future studies and shore protection projects that significantly contribute to the resilience and prosperity of our coastal environment and communities throughout Florida."
Under this agreement, BOEM has committed $540,000 to supplement the Sediment Assessment and Needs Determination (SAND) study that will locate and characterize domestic sand resources to support the development and placement of planned and emergency beach nourishment projects. The success of restoration projects often depends on the type and volume of sediment used.
With this agreement, BOEM and USACE will be able to share data and optimize engineering, economic, and environmental criteria by matching potential sediment sources with future restoration projects and post-construction renourishment requirements.
For more information please visit: https://www.boem.gov/building-national-offshore-sand-inventory or https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/