Corps extends comment period for Flagler County draft shoreline study

Published Feb. 18, 2014

Corps extends comment period for Flagler County draft shoreline study

Jacksonville, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District is extending the public comment period to Mar. 15 for the Flagler County Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project Draft Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment. 

     The Corps received several requests for an extension of the public review period, which originally ended today.

     “We want to be open and transparent with the public and if additional time will give them more clarity, then that’s what we need to do,” said Project Manager Jason Harrah.

     Shoreline erosion currently threatens oceanfront infrastructure, including National Scenic Highway SR A1A and both public and private structures. As the only north-south hurricane evacuation route for communities along the coastline, SR A1A is essential for public safety during evacuation events.

     Opportunities to reduce the risk of coastal damages and improve conditions were examined and approximately 9.7 miles of coastline were investigated during the feasibility study process.

     The Corps' tentatively selected plan (TSP) will provide additional armoring and protection of SR A1A.  The TSP consists of a 10-foot seaward extension of the existing dune along 2.6 miles between 7th to 28th streets in central Flagler Beach. Construction of the dune extension will extend the existing berm and the entire active profile seaward.  Renourishment events would average about once every 11 years to fix eroded areas. 

     To build the berm, the Corps anticipates dredging sand from an offshore borrow site and pumping it onto the adjacent beach.  Initial construction will cover some vegetation, but new vegetation, similar to the existing foliage, will be planted following construction. 

     The study team evaluated numerous alternatives, including no action; non-structural measures such as flood proofing, relocation, land acquisition, etc.; shore protection with hard structures such as seawalls, revetments, groins, etc.; shore protection with soft structures like beach nourishment, geotubes, etc.; combinations; and others.

     For more information on the draft study and environmental assessment, please go online to http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ShoreProtection/FlaglerCounty.aspx.  A hard-copy is also available at Flagler County's main branch library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway, N.W., Palm Coast, and at the Flagler Beach library, 315 South 7th Street.

    The public is invited to send comments by email to Flagler.HSDRComments@usace.army.mil or via mail to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Attn: Kathleen McConnell (CESAJ-PD-EC), 701 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207.

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Contact
Susan Jackson
904-232-1630
susan.j.jackson@usace.army.mil

Release no. 14-009