JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla. (April 17, 2023) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is pleased to announce the release of the Draft Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment for the St. Johns County, FL Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (Ponte Vedra Beach).
The purpose of this three-year study is to address coastal storm damages and effects from sea level rise for long-term community resilience over a 50-year period of analysis along the shores of Ponte Vedra Beach.
“The Jacksonville District project delivery team has been working diligently since the signing of the Feasibility Cost Share Agreement back in April 2021 to come up with a tentatively selected plan that reduces risk from future storm events and sea level rise for the residents and tourists who love the St. Johns County beaches,” said Col. James Booth, District Commander.
The draft report includes the tentatively selected plan consisting of periodic beach and dune nourishment along some 5.1 miles of shoreline in South Ponte Vedra Beach. Initial construction is anticipated to require approximately 2.1 million cubic yards of sand placement. Planned future maintenance cycles are estimated to require approximately 660,000 cubic years of sand renourishment every 10 years.
The Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) document is available for public review and comment for a 30-day period from April 17, 2023, to May 16, 2023. The Draft IFR/EA documents are available for public review at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/.
On that page, scroll down to “St. Johns” and click on the “+” to open a list of environmental study and project materials. Scroll down the list to find the Draft IFR/EA documents dated 17 April 2023.
Public comments are encouraged and may be provided either by email or U.S. Postal service mail.
Email: PonteVedraBeachCSRM@usace.army.mil
U.S. Mail:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Attn: Darren Pecora, Planning Division
701 San Marco Blvd.
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Comments must be received by May 16, 2023, for consideration.
The project delivery team will host a public meeting together with the study’s non-federal sponsor, St. Johns County, on May 11, 2023, at which they will present the study findings and a formal public comment session will be available. Details are in development. The team’s goal is to complete the study process with signing of a Chief of Engineers Report in April 2024. The report will then be sent to Congress for authorization and appropriations to complete initial construction of the project.
Updates will be posted to the study website – https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/PonteVedra/
For information on other Jacksonville District studies, projects and operations, please visit www.saj.usace.army.mil.