JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District will begin work on Hutchinson Island in support of the Martin County Shore Protection Project, early April 2026.
The project includes construction of a dune and beach berm in two segments between R‑01 and R‑25. Crews will place approximately 360,000 cubic yards of beach‑compatible sand dredged from a borrow area located about 6.3 nautical miles offshore in federal waters. The Jacksonville District awarded the Martin County Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction contract Oct. 14, 2025, to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., LLC of Oak Brook, Illinois. The $14.6 million contract calls for dredging sand from an offshore borrow area and placing it along four miles of eroded shoreline on Hutchinson Island.
Contractors will access the beach through the Sea Turtle Beach and Beachwalk Paisley access points. Walkways may be temporarily adjusted to allow equipment to move safely along the shoreline. All walkovers will be repaired and restored once construction is complete. Work will remain ongoing through Easter weekend.
Work also includes endangered species monitoring, beach tilling, beach‑fill quality control, screening, and other environmental compliance measures. Construction is scheduled to conclude before April 30 to avoid impacts to nesting sea turtles. Martin County, the non‑federal sponsor, will identify and relocate sea turtle nests before and after construction, while the contractor will perform this work during construction.
The project is funded through Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) funds following damages from Hurricane Nicole in 2022. Under Public Law 84‑99, the Corps may repair and rehabilitate qualifying coastal storm risk management projects using FCCE funds when available.
Federal shore protection projects are engineered to reduce coastal storm risk by absorbing wave energy and allowing beaches to erode during storms while protecting roads, critical infrastructure , and homes. In addition to supporting economic stability and tourism, beach renourishment restores essential habitat for shorebirds and marine turtles.
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Release no. 26-017