JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District, has released a draft Environmental Assessment (EA), proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and supporting appendices for the proposed rehabilitation of the St. Lucie Inlet South Jetty in Martin County, Florida. The documents are available for public review and comment.
Prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and USACE regulations (33 CFR Part 230.11), the draft EA evaluates the potential environmental effects of rehabilitating the seaward portion of the south jetty to improve its long-term structural stability and functionality.
The Corps' Preferred Alternative would rehabilitate approximately 400 to 500 feet of the seaward head of the south jetty by stabilizing the structure's foundation and placing a second layer of large armor stone. The project would use 9- to 15-ton granite armor stone, with existing jetty stones reused whenever practicable. Additional core stone weighing between 1,600 and 3,200 pounds would be imported as needed.
Construction would involve temporarily removing existing stone from the jetty, excavating beneath the structure to depths of no more than 15 feet below the current seafloor, and installing an approximately one-foot-thick marine mattress composed of fill stone wrapped in geotextile fabric. The marine mattress would extend the jetty footprint by approximately 80 feet to provide a more stable foundation before reconstruction of the jetty core and placement of two layers of armor stone.
The proposed rehabilitation is intended to improve the resilience and longevity of the south jetty while supporting safe navigation through St. Lucie Inlet.
The draft EA, proposed FONSI, and associated appendices are available on the USACE Jacksonville District Environmental Planning website under Martin County:
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/
To access the project documents, expand the "Martin" section and scroll to the St. Lucie Inlet South Jetty Rehabilitation project.
USACE invites interested agencies, organizations, stakeholders, and members of the public to review the documents and submit comments within 30 days of the date of the Notice of Availability (Sept. 3, 2026).
Comments may be submitted by mail to the address listed in the Notice of Availability or by email to Kathryn.E.Lebow@usace.army.mil.
For additional information about the Jacksonville District, visit www.saj.usace.army.mil.
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