FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Boutelle, Lee
County Division of Natural Resources
(941) 479-8128
LEE COUNTY BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECTS UPDATE
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 6, 2001) – For the benefit of news editors and reporters who may want to do follow-up, in-depth or update stories, the following are upcoming major beach renourishment projects being coordinated by Lee County’s Division of Natural Resources. In all, the projects represent more than $42 million of investment in the county’s coastline.
The projects are listed in order by expected start date.
Estero Island Beach Restoration
Placement of 1 million cubic yards of beachfill in conjunction with a terminal groin in Bowditch Point Regional Park south of Matanzas Pass Federal channel boundary, and 300,000 cubic yards of beachfill on Lovers Key. The groin will be 240 feet long. The project will widen 4.6 miles of Fort Myers Beach running southeast from Bowditch Point as well as 1.1 miles on Lovers Key. Design completed; state and federal permit applications submitted; county in process of accepting donations of perpetual easements from beach property owners.
Location: Southeast from Bowditch Point; mid-island Lovers Key.
Cost: $10.7 million
Funding Source: Local ($1.9 million), State ($3.4 million), Federal ($5.3 million)
Local Partners: Town of Fort Myers Beach
Expected Start Date: August 2001
Expected Project Duration: 4 to 6 months
Gasparilla Island Beach Restoration
Placement of about 900,000 cubic yards of beachfill along the 3.2 miles of critically eroded shoreline immediately north of Boca Grande Pass. Also, construction of an offshore breakwater and two T-head groins near the southern end of the island. Design completed; state and federal permit applications submitted; county in process of accepting donations of perpetual easements from beach property owners and forming Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU).
Location: South end of Gasparilla Island on the Gulf side.
Cost: $9.3 million
Funding Source: Local ($1.7 million), State ($2 million), Federal ($5.7 million)
Local Partners: Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association
Expected Start Date: October 2001
Expected Project Duration: 4 to 6 months
Bonita Beach Renourishment
Will widen 0.8 miles of Bonita Beach. Restores a 1995 project that included two terminal groins and 217,000 cubic yards of beachfill. Currently in design stage.
Location: North end of Little Hickory Island, immediately south of Big Hickory Pass.
Cost: $2.5-to-$3 million
Funding Source:
Local ($1.7 million), State ($870,000)Local Partners: City of Bonita Springs
Expected Start Date: Fiscal Year 2001-02
Expected Project Duration: 3 months
Captiva Island Beach Renourishment
Restoration of 6 miles of beaches initially constructed in 1989 and renourished in 1996. In pre-design stage.
Location: Captiva Island, north end of Sanibel Island and Bowman’s Beach.
Cost: $20 million
Funding Source: Local ($12 million), State ($3.8 million), Federal ($4.3 million)
Local Partners: Captiva Erosion Prevention District; City of Sanibel
Expected Start Date: Fiscal Year 2003-04