For the first time since 2018, Pinellas County has begun a major beach renourishment project along its barrier islands — but this round comes without funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps, which historically covered about 65% of the cost, now requires beachfront property owners to grant permanent public access in exchange for support. That change has led to resistance, with only about 80% of residents signing temporary agreements. As a result, Pinellas is footing the full $125.7 million bill, using tourism tax dollars and $14.2 million in state grant reimbursements approved earlier this year.

The Sand Key portion of the project will have gaps where more than 91 property owners declined to sign temporary construction easements, including over 30 from Indian Shores. Those holdouts mean some stretches of beach in Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, and Redington Shores will be left without dunes, leaving homes more vulnerable to flooding and storm surge.

“This just creates a channel right toward their property,” said Kelli Hammer Levy, the county’s public works director.

The standoff stems from a 2022 Corps policy shift. Previously, only temporary access was required during construction. Now, permanent easements granting public access are mandatory. Some residents have resisted, citing concerns over property rights, and county officials have not been able to reach a compromise with the Corps.

Commissioner Kathleen Peters called it “unprecedented” for the county to take on a project of this scale without federal help, but noted the urgency: “When Helene came, we lost our water pipes, we lost all the underground infrastructure down in Sunset Beach because there was no sand, no beach, to protect that infrastructure.”

The project will place more than 2.5 million cubic yards of sand — enough to fill St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum over 40 times — across Sand Key from Clearwater Beach to North Redington Beach, as well as Treasure Island and Upham Beach.

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has been working with the Corps to revisit its interpretation of the access policy. Peters said she remains hopeful that an agreement will eventually be reached, but warned that the county cannot sustain funding for renourishment every five years on its own.

In the meantime, residents can still submit easements to be added to the project, depending on the stage of construction.

“I am excited beyond belief that we are the first barrier island to get the sand,” said Indian Shores Mayor Diantha Schear. “It’s so important to Indian Shores, and it’s so important to Florida.”

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(Image credit: Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

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