2021 Gulf County FEMA Berms - Indian Peninsula Segment

Project Updates

June 10, 2022 Project Update: Sand placement activities have completed along the Indian Peninsula segment as of May 31, 2022. The sand placement contractor has demobilized from the site and is now currently working on the St. Joe Beach/Beacon Hill segment. The remaining dune vegetation is currently being installed and is expected to be completed within the next two weeks by a seperate contractor using lightweight ATV's.

May 25, 2022 Progress Update: Construction progress has been progressing eastward towards Indian Pass. The project is majorly complete at this point and construction related activities are occurring roughly near the shoreline segment between R-152 and R-153. Sand placement will stop around the R-152.5 area as several sea turtles have now made nests within the remaining footprint of the proposed dune for the area between R-153 and R-154. Due to the timing of the nests being laid and the locations with respect to the remaining project length, a decision was made to stop the sand placement part of the project short of the proposed R-154 area in order to avoid the sea turtle nests. Dune vegetation will still be planted between R-153 and R-155 within the footprint of the proposed dune as originally proposed and this will be completed over the next few weeks. The contractor is expected to begin demobilization efforts and restoring the staging areas to pre-project conditions over the coming week after completing a minor adjustment to the dune immediately west of Money Bayou. This should be complete by the first week of June and as a reminder, the schedule is weather dependent.

April 22, 2022 Progress Update: Construction progress has been progressing eastward towards Indian Pass. The project is currently over 75 percent complete and construction related activities are occcuring roughly near the shoreline segment between R-149 and R-150. The current estimate to complete construction of the Indian Peninsula segment is around the last week of May to the first week of June. Upon completion of the Indian pass segment, the contractor will pivot to the St. Joe Beach/Beacon Hill Segment of the project.

December 09, 2021 Revised Plans And Progress Update: The construction plans have been updated to account for recent site condition changes since the project was originally designed and bid. Updated aerial imagery and topograhy were used to make the changes. The following link provides a PDF of the revised sheets. The contractor at this point has completed roughly 500 feet of the project, and decided to start on the west end of the project at beach access road and is currently working towards the east, generally moving towards Money Bayou.

October 12, 2021 Notice! Existing Vegetation and Boardwalks: The proposed dune will be constructed within existing vegetation that has since grown back from Hurricane Michael's destruction. The proposed dune location was the recommended location by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's agency review during the permitting process to help establish the dune system back to its prior location, pre-Hurricane Michael. The proposed dune will be replanted with four different native species consisting of Sea Oats, Bitter/Beach Panic Grass, Beach Elder, and Gulf Bluestem. In additiona to the proposed vegetation, the existing vegetation that will be buried are expected to emerge through the proposed dune. The existing vegetation is typically comprised of Sea Oats and Panic Grass and will provide additional stabilization for the dune. An edited image is provided below highlighting an example location of the proposed dune and some quick facts regarding it. Any areas disturbed by the contractor will be revegetated.

Gulf County FEMA Berm Project - Indian Peninsula Segment | Indian Peninsula, Florida, USA

Existing Boardwalks: Existing Boardwalks do not need to be removed. Pink survey flagging has been placed in the location of the proposed dune along the western part of the project (Money Bayou to Beach Access Road) by the project surveyor, Dewberry Engineers, Inc. The survey flagging shows the approximate landward and seaward limits of the proposed dune crest (top of proposed dune) and the actual dune width will be wider considering the proposed dune slopes. The contractor will place sand next to existing boardwalks. Sand will likely sluff under the boardwalk naturally, eliminating the need to remove the boardwalk. The proposed dune will be anywhere between two to five (2-5) feet above the existing ground depending on the location.

October 12, 2021: Schedule/Project Update! Inland Construction has revised their schedule and is set to start staging for the project on or around October 25th near Beach Access Road (first beach access east of Salinas Park) on the western end of the project. Actual construction is estimated to begin on or around the first week of November and will commence near the Money Bayou outfall. A project map and proposed construciton sequencing diagram has been provided below. The shoreline between Beach Access Road and Money Bayou will be impacted by construction traffic which will include offroad dump trucks. Please be careful when utlizing this area of the beach. Additional updates regarding the shoreline east of Money Bayou will be forthcoming once we get the project underway.

Gulf County FEMA Berm Project - Indian Peninsula Segment | Indian Peninsula, Florida, USA

October 1, 2021: Schedule/Project Update! Gulf County has contracted with Inland Construction and Engineering to construct the Indian Peninsula and Beacon Hill segments of the 2021 Gulf County FEMA Berms Project. Inland Construction is set to start staging for the project on or around October 18th near the Salinas Park on the western end of the project. Actual construction is estimated to begin on or around the week of October 25th and will commence near the Money Bayou outfall. The contractors initial plan is to haul sand from the Salinas Park area to the Money Bayou area and then proceed to construct the project westerly, towards Salinas Park. This construction sequencing is subject to change, however that is the initial plan. The shoreline between Salinas Park and Money Bayou will be impacted by construction traffic which will include offroad dump trucks. Please be careful when utlizing this area of the beach. Additional updates will be forthcoming once we get the project underway.

Homeowners located seaward of Gulf Pines Drive and near Money Bayou Please begin removing any sand fencing you may have that is installed and is in, on or seaward of the existing dune. We cannont bury sand fencing and it must be removed in order to get the sand as part of this project. The plans showing the location of the proposed dune relative to your street or home can be found below or at the link HERE. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us using the form at the bottom of this page or by clicking HERE.

June 28, 2021: Permits for the Indian Peninsula Project can be accessed below and more details will be provided shortly with an update to the project schedule.

February 26, 2021: Bidding plans for review can be found at the link HERE. More details will be provided shortly. Please feel free to visit the FAQ's as they have been updated to reflect this particular project or reach out to us using the Contact form at the bottom of this site.

February 26, 2021: Gulf County is proud to announce that the FEMA Emergency Berm (Dune Enhancement) Project is now out for bid. The proposed project is located along the gulf front beach of Indian Peninsula and Beacon Hill/St Joe Beach, Gulf County, Florida. The project consists of the placement of clean white beach compatible sand obtained from the Honeyville Sand Mine in Wewahitchka, Florida. In addition, the project includes the installation of multiple native dune vegetation species. Bidding documents and the advertisement for the bid can be found at the following link on Gulf County's Website (Search for Bid #2021-13) Gulf County Bids.

Permits

Permits for the Indian Peninsula Project can be downloaded below.

History and Background

Hurricane Michael impacted Florida between October 7, 2018 and October 19, 2018, bringing strong winds, storm surge, and flooding. President Trump signed a disaster declaration (FEMA-4399-DR-FL) on October 11, 2018 authorizing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide federal assistance to the designated areas of Florida. This assistance is provided pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), and Public Law (PL) 93-288, as amended. Section 403 of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program to provide assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster. The coast of Gulf County was damaged via storm surge and erosion incurred during Hurricane Michael in October 2018.

Gulf County, Florida was designated as a county eligible to receive federal assistance. Gulf County has applied through the PA Program to receive funding to restore the eroded coastal dune system and install beach berms (dunes) in Gulf County. Two of the shoreline segments (St. Joe Beach and Indian Pass) are natural beaches and one (St. Joseph Peninsula) is an engineered beach previously authorized for nourishment and maintenance by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

This project is located in Gulf County, Florida along the northern Gulf of Mexico Coast. The Indian Peninsula segment, measures 20,300 linear feet, and is located south of County Road 30A, from R-135 (29.6843, -85.3034) to R-155 (29.6774, -85.2374).

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Construction

Q: When will the project start?

A: Construction is anticipated to begin around Mid-October of 2021. Gulf County has selected Inland Construction and Engineering to construct the project.

Q: How long will the project go on?

A: Construction of the 3.8-mile dune restoration project that extends from Salinas Park to roughly Indian Pass will take approximately 4 months. This timeframe will depend on weather conditions, equipment issues and other external factors.

Q: Where will the project start?

A: The contractor has indicated that the project will start in the vicinity of Money Bayou and proceed west towards Salinas Park initially.

Q: How long will the construction be in front of my property?

A: How long it will take to construct a beach segment is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are external, so we cannot predict the actual time. However, it can be expected that the project will advance down the beach at a rate of 100 to 500 feet per day. The advancement will include the dumping of sand from offroad dump trucks followed by construction equipment that will move and grade the beach. The rate of advancement will be dependent on any potential delays caused by inclement weather, equipment issues or the presence of an endangered species such as a sea turtle. Even though the active part of the project will move down the beach fairly quickly, there will be sections with equipment on the beach for most of the construction period.

Q: Will I be able to get onto the beach while the project is going on?

A: Yes, however it might mean that you will have to walk north or south of your property to access the beach, but you will always be able to get to the beach during construction. Pedestrian traffic may be prohibited in the 300- or 500-foot segment under “active construction”, but that would be a temporary situation for a relatively short period of time, and you can simply enjoy the beach north or south of the construction activity.

Q: Does the contractor work certain days of the week or certain hours of the day?

A: The beach restoration project is anticipated to be constructed on a 7-days a week basis, during daylight hours only. The amount of construction activity will be dependent on any potential delays caused by inclement weather, equipment issues or the presence of an endangered species such as a sea turtle.

Q: Is the construction noisy?

A: YES. The beach will be an “active construction” site that will take place 7-days a week during daylight hours only. Offroad Dump-trucks, bulldozers, front-end loaders and other large pieces of equipment will be used in the construction of the beach project. You will be able to tell there is an “active construction” site in your area when the operations are near or seaward of your property.

Q: Will construction equipment and laborers be accessing the beach through our property?

A: NO. The limits of construction are from the top of the dune out into the Gulf of Mexico and the contractor is prohibited from going through your property without permission from the property owner. The contractor is allowed access to the beach at designated staging areas and beach accesses.

Q: Will I still be able to rent my home or condo during construction?

A: Yes. As with many other beach communities during construction of a beach project, rentals and owners still enjoy the beach and typical vacation activities during construction. However, it should be noted that some safety restrictions around the “active construction” site will limit access to the general public but, the beach will remain open. This will be a fast-moving project, so at this time we cannot predict where and when the crews will be working and, if it will impact your property during a given week. We will do our best to provide updates through this website as to where the crews are working and where beach access is temporarily restricted.

Q: Will I have to take my dune walkover down?

A: Not necessarily. It will depend whether or not the dune fronting your property has been eroded and will be restored during this project. Whether you remove your dune walkover before the project begins is up to you. When the contractor encounters any structure that is not removed (dune walkover, gazebos, etc.) they will only place sand up to and around it. If you leave a structure intact and the contractor places sand around it, it may not be as much sand as your property would have received if you had removed it. If you wish to remove and then reinstall your boardwalk or other structure, we suggest you check with the individual who constructed them for the best way to remove and perhaps reinstall them after construction.

Q: Will I have to get a permit to rebuild my gazebo or boardwalk that was destroyed in past storms?

A: Any activity on the beach and dune requires a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). However, the type of permit you need will depend on the size and type of structure. For walkovers that meet certain DEP criteria, a field permit may be issued. For other structures, such as gazebos, you may need to apply for and obtain a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) permit from DEP.

It is extremely important that you do not begin construction of any boardwalk or other structure without obtaining the necessary permitting to do so.

The DEP CCCL Permit Manager for Gulf County is:

Ronard Ivey, Environmental Specialist II
Ronard.E.Ivey@dep.state.fl.us
850-245-7591

You can view the Sand Fence Guidelines and Dune Walkover Guidelines here. Link

Q: Will I have to plant sea oats myself?

A: NO. As part of the dune restoration project, the replanting of the dunes will be undertaken shortly after construction. There are four different native species of plants proposed for this project and the species were selected after consulting the local US Fish and Wildlife Office. The following species will be planted (depending on nursery availability): Sea Oats, Bitter/Beach-Panicum, Beach Elder, and Gulf Bluestem.

Construction Drawings For the 2021 Gulf County Fema Berm/Dune Restoration Project - Indian Peninsula Project

Provided below are images of the plans that will be utilized for bidding. The plans provide details as to the proposed widths and profile shape along the proposed project. Please note the provided plans are not valid for construction without being signed and sealed and are being provided for review only.

Contact Us

If you have a specific question not addressed in the FAQ's, please feel free to send us a message. Typcial response times are between 24 and 48 hours during business hours.