FAQ’s provided by the U.S. Army Corps at its May 5, 2020 meeting, hosted by the Presidents Council of Hutchinson Island

What actions are taken to ensure dunes/beach north of the Federal project remain healthy?

• Modeling looks at misc miscellaneous runs of storms.
• If there was damage identified it would have been included in recommended plan.

• No; recommended plan is based on anticipated damages.  
• If additional areas were requested to be added, that would require re-study

• Once authorized, the project is eligible for federal FCCE funding at 100% federal cost. This usually includes funding to replace only sands lost during storm events.

• Beach projects are not making the cut for the President’s Council Budget.

•  FEMA, but not applicable if the federal project moves forward.

• Perpetual construction easements for life of the project (50 years).
• Not temporary.

• Authorization (completed 2018)
• PPA executed Sponsor (pending)
• Non-federal cash (pending)

• CBRA is designated by the FWS.
• We cannot do anything that would encourage development.
• Construction within CBRA zones are 100% non-federal responsibility.
• We obtained an exception for Dolman Park since it is County owned.  Therefore, it can be cost shared.
• 2 smaller CBRA areas (about 160 linear feet) are in the CBRA zone and not cost shared (100% non-federal cost).
• The overall cost share factors all of this in, averages it.

• Where is our largest gaps, north and south terminus of each?
• Requirement is ¼ mile north and ¼ mile south from each access/parking.
• So really ½ mile between each.
• We used a more generous approach and used peak maximum visitation verus using beach capacity, which would have required more spots.
• Look at public transportation to provide more access.

Why did the cost change from $20.3 million to $22.8 million:

• The cost communicated in Feb/Mar 2019 was not a result of a cost increase, but rather clarification of the total project cost summary.
• $20.3 million was the initial estimated cost at a FY18 price level.
• Now that the award has slipped, the fully funded cost for the Initial Construction is now estimated at $22.8M.

• Due to environmental windows, we cannot place sand on the beach until November 1 each year.
• We must be complete with all beach work by the end of April. 

• Project was designed and authorized based on damages incurred with the current inventory in place, current conditions.
• If there was a major change to the area, a new report would be required to evaluate damages = New Authorization.

• SACS holds public webinars.
• Last held March 5, 2020.
• We are going to have focus area specific workshops this spring and summer.
• The north fork of St. Lucie River is in the East Central Florida Focus Area.
• Also looking into vulnerabilities to St. Lucie River in and around Port St. Lucie.

• We have several key products that are completed or close to completion.
• Here’s the link to the Tier 1 Risk Assessment Geoportal. 
• Is there any promising or new prospective cost-effective and efficient shoreline sand collecting or capturing technology on the horizon?  Does the Army Corp support exploring new technology, such as the sediment collectors being used in the Galveston project, or the Holmberg technology being used in the Great Lakes? Will the Army Corp support us becoming involved in a feasibility study for new technology that may be used to reduce our rising nourishment costs?
• Please check out the SAND and RSM Optimization updates. ERDC may be interested in a discussion on sand collecting or capturing technology.

• Evaluating dune profiles to reduce storm damages is something that is being evaluated in SACS, however specific recommendations with respect to project dimensions are not anticipated to be made.

• Understand what the 50-year project does for you.
• Understand estimates are estimates.  Costs are inflated, but are tools for planning.
• Stay involved!

Click here to read the Army Corps of Engineers Presentation