Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting

Topic: Learn About the Duval Shore Protection Beach Renourishment

Guest speakers:

Kevin Bodge, Olsen Associates Coastal Engineer

Jason Harrah, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

At the end of April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin the Duval Shore Protection Project to renourish our beaches. To provide residents more information about this important project, Beaches Watch will host a community meeting on Wednesday, May 1 at 7pm at the Beaches Branch Library, 600 3^rd St., Neptune Beach. The meeting is open to the public.

Guest Speakers will be Kevin Bodge, coastal engineering consultant to the City of Jacksonville and Jason Harah, Corps of Engineers Project Manager for the Duval Shore Protection Project. The guest speakers will be discussing the future of the beach renourishment project and its relevance to resiliency in this era of rising sea levels. Information to be presented will include the scope and schedule of the renourishment project and dune sea oat planting, the status of the projects’ federal authorization and its future, and how the project will protect marine turtle nests during the project. Also included will be information about the roles of dunes in the project and the misuse of dune fencing as well as a look at how the sea level has changed over the last 100 years and how the project adapts to the sea level rise.

“This meeting will give our citizens a better understanding of what to expect with the upcoming beach renourishment project and why these projects are so important to the future of our beaches and quality of life,” said Maria Mark, president of Beaches Watch.