PONCE INLET, Fla. — The Volusia County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a contract with Halifax Paving, Inc. in Ormond Beach for the berm restoration north of Ponce de Leon Inlet.
Following the loss of more than 6.6 million cubic yards of sand in 2022 due to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the county initiated two sand transfer and placement projects in 2024 and 2025 to assist in the recovery efforts of the beaches along our coastline.
The county coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reuse the sand dredged during the USACE’s channel and inlet dredging project to restore a section of beachfront dunes.
In December 2024, the county began accepting bids for contractors that would be responsible for loading, hauling, placing and grading between 480,000 and 900,000 cubic yards of dredge spoil stockpiled on the beach by an USACE contractor.
The council voted 7-0 to approve a $7,752,500 contract with Halifax Paving, Inc. for the berm restoration project.
“It’s a lot of money, but we have to protect our coast,” Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower said during Tuesday's meeting.
Volusia County officials want to reiterate that protecting the coastline remains a top priority.
“This is an important step in our recovery efforts as we’re anticipating anywhere from 750,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand to 900,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand to be made available to put back on our most critically eroded shorelines," Volusia County Coastal Director Jessica Fentress said.
The contract also includes removing the existing county or state installed TrapBags and dune planting.
According to the county, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to modify their upcoming maintenance dredging of Ponce Inlet so the county can capitalize on the material and place it back onto the shoreline north of the Inlet.
The USACE Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway Beneficial Reuse Project consists of approximately 700,000 cubic yards of beach quality material from within the Inlet and the ICW.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will also conduct work on another portion of Volusia County beaches in New Smyrna Beach.
The South Project, benefiting properties south of Sapphire Road, consists of approximately 550,000 cubic yards of beach quality material from the FIND Dredged Material Management Area MSA 434 (aka Rattlesnake Island).
The projects are funded by a Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant.
Next week, officials in Volusia County are hosting community sessions to discuss long term coastal resiliency strategies.
- Tuesday, Feb. 25: Meeting Room 103, Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach
- Wednesday, Feb. 26: Daytona Beach Shores Community Center, 3000 Bellemead Drive
- Thursday, Feb. 27: Ballroom, Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach
