Captiva Erosion Prevention District receives annual beach monitoring project results

After nearly four years of annual monitoring surveys, the Captiva Erosion Prevention District unveiled the results of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Beach Renourishment Project during a meeting in the Wakefield Room at 'Tween Waters Inn Resort & Spa last Wednesday.

The project, which began in October 2013, measures the effectiveness of the renourishment project annually.

"The purpose of the survey is to look at all the profile lines on our project. To look at the volume of sand and remaining (sand), to look at the width of the beaches, the elevation of the beaches and to put our attention to hot spots," said Captiva Erosion Prevention District Administrator Kathy Rooker.

The renourishment project is required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Monitoring surveys are conducted annually for three years after the project is completed, then bi-annually until the next beach renourishment event or the expiration of the project design life. The survey was done by APTIM, formerly CB&I Coastal Planning. The next renourishment project isn't set to take place until spring or summer 2019.

The survey which began in May, yielded phenomenal results: Out of the 860,900 cubic yards of sand that was placed on Captiva in 2013, 656,024 cubic yards still remain, which equates to 76 percent. Long term, the renourishment project has resulted in 147 feet of beach.