Exciting news from the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD)! The ongoing beach renourishment project is progressing faster than expected and could be wrapped up well before Thanksgiving.
At a recent Nov. 6 workshop, CEPD General Manager Brighton Heard delivered a promising update on the project’s status.
️ Renourishment Speeding Up
The project is moving at a quick pace, with work nearly three-quarters complete. Here’s a quick summary of the progress:
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Contractor: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock
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Current Location: The work line is approaching the ‘Tween Waters Inn & Marina.
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Next Steps: After reaching that point, the contractor will move back north to dredge the final 2,000+ cubic yards of sand.
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New End Date: The project is now estimated to finish by November 23, and possibly sooner if the high productivity continues.
Why the sudden speed? Heard suggested it could be linked to the end of the official sea turtle nesting season, allowing operations to move more efficiently.
Protecting the New Dunes: A Signage Debate
With the project moving forward, a new challenge has emerged: protecting the newly restored dunes.
Dune plantings are already complete across the southern half of the project area. While crews left intentional openings to serve as walkways for beachgoers, people have already been seen stepping on the fragile new plants.
Staff has installed temporary signs to guide the public, but this sparked a debate among the commission about a more permanent solution.
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The Debate: Should the CEPD use temporary plastic signs or invest in permanent, high-quality ones?
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The Argument for Permanent: General Manager Heard favored permanent signs, possibly made of pressure-treated wood and placed every 300 feet. He noted that the temporary signs “appear cheap” and can be blown away in high winds, whereas permanent signs offer a constant reminder to “stay off of the dunes.”
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The Argument for Quality: Commissioner Bob Walter agreed, pointing to the significant investment in the beach project. “I think residents would want a quality sign,” he remarked.
The Solution: The board directed staff to explore a cost-effective approach. They will draft a proposal to purchase materials and build the permanent signs in-house instead of hiring an outside contractor. This proposal will be presented at the next meeting for consideration.
Sanibel Partnership Moves Forward
The CEPD’s efforts are also creating a positive ripple effect for its neighbor. Heard reported that the Sanibel City Council has approved a proposal to “piggyback” off the CEPD’s current agreement.
This partnership will allow approximately 300,000 cubic yards of sand to be placed on north Sanibel. In exchange, Sanibel will provide a cost-share of $142,046 to the CEPD.
