The Sanibel City Council has unanimously authorized a major beach renourishment project for northern Sanibel, set to begin on November 29, 2025. This critical work addresses the severe beach and dune erosion caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and further impacts from storms in 2024, including Helene and Milton.
The Urgent Need for Sand
Northern Sanibel has experienced catastrophic sand loss. From pre-Hurricane Ian to June 2024, the beach encompassing Blind Pass eroded by an average of nearly 50 feet. Subsequent storms, including Helene and Milton, stripped an additional 30 feet, resulting in a cumulative average loss of almost 80 feet.
Several factors have complicated recovery efforts in this specific region.
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A previous Lee County project in August/September 2023 placed 85,000 cubic yards of sand between Blind Pass and Bowman’s Beach Park. However, this new sand was severely impacted by a strong low-pressure system in November 2023, shortly after completion.
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Furthermore, the 2019 Blind Pass Inlet Management Plan mandates that sand dredged from the pass be placed on northern Sanibel. With no immediate plans for maintenance dredging, the city explored other options to address the significant erosion.
A Strategic Partnership
Aware that the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD) was actively engaged in its own renourishment project, the city contacted CEPD and its contractor, Great Lakes Dock and Dredge.
This coordination created a strategic opportunity. By coordinating with the ongoing Captiva project, Sanibel can utilize the mobilized equipment and crews. The city, CEPD, and Great Lakes are now finalizing the necessary agreements to proceed.
Project Scope and Timeline
The North Sanibel Beach Renourishment Project will place approximately 300,000 cubic yards of sand fill on the beach, covering the area from the former Mad Hatter restaurant to the western boundary of Bowman’s Beach Park.
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Method: A hopper dredge, located eight miles offshore, will be used. The sand slurry will be dewatered and pumped onto the beach.
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Schedule: Work is scheduled to begin on November 29, 2025, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
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Hours: Operations will run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is standard practice for dredging projects to minimize the construction timeline and disruption to public beach access.
Full Funding Secured
The $8,694,171 project cost is all-inclusive and covers the placement of 200,000 new plants to help stabilize the new dunes.
The project will be fully funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) through the City of Sanibel 2022 Hurricane Ian and Nicole Beach Recovery Project grant.
Sufficient FDEP grant funding also remains to cover additional dune planting along privately owned beach areas that were nourished in 2023 and 2024. This planting work was planned but delayed by the 2024 storm impacts.
This project is part of a larger, ongoing recovery effort facilitated by both FDEP and FEMA funding, which has also supported the emergency berm/gully project, the Historic Sanibel Lighthouse Protection Project, and the Clam Bayou Sand Recovery Project.
