Flagler County, FL - Soon, Flagler County crews will begin to restore vegetation and beach access as part of the county's ongoing dune project.
On May 21, the focus will shift to planting dune vegetation and restoring beach access points in finished areas of the dunes. With 15 weeks of work now completed, crews have fortified over 3.25 miles of dunes with additional sand and have repaired and reopened dune walkovers at Varn Park. Crews have been generally progressing down the beach from north to south.
With sea turtle nesting season underway, the county has consulted Atlantic Ecological Services to survey the beach and Volusia Flagler Turtle Patrol to relocate any turtle nests that would be impacted by the restoration work.
“The first nest of about 100 eggs, a loggerhead turtle nest, was relocated today,” said Project Administrator and Road and Bridge Manager, Alex Spiller. “The nest was not located in today’s work area, but within an area we will be working in the next 90 days.”
The county plans to install signs asking beachgoers to "Dodge the Dune" at eight beach access points in unincorporated Flagler County. Crews will also place five-foot-wide "Mobi-mats" at the end of residential streets to counteract the impact of foot traffic on the dunes. Wider mats will be placed at the end of MalaCompra Road, 16th Road (Old Salt Park), and Jungle Hut Road to accommodate Flagler County Fire Rescue-Ocean Rescue's jet ski trailers.
“Those wider mats will be a little uncomfortable on bare feet,” said General Services Director, Heidi Petito. “Wearing shoes to protect your feet is always a good idea, but it will be especially important in these three areas.”
By Friday, May 11, project staging area will move south from Old Salt Park to Jungle Hut Road.
Photo courtesy of the Flagler Beach Police Department.
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