Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems
Beach Renourishment Hotline
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
954-831-4000
Restoring South Broward’s Beaches, from Hallandale Beach to John U. Lloyd State Park
BEACH RESTORATION
In April of 2005, work begins on restoring 6.2 miles of Broward County’s shoreline, from the Broward County line in Hallandale Beach to the John Lloyd State Recreation Area in Hollywood, just south of Port Everglades. The $23.8 million undertaking, known as the Broward County Segment III Shore Protection Project, will involve the placement of approximately 1.7 million cubic yards of sand on South Broward’s eroded beaches. Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and Dania Beach shoreline will be impacted by the renourishment project, which has been in the planning stages for a number of years. The beach will be widened, depending on current width, up to 200 feet. The entire project should be complete by February of 2006. Work on the northern end of the project at John Lloyd State Park will not begin until November of 2005 because of the sea turtle nesting season. Three structures will be constructed at the northern end of the park to “lock-in” the sand along the southern shoreline. Barring unexpected weather or nautical conditions, the new beach should have a life span of at least ten years.
The project is the first beach restoration effort in Broward County in more than a decade. Great Lakes Dock and Dredge Company, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the prime contractor for the project. The company has restored more eroded recreational and commercial waterfronts in the United States than any other company in its field. The project is being sponsored and administered by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, with funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Florida Department of Environmental Projection, Broward County and the municipalities Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and Dania Beach.
WHEN AND HOW
Once beach restoration begins in April, starting in Hallandale Beach and moving north, dredging and beach construction activities will proceed on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, weather permitting. The sand for the restored beach will be obtained from what is known as “borrow areas,” sections of the ocean floor off of the North Broward coast. The sand will be extracted by one or more ships, called “hopper dredges,” which vacuum the sand from the ocean floor and transport it to pumpout locations. The pumpout is a mooring offshore through which the dredge discharges sand to the beach through a submerged 30 inch diameter steel pipe. While a section of beach is being restored, a shore pipe will be present along the beach. Pedestrian and emergency vehicular access ramps will be provided over the shore pipe at 250-foot intervals and at all lifeguard stations. The shore pipe, which will move along with the project, could extend to approximately a mile in length.
INCONVENIENCE
While there will be some noise and construction activities as sections of the beach are restored, every effort is being made to keep inconveniences to a minimum. Vibrations in the vicinity of construction will be monitored and are expected to be minimal and should not impact any structures. About 300 feet of beach are closed at any one time due to construction, but the closure areas move along the beach quite rapidly as construction progresses. At most times during the dredging and discharge cycles, pedestrians will be prevented from close observation at the beach discharge locations. Flag personnel will direct beach users away from the discharge areas. Boaters, anglers and divers will be directed away from ocean areas involved in the project, including the “borrow areas” off the North Broward coast.
WHAT'S NEXT
After completion of Segment III in early 2006, the impact of the restored beach on marine resources will be studied over an 18-month period. A report will be prepared for the Florida Department of Environment Protection, which will forward its recommendations to the Governor and the Cabinet. If approved, Segment II of the beach restoration plan can proceed, which involves the restoration of beaches in Fort Lauderdale and adjacent communities to the north. It is projected that this phase of beach restoration will begin in late 2008.
QUESTIONS
Question? Call the Beach Renourishment Hotline, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 954-831-4000.