Lee Commissioners accept grant to address erosion due to hurricanes

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to amend a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to accept additional funding to address beach and dune erosion on Bonita Beach and Lovers Key due to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022.

The amendment will increase the total grant to more than $20.6 million with no local taxpayer match required. The project includes beach and dune restoration on Lovers Key and Bonita Beach.

The Lovers Key and Bonita Beach shorelines sustained beach and dune erosion from Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm in September 2022, and Hurricane Nicole, a Category 1 storm in November 2022. The State, through FDEP, reached out to local governments to determine beach-recovery needs. The needs were compiled into the Hurricanes Ian and Nicole Recovery Plan, published by FDEP in December 2022, and used by the legislature in support of special and general appropriations.

Sand placement was completed Feb.15.

The project included of 1.1 miles of shoreline within Lovers Key State Park and 0.8 miles of shoreline at the northern end of Bonita Beach (Little Hickory Island). Weeks Marine Inc. excavated, transported and placed beach-compatible sand from a Gulf sand source to nourish multiple beach segments.

Commissioners previously had voted to accept the original grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for $1.1 million, in December 2023. The additional funding is coming from the Florida Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program.