BRADENTON BEACH – Dredging crews began work Sept. 9 on a project to restore a nearly mile-long stretch of Coquina Beach with sand that was lost during Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
The Coquina Beach Hurricane Idalia Storm Damage Repair Project will place approximately 63,450 cubic yards of sand along about 0.9 miles of shoreline, stretching from just south of 13th Street South in Bradenton Beach to Longboat Pass.
A second and larger beach renourishment project is expected to begin in November.
The sand is being dredged from the Longboat Pass navigation channel and hydraulically pumped onto the beach. The sand is tested for compatibility with the native beach before placement. Dredging the channel also restores navigable depth through the pass, according to the Manatee County project website. The project is expected to cost more than $1.92 million.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is paying 75% of the project cost, with Manatee County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) each contributing 12.5%.
The sand placement began near the southern end of the beach and will move northward in the coming weeks.
Sections of the beach within the active work area will be temporarily closed while the new sand is placed and graded, but those closures will be localized and will typically last only a few days at each location.
The rest of Coquina Beach will remain open during the renourishment project. Only the active work zone and the south-end staging area will be closed.
A staging area for crews and equipment has been set up at the south end of the beach, near Longboat Pass. That area, along with the adjacent beach-access points, will remain fenced off and closed to the public for the duration of the project. The Coquina Bayside South Boat Ramp and the new Gulf Islands Ferry stop there will remain accessible.
The project is subject to state and federal permits intended to protect sea turtles and shorebirds. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch is conducting daily sea turtle nesting surveys throughout the project area as required under those permits.
Beachgoers are being asked to stay clear of the dredge pipeline, equipment and fenced-off work zones; to follow posted signage and fencing; and to use designated pedestrian detours around active construction. Marked sea turtle nests should not be disturbed.
In addition to Manatee County serving as the project sponsor and property owner, the project team includes FDEP as the funding partner and permitting agency, Coastal Protection Engineering, and Sea Hawk Maritime as the project contractor. The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization is assisting with sea turtle-related matters.
The work crews will be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with anticipated completion by the end of October.
Project updates can be found at coquina-nourishment-2026.coastalprotectioneng.com.
