Sand Key Beach Nourishment
Beach Easements
The easement filing deadline for the Sand Key project was Feb. 28, 2025.
Although the formal deadline to receive Sand Key beach nourishment construction easements has passed, we will still accept easements that come in. We will incorporate them into the design for the upcoming project if possible, but if not, they may be used for future projects.
Email your notarized easement to SignforSand@pinellas.gov or call (727) 464-7799 with questions.
Project Overview
The Sand Key project along Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and Redington Shores was last fully nourished in 2012. In 2018, a partial nourishment was completed but with gaps.
These last two storm seasons caused significant damages to our beaches and the surrounding communities. While we continue to work with the Army Corps, the County is designing and seeking an emergency permit for a County-led project to nourish the full project template in case no other option prevails.
The County-led project easement is different from the Army Corps project. This easement doesn’t include public access and use; it is just for the construction and maintenance of the beach nourishment and dune. If you are not interested in having a dune restored or constructed in conjunction with the nourishment, please contact us immediately.
Background
The barrier island called Sand Key extends from Clearwater Pass to John’s Pass. By the 1960s, much of the beach was very thin or had eroded back to the seawalls. To address the erosion, Congress authorized the Federal Shore Protection Project in 1966 along the entire developed Gulf coast of Pinellas County that included Sand Key, Treasure Island and Long Key.
The initial construction effort for Sand Key was completed in 1993. Successive nourishments in 1999, 2006, 2012 and 2018 repaired and built up the beach significantly, until the hurricane seasons of 2023 and 2024. These cyclic nourishments create a buffer zone that erodes gradually between nourishments and is replaced every six years. Without a continuous cycle of nourishment that replaces the sand in this buffer zone, the shoreline continues eroding toward the seawall.
Project Area
The designed County-led Sand Key project area extends from Clearwater to Redington Beach, excluding Belleair Shore. As of March 31, 2025, Indian Rocks Beach, and sections of Indian Shores and Redington Shores are also excluded due to a lack of easement acquisition.
The easement acquisition progress can be viewed and tracked on the Beach Nourishment Easement Acquisition map.
Each easement extends from the erosion control line landward to the seawall or to the Coastal Construction Control Line if no seawall is present.
Example Easement
Community Outreach
Feb. 13, 2025: Pinellas County hosted a webinar on Zoom to discuss the project, the need for easements and answer questions from the community.
Contact Us
Email: SignForSand@pinellas.gov
Call: (727) 464-7799
More Information
Watch: Associated Press news video on sand washovers from hurricanes in southwest Florida