NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – In a significant step towards recovery, New Smyrna Beach embarked on a major sand replenishment project on Wednesday. This initiative comes as a much-needed remedy for the beach areas severely impacted by the hurricanes of 2022.

Stretching over approximately five miles, this ambitious project involves the deposition of thousands of cubic yards of sand, extending from Sapphire Avenue all the way to near Bethune Beach. The effort focuses on the northern section of New Smyrna Beach, situated just south of the inlet.

The undertaking by Volusia County involves the addition of half a million cubic yards of sand to restore the shoreline. The project, however, required considerable preparation and coordination, including securing state grant funding, designing the plan, and obtaining the necessary permits.

“Essentially, this is a dredge project,” explained Niles Cyzycki, the construction manager for Volusia County’s Coastal Division. “We are moving sand from a local Dredge Material Management Area, known as Rattlesnake Island, then slurring and pumping it onto the beach.”

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Cyzycki explained the project helps combat sea level rise and increased storm frequency.

“Maybe you’ll lose the berm you constructed, but the sand arrives down shore, down drift of the project and helps another section of beach. Any sand you can put on the beach, the ocean will re-sort it, but it jump starts the replenishment,” he said.

While locals appreciate the county’s efforts, some question if the project will hold up.

“Laying sand right on the beach as opposed to previously back in 2018 when they pumped it into the ocean and let it walk in, I think it’s to be seen whether it washes away with the first couple swells we have,” resident Lindsey Baldwin said.

Local surfer Jeremy Johnston also worries about the timeline, especially with spring break approaching and how many residents this project will help.

“There’s people who live right on the beach here who are the only ones that’ll benefit from this sand,” he said.

Johnston added, “There’s got to be other options than just, ‘Hey, let’s wait and see.’”

The construction is expected to take about 100 days.