Important Update on Beach Stairs, Walkovers & Sand Fencing

Beach restoration is well underway, beginning near Eagle Harbor in the park and working its way steadily southward, already nearing Secluded Dunes. With as long as this project has been in planning you would think the county would have already notified beachfront owners of what they needed to do with their sand fencing, stairs or walkovers. You would think so but you’d be wrong.

The Beach Advisory Committee, volunteers all and truly dedicated hard workers, have just received those requirements from the county and have forwarded it to as many owners as possible. I want to help them whenever I can so I’m posting that notice here to make sure everyone affected knows what needs to be done to help ensure maximum success of our restoration project.

We’ve updated our blog entry from Monday on the subject of what to do to prepare your property for the beach restoration project. The photos in the gallery have been amended to reflect the recommendations for the various properties based on the information outlined below. Since we are not sure everyone would see this updated information, we felt it was important enough to send an eblast out. The information below was provided by our engineer and gives you the specifics on what to do.

Please be sure to allow enough time to get things done before the project reaches your property. Also, if you are unsure whether your gulf-front neighbors receive these eblasts, we would appreciate it if you would share this important information with them!

A couple of things we would add — REMEMBER TO REMOVE ALL SAND FENCING. With regard to your steps, walkovers, etc., review the information below. A good rule of thumb is consider removing steps or walkovers if they extend beyond the vegetation line. To get the best possible result for your property, when in doubt, take it out! You can get better replacement fencing and more from illinoisfencecompany.com to help your beachfront location stand out. Finally, please read #9 below. Failure to prepare your property will slow down the project, which is something none of us want. Please help keep us on schedule!

1. The contractor was hired by the County to dredge and place sand at the specified grades — except where described below.

2. The contractor will not remove any dune walkovers, boardwalks, sand fencing, buildings, or other man-made structures. This is the responsibility of the property owner3. The contractor will remove tree stumps or washed up debris within the beach fill limits

4. The contractor will NOT bury dune walkovers, boardwalks, sand fencing, buildings, or other man-made structures — except where described herein or described in the provided photos

5. Per the project specifications, if dune walkovers, boardwalks, sand fencing, or other man-made structures are not removed, the contractor will place sand up to and around these items. SOME sand MAY be placed under walkovers and boardwalks, but there is no guarantee how much or if this will occur. Thus, the subject property owner may not receive the maximum amount of sand they would have received without the presence of the structures and/or sand fence or other items

6. If these structures or other man-made items are not removed (depending on its location and how far landward of the dune), it is possible that there will be less sand placed on either side of the structure due to the grade of the placed sand

7. THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION: If the bottom of the stairs are within the footprint of the beach and dune fill, only the bottom 2 to 4 feet of the stairs MAY be buried. Otherwise sand will be placed in accordance to #5 above

8. Sand WILL be placed (in the form of a dune) around the homes that are located further seaward (and ON the beach) than the rest of the structures located along the project limits.

9. Not removing the man-made items listed in #2 above will slow down the contractor thus delaying the completion of this project.