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Sand placement began this week for Pinellas County’s beach nourishment project, which will strengthen storm protection and provide habitat for sea turtles and shorebirds along the barrier islands.

But not all Pinellas County beachfront homeowners are on board. 

The project involves replacing sand lost to erosion from Clearwater Beach to North Redington Beach on Sand Key, along with Treasure Island and Upham Beach.

But the Sand Key portion of the project will be constructed with gaps because the county has not been able to obtain more than 91 temporary construction easements, as of Friday. 

Pinellas leaders say some beachfront property owners were worried that a dune would be too high, and some incorrectly feared that signing the easement would make part of their property publicly accessible. 

Others are not full-time residents and don’t pick up the phone. 

But Brian Scott, Chair of the Pinellas County Commission, said that could leave folks vulnerable.  

“If you don’t have contiguous easements the entire length of the beach, you’ve got a piece of Swiss cheese. If a lot of water comes through here, it’s going to go to the right and left of the property without sand in front of it,” Scott told WMNF.

During this construction, Pinellas officials say several beach access points might be closed. 

Kelli Hammer Levy is the public works director for Pinellas County. 

“The majority of the beaches are open through the entire project just for periods of time, they’ll be sections closed. So you just want to avoid those areas, but enjoy the rest of the beach.” Levy said.

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