Thanks to the Captiva Erosion Prevention District, our favorite vacation destination will be getting a facelift before peak season rolls around. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, marks the beginning of the Captiva Island beach restoration project which will restore the island’s beaches and dune systems.
Many thanks to the team at the Captiva Erosion Prevention District for providing us with project photos.
2021 Captiva Island Beach Restoration Project
Starting Monday, Aug. 30, parts of the beach along Captiva Island’s gulf side will be limited. Small sections will be closed for a day or two at a time as crews dredge the shoreline and fill the beach.
While the project is officially starting now, crews from Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (the project contractor) have been hard at work for weeks getting equipment in place and preparing the island for the 50-day operation.
Project Timeline
The 50-day project is being broken into several phases:
- July – Late August: Position equipment and site work
- Aug. 30 – Sept. 16: Beach Fill from Blind Pass to 16163 Captiva Dr. (Millionaire’s Row).
- Sept. 17-22: Beach Fill from 16151 Captiva Dr. to Chapin Ln. (‘Tween Waters, On The Gulf sections)
- Sept. 23-24: Move Pipeline
- Sept. 25-30: Beach Fill from Chapin Ln. to South Seas Beach Villas (Blue Buildings)
- Sept. 28-Oct. 25: Beach Tilling (South to North)
- Oct. 1-18: Beach Fill from South Seas Beach Villas (Yellow Buildings) to Redfish Pass.
- Oct. 1-31: Planting (South to North)
- Oct. 19 -Nov. 9: Demobilization and removal of equipment.
Project Purpose
Beach nourishment projects, like the one Captiva Island is undergoing, involves placing additional sediment on a beach which helps protects the island from storms.
Tropical Storm Eta ravaged Captiva in 2020, causing significant erosion to Captiva Island’s beach. The damage to the dunes, which are critical to the island’s continued existence, left the island with an increased risk of flooding with future storm surges. Eta’s damage to the island was noticeable to visitors this past year.
Parking Lot Closures
The Captiva Island Beach restoration project will affect parking for beachgoers at the two public Captiva Island parking lots.
Turner Beach Parking Lot Closure
The Turner Beach parking lot, located at Blind Pass on Captiva’s southern tip, has the following advisories posted:
- Full Closure Aug. 8, 2021, through Aug. 29, 2021
- Partial Closure Aug. 30, 2021, through Sept. 20, 2021
- Full Closure Sept. 21, 2021, through Sept. 25, 2021
Alison Hagerup Beach Parking Lot Closure
The Alison Hagerup parking lot, located in the middle of the island at the southern end of South Seas Island Resort, has the following advisories posted:
- Full Closure Sept. 20, 2021, through Sept. 25, 2021
- Partial Closure Sept. 26, 2021, through Oct. 16, 2021
- Full Closure Oct. 17, 2021, through Oct. 30, 2021
More Information
You can follow the progress of this crucial project on the Captiva Island Erosion Prevention District’s website and on their interactive project map. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more photos and updates.
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