Sarasota County commemorates completion of south Siesta renourishment

There was no ribbon to cut at the grand opening of south Siesta Key’s recently renourished beaches, just sand to toss. 

County commissioners, officials and community members tossed sand from brightly colored buckets onto the newly replenished shores of Turtle Beach to celebrate the completion of the county's three-year, $21.5 million renourishment project. 

More than one million tons of sand — nearly 700,000 cubic yards — was dredged from 10 miles off the coast and deposited onto two miles of the south Siesta Key shoreline. The project was paid for with Tourist Development Tax funds, a state grant and tax assessments from homes along the two-mile stretch of renourished beach.

The county completed the second and final phase of the project in May.

Despite losses from erosion in the wake of Tropical Storm Colin, the project added 85 feet of sand to the beach. Sarasota County Coastal Resources Manager Laird Wreford said some losses are expected after a renewal project is completed.   

“The project performed beautifully in wake of the storm,” Wreford said. 

Erosion will continue to be an issue for south Siesta Key beaches, but Wreford is hopeful the project will maintain the beach for another 10 years.