NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Just five months after Volusia County spent about $25 million placing sand along New Smyrna Beach, some of that sand has already washed away, leaving seawalls exposed and residents questioning whether the project was worth the money.
It’s the result of strong winds and king tides, which have carved away parts of the shoreline, leaving steep drop-offs in the sand.
The erosion is especially noticeable along stretches of beach that were part of the county’s sand placement project completed in May. Crews placed approximately 550,000 cubic yards of sand along more than four miles of New Smyrna Beach to help protect coastal homes and infrastructure.
But seeing how much the shoreline has changed in just a few months has left some locals frustrated.
“It’s kind of ridiculous to me,” said New Smyrna Beach resident Sky Funderburk. “Out of all the things they can spend money on in the county, they decide to spend it on that? The ocean moves and stuff, I don’t know why they would do that.”
Another local told Channel 9 described the project as a “monumental waste of money.”
However, Volusia County says the erosion doesn’t mean the project failed.
County officials explained that the sand was never intended to stay in place permanently. Instead, it was designed to serve as a protective buffer, absorbing the force of powerful waves before they reach seawalls, roads, and homes.
The county says its recent sand placement projects are performing as intended, even as portions of the shoreline continue to erode. Officials added some of it could eventually make its way back onto the beach naturally.
Still, some beachgoers aren’t convinced that bringing in more sand is a long-term solution.
“Well, it’s the nature of a beach. It always erodes and builds back up, erodes and builds back up,” Funderburk said. “I don’t know why they’d bring in sand to try to fill in on a beach that an ocean is going to come in and wash away.”
Volusia County says crews are continuing to monitor beach conditions and expect to have a clearer picture of the erosion once the rough surf subsides and the tides recede.
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