NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Volusia County’s coastal director says the sand recently washing away from parts of the coastline was never intended to be a permanent solution following significant erosion during the 2022 hurricane season.
The update comes after another round of unusually high tides left some New Smyrna Beach residents concerned about whether their properties are still protected.
Since September, newly placed sand has gradually washed away during repeated high-tide events, raising concerns about erosion and the protection of beachfront properties.
Volusia County Coastal Director Jessica Fentress says the sand was always intended to be a temporary, sacrificial buffer — not a long-term beach nourishment project.
“We knew that sand was sacrificial. We did not design a beach nourishment plan to last through five years of nor’easters. We just put a Band-Aid on a problem,” Fentress said.
Fentress said the county lost 6.6 million cubic yards of sand during the 2022 hurricane season.
“It was the most devastating event to affect Volusia County in recorded history,” she said.
Since then, the county has completed multiple multimillion-dollar sand placement projects. However, it has not completed a full-scale beach nourishment project, which would require partnerships with state and federal agencies.
Fentress said a larger beach nourishment plan is in the works and is expected to be presented next year.
In the meantime, she said the recently placed sand did provide some protection for beachfront properties.
“The sand acted as a sacrificial buffer for our properties that have seawalls or our properties that are not permitted to have seawalls,” Fentress said.
However, with much of that sand now washed away, questions remain about what protection properties have during another major high-tide event or nor’easter.
Fentress pointed to differences along the coastline, explaining that some properties have seawalls while others do not.
She said the buildings behind one area of the beach have no protection.
It may take time for some areas to have enough dry sand for people to walk comfortably along the beach. However, the county says other sections of the coastline are looking closer to normal.
Volusia County is also gradually reopening beach driving.
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