Monday, October 24, 2005
DEP Speaks
From: "Peterson, John R."
To: gulfoasis@earthlink.net
Subject: RE: beach remeadiation in S. Walton
Date: Oct 24, 2005 10:42 AM
Governor Bush asked the Department of Environmental Protection to answer your
e-mail about beach renourishment in Walton County. We recognize the
devastating impact of the 2005 and 2006 hurricanes on beaches and residents
in the Panhandle and throughout Florida.
Because of the widespread damage, DEP prepared a Hurricane Recovery Plan to
establish where natural beach recovery would occur and where DEP, in
conjunction with the federal government and affected local governments, we
would undertake the highest priority restoration projects in the quickest,
most cost-effective way. (The plan is available at
www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches.)
DEP provided Walton County with $5.6 million in March 2004 for dune
restoration throughout the county, specifically to enhance the protective
berm built with FEMA money after the 2004 hurricanes. The county has
completed about 80% of the dune construction and vegetation; the remaining
money will be used to construct a dune system as part of the Destin/Walton
Beach Restoration Project, scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day. The
project includes all of Walton County west of the Topsail State Preserve.
DEP also is committed to restoring critically eroded beaches east of the
Preserve and provided Walton County $750,000 for a county-wide feasibility
study to make sure the work will be done right. We expect to fund completion
of the study and acceleration of project design and permitting in our
upcoming budget. We also are reviewing the county's request to increase the
amount of critically eroded shoreline east of Topsail State Preserve, which
may increase the amount of shoreline eligible for beach funding.
We appreciate the importance of your request. In turn, we hope you can
appreciate that there are urgent projects all across Florida representing a
massive workload for state and local governments. An unprecedented effort to
restore the beach and dune system of Walton County is already underway; we
appreciate your patience as we undertake these efforts in the most organized,
efficient and responsive way possible.
John R. Peterson
Director
Office of Citizen Services
DEP
3900 Commonwealth Blvd. MS49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-2118
SC 205-2118
850-245-2128 Fax
john.r.peterson@dep.state.fl.us
To: gulfoasis@earthlink.net
Subject: RE: beach remeadiation in S. Walton
Date: Oct 24, 2005 10:42 AM
Governor Bush asked the Department of Environmental Protection to answer your
e-mail about beach renourishment in Walton County. We recognize the
devastating impact of the 2005 and 2006 hurricanes on beaches and residents
in the Panhandle and throughout Florida.
Because of the widespread damage, DEP prepared a Hurricane Recovery Plan to
establish where natural beach recovery would occur and where DEP, in
conjunction with the federal government and affected local governments, we
would undertake the highest priority restoration projects in the quickest,
most cost-effective way. (The plan is available at
www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches.)
DEP provided Walton County with $5.6 million in March 2004 for dune
restoration throughout the county, specifically to enhance the protective
berm built with FEMA money after the 2004 hurricanes. The county has
completed about 80% of the dune construction and vegetation; the remaining
money will be used to construct a dune system as part of the Destin/Walton
Beach Restoration Project, scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day. The
project includes all of Walton County west of the Topsail State Preserve.
DEP also is committed to restoring critically eroded beaches east of the
Preserve and provided Walton County $750,000 for a county-wide feasibility
study to make sure the work will be done right. We expect to fund completion
of the study and acceleration of project design and permitting in our
upcoming budget. We also are reviewing the county's request to increase the
amount of critically eroded shoreline east of Topsail State Preserve, which
may increase the amount of shoreline eligible for beach funding.
We appreciate the importance of your request. In turn, we hope you can
appreciate that there are urgent projects all across Florida representing a
massive workload for state and local governments. An unprecedented effort to
restore the beach and dune system of Walton County is already underway; we
appreciate your patience as we undertake these efforts in the most organized,
efficient and responsive way possible.
John R. Peterson
Director
Office of Citizen Services
DEP
3900 Commonwealth Blvd. MS49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-2118
SC 205-2118
850-245-2128 Fax
john.r.peterson@dep.state.fl.us
