SARASOTA, Fla. — An effort to protect Sarasota’s shoreline may have helped during Tropical Storm Eta.
Wednesday, the storm hit Lido Beach. The gulf breached a 15 ft. area of the shore along Ben Franklin Dr. But the city said the complete portion of a beach renourishment project may have helped limit the extent of gulf water breaching the shore.
“We did have overtopping but before the sand was a couple of feet lower so I think much more water would have gotten into Ben Franklin Dr. and into the properties and parking areas. It could've really done a lot more inundation than it did with that buffer there,” said Alexandrea DavisShaw, the city engineer.
The project started over the summer, through the US Army Corps of Engineer. It takes sand from the gulf and pumps it onto the beach to add more shoreline and raise the elevation. It started at the south near Ted Sperling Park.
Nearby there DavisShaw said they were next getting ready to lock in the sand.
“It looks like we’ve lost quite a bit of sand in that location and will need to add some sand back there in preparation of that next phase of the project,” she said.
Others at the beach Thursday noticed a difference.
“It’s definitely a great difference from what it was just a few months ago and I believe this beach has been replenished enough to protect the roads keep it,” said Mary Revell.
“I think it held up great I think they’re doing a nice job I really like how it’s looking it’s nice and wide again. I think that’s gonna help when storms like Eta came in,” said Scott Brookes.
The city said there will be a survey of the area.
