The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved a request Tuesday to apply for state funding to design and permit an inlet management project aimed at mitigating erosion and reducing dredging costs in Destin’s East Pass.

• The county will submit an application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Beach Management Funding Assistance Program for the East Pass Supplemental Inlet Sediment Excavation – Design and Permitting Project, according to Alex Fogg, Natural Resources Chief for Okaloosa County.

The grant request totals $320,000, with the county pledging to match that amount using Tourist Development Tax funds.

Fogg stated that the project’s goals include designing and permitting a sediment impoundment basin and channel widening. These measures are intended to create a cost-effective replenishing sand source to help combat erosion on adjacent critically eroded Gulf coast beaches and reduce the frequency of dredging the federal navigation channel.

“This project will help keep the pass deep enough for our fleet to access the Gulf while also providing a sand source for our adjacent beaches,” Fogg explained. “That means the City, County, and State won’t have to dredge the pass as often which saves money.”

The project builds on a study completed in 2022 that examined potential solutions. It will use advanced computer modeling to explore different designs for a sand-catching basin in East Pass. The project will also look at the best places for additional dredging and predict long-term effects on the coastline. These assessments will help planners understand how the project might impact East Pass and nearby areas over time.

• The project scope encompasses evaluating alternatives, designing the recommended basin option, and obtaining necessary state and federal permits.

“While this project from feasibility to design, and eventually construction, is taking the better part of a decade, the benefits will be long lasting and allow our community to effectively manage east pass for not only navigation but also restoration purposes,” said Fogg.

The project aligns with the Department’s East Pass Inlet Management Implementation Plan. Specifically, it explores the possibility of removing sand from areas outside the main navigation channel. This approach could provide additional sand for beach restoration without interfering with boat traffic.

The grant application will be presented to the Tourist Development Council for consideration on July 30, 2024, before submission to the FDEP by the July 31 deadline.