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Sand fencing to be installed along 3-miles of Okaloosa Island public beach

On Saturday, November 6, 2021, the Okaloosa County Tourism Department, in partnership with Trees on the Coast, will be installing 10,600 feet of sand fencing along 3-miles of Okaloosa Island public beach, from El Matador condos to Beasley Park. Pre-existing sand fencing allowed the dunes to build, but recent storm damage and erosions has destroyed […]

SOURCE: Alex Fogg, Okaloosa Tourist Development Department

On Saturday, November 6, 2021, the Okaloosa County Tourism Department, in partnership with Trees on the Coast, will be installing 10,600 feet of sand fencing along 3-miles of Okaloosa Island public beach, from El Matador condos to Beasley Park.

  • Pre-existing sand fencing allowed the dunes to build, but recent storm damage and erosions has destroyed and covered a large portion of that fencing.

The fencing will assist with dune restoration while mitigating impacts that have been made to nesting sea turtles, piping plovers (👈 that’s a bird btw) and other nesting birds in the area.

  • The dune stabilization provides additional wildlife habitat as well as protection for upland structures during storm events.

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, sand fences can also assist dune vegetation and placement of beach compatible sand in rebuilding sand dunes by trapping windblown sand.

SOURCE: Alex Fogg, Okaloosa Tourist Development Department

Standard fencing used in dune restoration projects consists of wooden slats wired together with space between the slats as originally designed for snow fences.

  • These fences are recommended to have a 40% open space to 60% closed space ratio for most effective sand trapping.
  • Sand fences are usually 2 to 4 feet high.

Sand Fencing Project Map Overview

The project is funded by Okaloosa County Tourist Development and a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, and will install 2,046 posts with the help of over one hundred community volunteers.

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Community Comments

“Why not fix the dog parks adjacent to red lobster?”
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“They spend 3.75 MILLION dollars of tax payer money and don't know what they are going to do with the property? If your child came in your home and said...”
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“If Walton County was not so greedy and decided to ā€œTAKEā€ what they wanted instead of ā€œbuyingā€ it like other areas (Destin/Okaloosa County)have, this might have never been a problem....”
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“I remember both Kathy & Lee from their work with the church youth program. Despite being a Catholic "yankee" visiting each summer I have never found a more welcoming place...”
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“Hey Lee. I am so glad Danny sent this article to all the Szarowicz siblings! Congratulations on an amazing career!!! Wish I had been there to witness it. I remember...”
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“Congratulations, Lee, and the very best wishes to you and Cathy during your retirement years. A heartfelt thank you on behalf of my Bolton family for your attention and care....”
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“There is no public parkingā€¦note from article, ā€œThe beach bar is accessible only to Sandpiper Cove residents and guests, along with people walking up from the beach.ā€ Walk in from...”
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“This should NOT BE ALLOWED in single family residential neighborhoods.”
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“It's amazing that the State of Florida can come up with money to purchase 2483 acres for a new park. But Caladesi Island State Park, Cayo Costa State Park and...”
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“What a beautiful story of past, present, and future. Lee, you have left an amazing legacy. These words from Matthew 25:21 are fitting for you, ā€˜Well done, good and faithful...”
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