Coastal Projects

Help Us Collect Data! – St. Johns County is working with Foth | Olsen and Downs & St. Germain Research to collect data for the development of the Coastal Management Plan. Your participation in this survey is greatly appreciated!

Summer Haven/Matanzas Inlet Area Listen & Learn Meeting – St. Johns County Coastal Management and St. Johns County Commissioner Clay Murphy, District 3, invites the community to attend a public meeting to learn more about the efforts and opportunities to address the Summer Haven and Mantanzas Inlet area beach erosion, wash overs, and breaches.

• Date: Thursday, April 3, 6:00 p.m.
• Location: St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 5205 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL 32080
• Moderated  by WSOS’s Kevin Geddings
• Remarks by St. Johns County Commissioner Clay Murphy, District 3
• Presentations by St. Johns County Coastal Management and the Army Corps of Engineers
• Community Dialogue and Discussions
• Schedule is subject to change.

State of the Beaches Update – St. Johns County Coastal Management recently shared how it manages more than 32 miles of eroded shoreline. Seven projects kicked off in 2023, and four launched in 2024. The County’s Office of Public Affairs produced a video to highlight the presentation. Watch the State of the Beaches Video

Protect our Dunes! – The importance of not disturbing these natural barriers is explained in a video produced by the County’s Office of Public Affairs. Watch the Dune Awareness Video

Beach Tilling Operations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Johns County Launches Beach Tilling to Maintain Sea Turtle Nesting Habitats

The public is encouraged to enjoy the beaches with caution

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Florida, April 1, 2025 – St. Johns County Coastal Management will begin beach tilling on April 3 to help maintain sea turtle nesting habitats. Beachgoers are asked to be cautious and considerate as they traverse these working areas.

The specific locations and dates are subject to change:

St. Augustine (Pope Rd. to A Street): April 3-4 and April 7

• Mobilizing Via Pope Road Access (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)
• The Pope Road Beach Access will be temporarily closed starting Wednesday, April 2, at dusk, and will remain closed until Thursday, April 3, in the afternoon. This closure is due to the entry and exit of heavy machinery from the parking lot early Thursday morning, marking the commencement of the escarpment removal.

Vilano (Serenata to 3200 Coastal Highway): April 7-8

• Mobilizing via Surfside Park (NO CLOSURE)

South Ponte Vedra (2539 SPV Blvd to Serenata): April 9-10

• Mobilizing via 2700 South PV Blvd (NO CLOSURE)

Ponte Vedra (51 PV Blvd to 1461 PV Blvd): April 10-11

• Mobilizing via Micklers (NO CLOSURE)

“The beach tilling involves heavy machinery that plows the beach sand, making it more compatible for successful sea turtle nesting to occur,” said Sloane Stephens, Coastal Environment Project Manager. “Tilling is part of the permit monitoring requirements following beach restoration projects. For each area, the tilling will begin at daybreak, and spotters will be utilized to ensure the safety of the public.”

In the past five years, St. Johns County has recorded nearly 5,000 sea turtle nests along its 42-mile coastline. In 2023, the County recorded triple-digit green sea turtle nests on its beaches for the first time, with a total of 133 nests. In 2024, the sea turtle nesting season included an exciting milestone in the presence of four rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests on County beaches. “This process helps sea turtles successfully dig their nest chambers and strengthens our ecosystem,” said Ashley Raybould, Environmental Supervisor of the County’s Habitat Conservation Program.

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North Beach Park – North Beach Park & Walkover will be closed starting January 7, 2025, and will remain closed until renovations at North Beach Park are completed.