2025/26 Sebastian Inlet Sand Trap Dredging and Beach Placement Project - Frequently Asked Questions

A tugboat in the distance, a person swimming near a large floating pipe with a red buoy, and two people on a small motorboat. — Keep an eye out for a dredge that will pump sand from the Sebastian Inlet Channel and sand trap (a depression in the channel where sand collects).

Where is the project located?

The project is located at Sebastian Inlet State Park. Maintenance dredging will occur within the Sebastian Inlet Channel and adjacent sand trap. Non-compatible sand will be pumped to a dredged materials storage facility on the north side of the inlet and beach-compatible sand will be placed on beaches on the south side of the inlet (from the Sebastian Inlet State Park day use beach access south to McClarty Treasure Museum).

What does the project entail?

This project is a continuation of a truck haul and dredging project that the District’s contractor, ATL Diversified, Inc., began in the fall of 2024. ATL completed about 43 percent of the estimated sand placement volume, or approximately 135,000 cubic yards of sand. The project was not completed last season, and ATL is remobilizing to complete the project by dredging approximately 130,000 cubic yards of sand from the inlet channel and sand trap and placing it on the beaches south of the inlet (as described above).

Additionally, approximately 40,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed in the District’s Dredged Materials Management Area (DMMA) on the north side of the inlet.

When will the project begin and what is its duration?

ATL began mobilizing equipment in October 2025. ATL is scheduled to begin dredging in November 2025 and anticipated to complete work by March 30, 2026. Dredging and pumping material to the DMMA is slated to begin in November. Dredging and placing sand on the beaches is scheduled to begin in December, after the DMMA phase is completed.

Will the project impact navigation or beach access?

Although, navigation will be impacted periodically while the dredge is in operation, boaters will still have access to traverse the inlet. Local notices to mariners will be issued by the US Coast Guard and the contractor will also install signs and buoys identifying safe navigation routes. On the south beaches, beach access may be temporarily limited during active sand placement and grading.

What is the goal of the project?

The project is necessary for the Sebastian Inlet District to maintain navigation within the Sebastain Inlet and to meet its requirement to bypass sand to downdrift beaches per the Florida Beach & Shore Preservation Act.

What is the cost of the project?

Total design and construction costs for the project, including the phase completed in spring 2025, is approximately $9 million and is funded in partnership with the FDEP’s Beach Management Funding Assistance Program.

Who regulates District projects at Sebastian Inlet?

Projects are permitted through the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and adhere to strict environmental protocols with biological monitoring to ensure the protection of natural resources and important marine habitats, including sensitive seagrass beds. With a high volume of sea turtle nests on area beaches, all projects are scheduled in coordination with sea turtle nesting season.

Where may I find updates about the project?

Project updates will be posted on our website (www.sitd.us), our app (available for download at www.sitd.us/get-the-sebastian-inlet-district-app, and on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Who can I contact directly about the project?

You can contact Ed Garland, the District’s Public Information Associate, at (321) 724-5175 or egarland@sitd.us