A.G. Gancarski
Among the impacts of Hurricane Matthew: beach erosion, an especially acute problem in St. Johns, Flagler, and Volusia counties.
Tuesday, State Sen. Travis Hutson, who represents the affected area, called on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to review the Atlantic coast erosion problem and move toward meaningful redress.
“Hurricane Matthew has caused severe beach erosion threatening real estate and tourism along the East Coast,” said Sen. Hutson in his letter to the FDEP.
“I am requesting that the Department of Environmental Protection look into this matter. Please consider doing a full assessment of our East Coast beaches, provide the Legislature with a plan to re-nourish and replenish the beach, and let the Legislature know any financial cost that might be associated with this,” Hutson wrote.
Among the issues Hutson spotlights are permit delays and process holdups that have thwarted seaside homeowners from building seawalls necessary to protect their property from erosion.
Hutson would like the Department of Environmental Protection to expedite the permitting process, coordinating with local authorities to get this done.
