Lido Beach Renourishment

Herald-Tribune Archive

Lido Beach renourishment planning has been in the news of late. Every 4 to 5 years, new sand is added to portions of our beach. This time, the city of Sarasota is looking to bolster the southern most part of the beach up to the widest point near St. Armands. What's causing controversy this time around is that the current proposal calls for up to three groins* extending into the gulf to help preserve the sand. Looks good for the Lido beach side...but the folks on Siesta Key aren't too happy about the sand grabbing groins.  

If you're interested in knowing more there will be a meeting of the Coastal Advisory Committee on September 18th from 3 - 5 pm. They will be discussing the upcoming beach renourishment plans. The meeting will be held at the Sarasota County Commission Chambers, 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota.

Click for more information: 
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "Shifting Sands at Lido Beach", August 25, 2013
Your Observer, "Groin Debate Affects Renourishment", August 28, 2013
 
*Groin, in coastal engineering, a long, narrow structure built out into the water from a beach in order to prevent beach erosion or to trap and accumulate sand that would otherwise drift along the beach face and nearshore zone. A groin can be successful in stabilizing a beach on the updrift side, but erosion tends to be aggravated on the downdrift side, which is deprived by the groin structure of replenishment by drifting sand. Partly to counteract this tendency, often multiple groins are built in so-called groin fields, which can stabilize a larger beach area.