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Article Courtesy of The Palm Coast
Observer
By Jacque Estes
Published March 27, 2017
When Hurricane Matthew blew out of town, the 2.3 mile stretch of dunes on the
Hammock Dunes Beach was left destroyed.
The storm that crept along the coast Oct. 7, 2016 left just enough of the dunes
to protect the homes in the gated community from the Atlantic Ocean.
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While the community
lost about 15 feet of dune depth, the only structure damage
was to the 53 walkovers that were broken off and swept away
by the cresting waves. George DeGovanni, president of the
Hammock Dunes Homeowners Association, said there were four
minor breaches that cut through the dunes.
“We do not want them going across the dunes to get to the
beach. This is your $2 million investment.” GEORGE DE
GOVANNI, president Hammock Dunes Homeowners Association
Not ones to tempt fate, DeGovanni and community managers
Jeff Annon and Travis Houck have decided to do their best to
have the first phase of the dune restoration project
completed by May 1, so that residents and their property are
ready for the upcoming hurricane season, which officially
begins on June 1.
May 1 is the beginning of turtle nesting season, and
shouldn’t be a concern since the restoration work is ahead
of schedule. |
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More than 200 trucks, each carrying 18-cubic yards of
sand, are pulling into Varn Park each day as part of the Hammock Dunes
dunes restoration.
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But if the Florida Department of Environmental Protection gives the community an
extension to restore walkovers and replant the dunes past the May 1 turtle
nesting season deadline, the HOA plans to have the area’s licensed turtle patrol
handle any possible nest relocations.
DeGovanni said he doesn’t want to have to relocate any nests, but wants to be
able to move them out of harm’s way.
“The county is trying to get money to restore the rest of the county dunes and
beach,” DeGovanni said. “We don’t know when that is going to happen, and we
can’t risk our community going past turtle season and into the next hurricane
season.”
Residents have been supportive of the decision to incur a $2 million loan from
Intracoastal Bank and have their dues increase to protect their assets. The
community has applied for FEMA reimbursement. If the reimbursement is awarded,
the money would be used to pay up to 75% of the loan.
Repairing dunes is serious business in Florida and has to be performed under the
auspices of the Florida Department of Environmental Management.
Flagler County has granted access to the HOA and closed Varn Park to allow the
transportation of more than 200 trucks carrying 18 cubic yards of sand per
truck, each day.
The beach is fenced off and closed between Varn Park and Jungle Hut Road while
the construction is underway. DeGovanni said that hasn’t stopped some beachgoers
from going around the fences and walking among the large trucks.
Halifax Paving has a contract with a sand quarry off Colbert Lane to meet DEP
requirements for sand compatible with the existing sand on the beach, and the
company has also provided a prototype of equipment that can be used on the beach
without getting stuck.
DeGovanni said that while the sand is being unloaded down the beach, a bulldozer
is “sculpting” the restored dunes to at least 18 feet high and 5 feet deep.
Residents are asked to stay off the closed area of the beach and dunes. Those
who don’t will be charged with trespassing, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s
Office will be called.
“We do not want them going across the dunes to get to the beach. This is your $2
million investment,” DeGovanni said. |
