Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/198837
Sarasota News Leader October 25, 2013 As for the cost: The federal government will fund 62 percent of the project, while the remainder of the expense will be split between a state grant and Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenue set aside for renourishment projects. Page 39 shows tourism on Lido Key brings $155 million every year into the county. But the challenge for the renourishment project was finding a sand source. Egmont Key, one of the initial sites reviewed, proved to be too far away, making it costly for THE SAND CHALLENGE dredges to transport sand, Mora said. Sand "This is the jewel of Sarasota and Sarasota located nine miles off Longboat Key was off County, as well," City Engineer Alex the table because of more restrictive guideDavisShaw told the city and county commis- lines protecting coral reefs. sioners before Mora made his presentation to The sand offshore also was not the correct them on Oct. 22, "and it is critically eroded." consistency and color, which had the potential to impact sea turtle nesting outcomes. The $22 million project aims to protect infrastructure and public safety and, as a side "Putting sand that is not the right consistency benefit, it would buffer tourism. An impact on the beach can change the temperature study undertaken for Visit Sarasota County [of the beach]," Mora explained. "Just a few A slide from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presentation to the City and County commissions shows historical views of Lido Beach and history of the renourishment projects. Image courtesy City of Sarasota