Pinellas County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed an amendment to their Project Cooperation Agreement on May 29, providing new ways for the county to access federal beach nourishment funding.
The signing event included Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Adam Telle, U.S. Representative for Congressional District 13 Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, Pinellas County Board Chair Dave Eggers, County Commissioners Kathleen Peters, Brian Scott and Chris Latvala, along with other local elected officials.
According to Pinellas County officials, “Provisions for public access and use are no longer required in beach nourishment easements, and some federal cost sharing requirements can be met through local customary use ordinances.” The county also announced that “beach nourishment easements no longer need to be permanent,” and there is now “additional flexibility in easement language,” allowing more options when working with property owners on these projects.
Pinellas County functions as an independent political subdivision of the State of Florida and serves more than 1 million residents while managing over 20,000 acres of parks and preserves. The county maintains comprehensive facilities such as the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and thousands of acres of natural parks and preserves; it also earns recognition for maintaining four of the nation’s top beaches including Fort De Soto Park; secures operations through responsible budgeting focused on long-term sustainability; and enriches local culture by preserving landscapes that attract millions annually—all according to the official website at Pinellas County.
The agreement aims to streamline processes related to securing easements from property owners needed for future beach nourishment efforts.
