The Western Walton County beach restoration project took seven years to complete. Many have questioned the laborious process to enact and complete a new beach restoration project. The timeline is outlined below.

1995
Hurricane Opal hit the region

1998
Hurricane George hit the region

In December 1998, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners passed the addition of a third cent of bed-tax to be collected from visitors on lodging revenue from room-nights sold. This money is specifically earmarked for beach nourishment and maintenance.

2000
The TDC initiated a feasibility study to determine the state of the beaches and identify projects to restore the beach and dune systems, the first line of defense against hurricane impacts and storm surge. The feasibility study confirmed that the beaches in Western Walton County were “critically eroded” as deemed by DEP, and therefore needed a large-scale beach restoration project.

TDC hired a full-time coastal scientist, Brad Pickel, to take the county through the scientific process. Brad has been instrumental in gaining funding and permits for the project.

2003
Feasibility study completed.

TDC and county contracted Taylor Engineering to create a plan for the nourishment of Western Walton County beaches. A critical part of this plan was to identify a sand source. The TDC was adamant that the quality and color of the sand was a perfect match with the native sand.

A premier sand source was identified at East Pass in Destin and was secured as the borrow site.

The permitting process began.

2004
A small group of homeowners who opposed the project filed an injunction and began a lawsuit to stop the project.

Hurricane Ivan hit the region.

2005
Tropical Storm Arlene and Hurricane Dennis hit the region.

The county received the ruling after the administrative hearing and the judge ruled in favor of the project.

Permits were granted from DEP, National Marine Fisheries and the Army Corp of Engineers

Bids go out and Great Lakes Dredge and Dock is secured as the contractor for the project

2006
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock mobilizes the project and begins pumping sand

Project is shut down due to turtle takes

In December, the project is reinstated

2007
The project is completed