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Water-Related News

Longboat Key makes progress on beach renourishment

A $35 million beach renourishment project by the Town of Longboat Key continues to bring more of the soft, powdery white sand that attracts residents and tourists to local beaches, replacing sand lost to natural erosion.

The Town of Longboat Key is a part of both Manatee and Sarasota counties. On Tuesday evening Town Manager Tom Harmer and Project Manager Charlie Mopps presented an update to the Manatee County Council of Governments on the work.

Beach renourishment is a cyclical effort, and this year the town is bringing sand from Longboat Pass and Passage Key, on the southern and northern ends of Anna Maria Island, respectively, to addressed erosion since the town's last renourishment project in 2016.

"We are pulling sand locally from two sources," Harmer said. "That sand generally comes from the beaches in the area and ends up in Longboat Pass. So that sand is really compatible with our beach sand. The second source is called Passage Key. We inspected that sand before we dredged it. It is that same fine white sand, good quality, very similar to what we have on our beaches now."