Another effort to replenish the eroded shores of Fort Myers Beach has kicked off, with trucks now actively transporting sand to the south end of Estero Island, close to Big Carlos Pass.
Local neighbors Linda and Larry Wenstrup, who live just across the street from the activity, are among those directly affected by the noise and movement.
“I wish our grandsons were here to see all the moving equipment,” Linda Wenstrup said.
The operation will see 200 truckloads of sand being transported daily from a mine in Immokalee, funded by an eight million dollar grant from the Florida Department of Emergency Management. This project aims to connect FEMA berms into a continuous berm to improve the beach’s resilience against storms. A strategy that town leaders say, proved its worth during more recent weather events.
Chadd Chustz, the Environmental Project Manager of Fort Myers Beach, explained the effectiveness of the berms in reducing overwash, particularly in areas not previously protected
“They did their job, we definitely noticed a difference in the level of overwash on the north side that didn’t qualify for a berm, there was a lot more over wash into Estero Boulevard” Chustz stated.