Martin County's beaches took a beating, and now the fix is underway. A $15 million, federally funded shore-protection project has kicked off along a roughly four-mile stretch of coastline running from the St. Lucie County line down to Stuart Beach.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is running the work, restoring the beach in increments rather than all at once. That means crews and equipment moving section by section along the shoreline — and, unfortunately, some beach closures while they do it.
The driver is erosion. Repeated storms and high surf have chewed away at the dune line and beach along Hutchinson Island, and in spots the loss got bad enough to force closures on safety grounds. A wide, healthy beach isn't just for sunbathers — it's the first line of defense protecting the homes, roads, and infrastructure sitting right behind the dunes.
This is a recurring battle up and down the Treasure Coast. Indian River County is wrestling with its own erosion 'hot spots,' and Fort Pierce has run around-the-clock renourishment work of its own. Sand doesn't stay put, so these projects come back around every few years.
For the 772, the short-term pain is worth it: expect some closures and heavy equipment on the sand this summer, but a wider, more storm-resilient beach on the other side — the kind of shoreline the region's tourism economy and beachfront property depend on.