Bathtub Reef Beach is getting more sand; popular spot remains closed as dredging begins

Treasure Coast Newspapers

STUART — More sand is officially on its way to Bathtub Reef Beach, a local-favorite shoreline known for its swimming and snorkeling.

Dredging operations to move about 220,000 cubic yards of sand to designated beach areas began this week, county officials announced Friday. Crews will work around the clock until the project is completed about April 30, ahead of the peak sea turtle nesting season.

Bathtub Reef Beach will remained closed until shortly after the project is completed, said county spokesperson Martha Ann Kneiss. The shoreline has been closed to the public since Nov. 5.

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Sand is moved around a section of the dune as Martin County works to provide beach access to Bathtub Reef Beach on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, on Hutchinson Island in Stuart. County officials plan to create a sand ramp from the south end of the beach parking lot.

Waves churned up from hurricanes, tropical storms and nor'easters eat away at the southern tip of South Hutchinson Island as sand is dragged out to sea.

Erosion threatens road access to Sailfish Point, a 532-acre waterfront golf course community with 520 residences.

Tropical Storm Eta and previous storms have washed out most of the sand placed on the beach in 2018. This year, scores of sea turtle eggs were removed from their nests and relocated in preparation for the dredging.

Martin County's contracted dredging company, the New Jersey-based Weeks Marine, spent the past several weeks setting up equipment, including barges and pipelines marked with buoys, according to a county announcement.

"It takes longer to set up than it does to actually do the work," Martin County Coastal Engineer Kathy Fitzpatrick told TCPalm in February.

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An aerial of Sailfish Point and the Atlantic Ocean in Martin County. Florida was ranked 15th in U.S. News & World Report's annual Best States list, which was released Tuesday.

Max Chesnes is a TCPalm environment reporter covering issues facing the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River and Lake Okeechobee. You can keep up with him on Twitter @MaxChesnes, email him at max.chesnes@tcpalm.com and call him at 772-978-2224.