Treasure Island to Receive $8 Million for Tropical Storm Debby Damage

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has awarded Treasure Island with $8 million for storm damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby in summer 2012, according to a report by the Tampa Bay Times. 

"To qualify for the money and to cover the project's estimated $12 million price tag, Pinellas must come up with another $4 million. County officials said they expect the state will cover half of their portion.

"This is going to restore us back to full; it's just a godsend," Treasure Island Mayor Bob Minning told the Times."

The University of South Florida Department of Geology submitted a report to Pinellas County in July 2012 about the damage.

"Sand volume loss in the dunes, dry beaches (shoreline to dune line) and nearshore zones (seaward of the shoreline to the trough just landward of the nearshore bar) was widespread.

The total sand volume loss for Long Key, Treasure Island and Sand Key was 630,900 cubic yards, compared to a sand volume gain of 657,700 cubic yards in the nearshore bar.

The report was forwarded to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its use if needed to reevaluate the corps' preliminary damage assessment of $25 million to repair the Pinellas beaches. If emergency funds are obtained for Pinellas, it could be an excellent opportunity to revise the corps' ongoing work and expand the nourishment project to other beaches in need."

To read the rest of the Times' report, click here. 

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