ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — An assessment is underway to figure out just how much damage Debby left behind when it comes to our local beaches.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is surveying the damage along with environmental workers from Pinellas County.
The assessment team has found areas like Treasure Island's Sunset Beach suffering what's called scraping — that steep drop-off where the sand is just gone creating a sheer cliff. County workers say the Army Corps of Engineers started its assessment Wednesday and was expected to wrap things up soon.
The good news, they say, is that the county's newly-planted dune system seemed to hold up well, protecting homes and businesses from waves and storm surge. On a sad note, they've also seen a significant loss of turtle nests as a result of the storm.
In addition to Sunset Beach, significant erosion was also observed at Indian Rocks Beach and Belair Beach.
“It's taken quite a bit away,” beach visitor Shamus Walker said. “But we still have enough beach to sit on. For now.”
“I feel bad for the turtles,” Grace Gregory said. “Because, obviously, they can't hatch anymore and there's definitely a lot less of them.”
Other beach visitors were surprised by how long the effects from Debby seemed to be lingering.
“Debby was Sunday and Monday,” beach visitor Steve Mance said. “This is Thursday. I mean, the waves are beautiful, but we're still getting Debby."
Just to the south, in Pass-a-Grille, there is also a beach nourishment project underway. Pinellas County officials say some of that sand appears to have been washed out, but then found its way back onto shore just north of where the work has been going on.
For now, the Pass-a-Grille project has been temporarily paused until conditions become favorable again for it to resume — a reduction in waves and wind.
That could be as early as the weekend.
County workers say this initial assessment by the Army Corps of Engineers will eventually help determine which projects need to be prioritized going forward.