Reviving Coastal Beauty: Dune Restoration Kicks Off at Naval Station Mayport

General Mechanical Corporation (GMC) from Daytona Beach, Florida, has taken on a crucial $10.6 million contract to restore storm-eroded dunes at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Mayport. This project, awarded by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast in September 2023, aims at rebuilding coastal defenses that hurricanes Ian and Nicole severely damaged.

Sand mining operations began by early July, focusing on extracting and preparing substantial amounts of sand. The primary objective is to rebuild the dunes to a height of 12-14 feet, vital for protecting the base from future storm surges.

“A key element to this project is to ensure the habitat protection of native animals that live or nest in the dunes,” noted Benjamin Yang, construction manager at NAVSTA Mayport’s Public Works Department. He emphasized the team’s vigilance in monitoring a Loggerhead turtle nest, waiting for hatchlings to reach the sea before resuming work nearby.

Orange barriers were installed to protect nests susceptible to disruption from the ongoing dune restorations. Additionally, the project includes repairing storm-damaged facilities and replacing the fencing between the base and the adjacent civilian park at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, reinforcing a crucial security buffer.

By mid-August, significant strides had already been made. Of the required 64,000 cubic yards of sand, nearly 40,000 cubic yards had been mined, 8,000 cubic yards screened, and 9,000 cubic yards transported and placed on the dunes.

Sand is sourced from a designated dredge material management area within NAVSTA Mayport. A Powerscreen is used to process raw materials into suitable aggregate sizes for dune reconstruction.

“We’re screening between 1,000 and 1,200 cubic yards of sand daily and transporting around 100 truckloads, about 1,400 cubic yards, to the beach,” said Dillon Moyer, superintendent of Continental Heavy Civil Corporation (CHC). “Our target completion date is March 2025, but at this pace, we aim to finish by December 29, weather and equipment permitting.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is restoring dunes south of NAVSTA Mayport at Hanna Park, working northward towards the base. Their efforts will seamlessly transition to NAVSTA Mayport’s beach upon completing the Hanna Park project. Once the transition starts, USACE plans to operate around the clock for about a month to meet their deadlines at the base.

The coordinated efforts of GMC, CHC, and USACE demonstrate the collaborative spirit necessary to restore and strengthen the dunes and security at NAVSTA Mayport. Each passing day sees the beaches reshaped, ensuring they stand as robust defenses against future storms and habitats for native wildlife.

NAVFAC Southeast, based in Jacksonville, oversees facility projects by planning, designing, and constructing, meeting the Navy and Department of Defense’s needs in the Southeast. Managing operations from Charleston, South Carolina, to Corpus Christi, Texas, and extending to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, NAVFAC Southeast handles real estate acquisition and maintenance across Navy bases. They also supervise public-private venture housing programs for military families, forming an intricate part of the Navy’s support system.