Will Anna Maria Beaches Be Renourished?

Anna Maria Island is in line to receive $3 million in state dollars for beach restoration, since the shoreline was damaged in Tropical Storm Debby.

The Bradenton Herald is reporting that the dollars are included in the proposed state budget and would be used to match federal funding that already has been approved.

The money would go toward investing in 795,700 cubic yards of sand to restore and renourish beaches damaged in the 2012 storm.

If the money is approved, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would award the project in August, according to the Bradenton Herald. Work would start at Holmes Beach and extend to Bradenton Beach.

The budget calls for a total of $37 million in spending for Florida beach renourishment," which is considered key to tourism.

Florida's spending plan will need final approval from Gov. Rick Scott.

But state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, told the Bradenton Herald:

The final budget ... has that money in it. Those dollars were an absolute priority for me because we depend so much on our tourism, and renourishment of the beaches has been successful in the past and helped, from not just a tourist standpoint, but a safety standpoint, in avoiding erosion.

Galvano said he feels confident that the governor will not turn down the funding request since it comes with matching federal dollars.

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