Lee County preparing to spend up to $25,000 to stop beach erosion

SANIBEL, Fla.- It’s your money and Lee County is ready to spend up to $25,000 to bring more sand to a local beach.

It’s the same beach where the county dumped $19,000 worth of sand just a year and a half ago.

The beach is eroding south of Blind Pass, which is right where Sanibel and Captiva Islands meet.

The shoreline is eroding so much that the City of Sanibel is posting warning signs along the spots where the road is closest to the sand.

The Lee County Tourist Development Council approved spending up to $25,000 to help Sanibel buy sand to counter the erosion.

The county spent $1 million just two years ago, to dredge Blind Pass, and put some of the sand along this beach. But that sand has disappeared and officials say they may have to put out more sand to prevent more serious erosion, or, in a worst-case scenario, a road washout.

Commissioners have to approve the money next Tuesday. It would be a 50-50 split with Sanibel.

In the meantime, the two governments are working on a study to find a more permanent solution to the continuing erosion.