Florida Statutes
Part I - Regulation of Construction, Reconstruction, and Other Physical Activity (Ss. 161.011-161.242)
161.142 - Declaration of public policy relating to improved navigation inlets.


(1) All construction and maintenance dredgings of beach-quality sand are placed on the adjacent eroding beaches unless, if placed elsewhere, an equivalent quality and quantity of sand from an alternate location is placed on the adjacent eroding beaches.
(2) On an average annual basis, a quantity of beach-quality sand is placed on the adjacent eroding beaches which is equal to the natural net annual longshore sediment transport. The department shall, with the assistance of university-based or other contractual resources that it may employ or call upon, maintain a current estimate of such quantities of sand for purposes of prioritizing, planning, and permitting.
(3) Construction waterward of the coastal construction control line on downdrift coastal areas, on islands substantially created by the deposit of spoil, located within 1 mile of the centerline of navigation channels or inlets, providing access to ports listed in s. 403.021(9)(b), which suffers or has suffered erosion caused by such navigation channel maintenance or construction shall be exempt from the permitting requirements and prohibitions of s. 161.053(4) or (5); however, such construction shall comply with the applicable Florida Building Code adopted pursuant to s. 553.73. The timing and sequence of any construction activities associated with inlet management projects shall provide protection to nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings and habitats, to nesting shorebirds, and to native salt-resistant vegetation and endangered plant communities. Beach-quality sand placed on the beach as part of an inlet management project must be suitable for marine turtle nesting.
(4) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall not be a requirement imposed upon ports listed in s. 403.021(9)(b); however, such ports must demonstrate reasonable effort to place beach-quality sand from construction and maintenance dredging and port-development projects on adjacent eroding beaches in accordance with port master plans approved by the Department of Economic Opportunity, and permits approved and issued by the department, to ensure compliance with this section. Ports may sponsor or cosponsor inlet management projects that are fully eligible for state cost sharing.
(5) The department shall ensure that any disposal of the beach-quality sand from federal projects in this state which involve dredging for the purpose of navigation is on, or in the nearshore area of, adjacent eroding beaches. The department may consider permitting nearshore or upland disposal of such beach-quality sand if emergency conditions exist. The state recognizes that due to the growing demand for beach-quality sand resources for beach restoration and nourishment projects, the limited supply of such sand resources, and the cost of such projects, beach or nearshore sand placement is the least-cost disposal method.
(6) If federal investigations and reports or state-approved inlet management plans do not specify the entity or entities responsible for the extent of erosion caused by an inlet, the department or local government, with the assistance of university-based or other contractual resources that they may employ or call upon, is encouraged to undertake assessments that aid in specifying the responsible entity or entities and in more accurately determining cost-sharing responsibilities for measures to correct such erosion. The entity that is responsible for maintenance dredging of an inlet may be deemed responsible for the erosion caused by the inlet if another responsible party is not specified in such an assessment, a shore protection project investigation or report, or a state-approved inlet management plan.
(7) If the beneficiaries of the inlet, the local governments having jurisdiction of lands adjacent to the inlet, or the owners of property adjacent to the inlet are involved in a dispute concerning how much sand should be bypassed, the department shall protect its monetary investment in beach nourishment projects within the inlet’s physical zone of influence by taking all reasonable actions to balance the sediment budget of the inlet and adjacent beaches, including implementation of inlet sand bypassing and other inlet management projects.
History.—s. 8, ch. 86-138; s. 19, ch. 87-97; s. 1, ch. 2008-242; s. 184, ch. 2010-102; s. 56, ch. 2011-142.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XI - County Organization and Intergovernmental Relations

Chapter 161 - Beach and Shore Preservation

Part I - Regulation of Construction, Reconstruction, and Other Physical Activity (Ss. 161.011-161.242)

161.011 - Short title.

161.021 - Definitions.

161.031 - Personnel and facilities.

161.041 - Permits required.

161.0415 - Citation of rule.

161.042 - Coastal construction and excavation in barrier beach inlets.

161.051 - Coastal construction by persons, firms, corporations, or local authorities.

161.052 - Coastal construction and excavation; regulation.

161.053 - Coastal construction and excavation; regulation on county basis.

161.0531 - Development agreements.

161.0535 - Permits; fees, costs.

161.054 - Administrative fines; liability for damage; liens.

161.055 - Concurrent processing of permits.

161.061 - Coastal construction serving no public purpose, endangering human life, health, or welfare, or becoming unnecessary or undesirable.

161.071 - Prosecuting officers to assist enforcement of this part.

161.081 - Powers of Department of Legal Affairs.

161.082 - Review of innovative technologies for beach nourishment.

161.085 - Rigid coastal armoring structures.

161.088 - Declaration of public policy respecting beach erosion control and beach restoration and nourishment projects.

161.091 - Beach management; funding; repair and maintenance strategy.

161.101 - State and local participation in authorized projects and studies relating to beach management and erosion control.

161.111 - Shore erosion emergency.

161.121 - Penalty.

161.131 - Construction of ss. 161.011-161.212.

161.141 - Property rights of state and private upland owners in beach restoration project areas.

161.142 - Declaration of public policy relating to improved navigation inlets.

161.143 - Inlet management; planning, prioritizing, funding, approving, and implementing projects.

161.144 - Policy guidance related to sand source management.

161.151 - Definitions; ss. 161.141-161.211.

161.161 - Procedure for approval of projects.

161.163 - Coastal areas used by sea turtles; rules.

161.181 - Recording of resolution and survey of board of trustees.

161.191 - Vesting of title to lands.

161.201 - Preservation of common-law rights.

161.211 - Cancellation of resolution for nonperformance by board of trustees.

161.212 - Judicial review relating to permits and licenses.

161.242 - Harvesting of sea oats and sea grapes prohibited; possession prima facie evidence of violation.