EAI performed sea turtle nesting surveys and nest relocation, turbidity monitoring, escarpment monitoring, and shorebird monitoring to meet regulatory requirements of the Joint Coastal Permit (JCP) issued for the project. Beach quality fill material was hydraulically dredged from the St. Lucie Inlet and placed along approximately 5,000 feet of shoreline at the southern end of Hutchinson Island (including Bathtub Beach and Sailfish Point) in Martin County, FL.

Nighttime surveys for nesting turtles were initiated during February with the commencement of construction and continued through all fill placement and demobilization activities.

Nests were relocated according to permit conditions. Daily shorebird breeding surveys were conducted during the project. Daily sea turtle nesting surveys to assess impacts to nesting and reproductive success are ongoing.

EAI developed and implemented project-specific standard operating procedures (SOP) for the collection of turbidity samples by boat at the borrow site and from shore at the disposal site to meet permit requirements. Turbidity monitoring was conducted a minimum of three times daily at each site during all dredging and sand placement operations. Between scheduled sampling requirements, technicians monitored for turbidity plumes.