Manatee County awarded national award for AMI beach renourishment
MANATEE -- The Manatee County Commission received a national award Tuesday recognizing its efforts and commitment to renourishing the beaches of Anna Maria Island.
Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker presented commissioners with the Robert L. Wiegel Coastal Project Award from the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association. The award recognizes a coastal project that has "stood the test of time and has shown a positive environmental, social, or recreational benefit."
According to its website, ASBPA was founded in 1926 by individuals who recognized the need for an organized effort to combat erosion, a serious problem in many coastal areas.
Hunsicker said Manatee County's award was in recognition of its continuous success in beach renourishment since 1992. The award also recognized the county's nearly $16 million beach renourishment project that involved pumping 1 million cubic yards of sand from offshore from 2013-14.
"Jack Gorzeman was the original project manager for the renourishment in 1992. I was able to pick it up from 2002 and forward," Hunsicker told the Herald early Wednesday evening. "I was very honored to represent the community of Manatee County, and especially the three island cities, who have patiently endured the many, many months of construction during the times that we were rebuilding the beach and similarly benefited from a restored beach to support property values, our tourism economy, ready evacuation routes and a healthy beach environment for our nesting marine turtles and shorebirds."
In October 2014, Suzi Fox, executive director of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, credited beach renourishment project for a better-than-average year for sea turtle nesting on the 7-mile barrier island.
Manatee County becomes the fourth Florida community to receive the award in the past 25 years, according to a release.
"It just represents an affirmation about the very special place we have to enjoy here in Manatee County," Hunsicker said.
County Commissioner John Chappie described the award as a "tremendous honor" for county staff, the community and Hunsicker.
"They've all been very involved in working with the community, working with the county," Chappie said of the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Holmes Beach. "It's great that the county took this on to manage this."
Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.
This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Manatee County awarded national award for AMI beach renourishment ."