TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Pinellas County and the city of Treasure Island are joining forces for an emergency beach dune estoration project.

What You Need To Know

  • Officials need three-year temporary easment agreement from breahfront property owners to truck in sand

  • Dune restoration project is separate from Army Corps of Engineers' beach renourisment project

  • Project could begin on Wednesday

Although Hurricane Idalia skirted the Tampa Bay coastline, the beach erosion it caused was severe.

On Sunday, officials went door-to-door along the beach, getting beachfront property owners in Treasure Island to sign off on trucking in sand to help restore the dunes.

They are getting homeowners written permission to allow crews on their property for a three-year temporary easement required by the county.

City officials say this project is crucial, but it won't fix the beach erosion problem.

“What this will do is it will put a bandaid on it," said Treasure Island City Commissioner Beth Wetzel. “We’re hoping to build on that Bandaid and shore up some of the dune systems for the future. It’s a constant battle with Mother Nature, but we’re trying to do what we can.”

While Treasure Island city officials collect easement agreements from his neighbors, James Jannetides is literally at the edge of his property, hoping everything stays put until the dunes are restored.

Jannetides bought a beachfront home off Gulf Boulevard three years ago, but in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, he's left with a nightmare of a problem.

“The deck was probably 15 feet beyond where it is now," he said. “Anymore and the pool would’ve been floating and ripped off the side of the house.”

Although his pool was spared, the rest of his back deck was washed out to sea.

“It’s absolutely critical we get the dune back up here and get it planted,” said Jannetides, “You can’t even come down to the beach. It’s dangerous. Like these people next door are 55+ and they’re stepping off a big ledge to get to the beach and there’s just no way. Every house is exposed.”

But Jannetides says, no amount of beach erosion is going to ruin his lifelong dream of living here.

“It’s still a dream. We’re still blessed,” he said. “The water’s just a little too close. I like to walk out to the beach, not have the beach in the house.”