WSP Water Solutions

Coastal Restoration 

Franklin 98 Living Shoreline Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) | Eastpoint, Florida

Taylor County Canal Dredging – Coastal Restoration Initiative Taylor County Board of County Commissioners | Taylor County, Florida ■ Dredge design and permitting ■ Environmental and coastal resilience ■ Restoration planning The Taylor County Canal Dredging project is a strategic coastal restoration effort aimed at improving waterway access, ecological resilience and sediment management in Taylor County, Florida. The initiative encompasses dredging operations in the Steinhatchee Boat Basin and Keaton Beach Canal System, with sediment disposal coordinated through the Aucilla Landfill and Fish Creek Spoil Site. Designed to support seasonal manatee migration and enhance navigability, the project balances environmental sensitivity with operational efficiency. WSP’s team of engineers and scientists collaborated with Taylor County officials to develop a restoration plan that integrates sediment removal and regulatory compliance. The project was temporarily delayed due to Hurricane Helene, which introduced significant debris into the waterways. Once cleanup is complete, the county will re-advertise the bid package to resume progress. This initiative reflects WSP’s commitment to sustainable coastal infrastructure and habitat protection, aligning with broader goals in flood resilience and environmental stewardship across Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Salt Marsh Restoration and Habitat Enhancement National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the University of Florida | St. Johns County, Florida

■ Thin layer placements for marsh elevation ■ Feasibility analysis, modeling and design ■ Long-term marsh resilience

■ Installation of reef and marshes to defend against erosion ■ Habitat enhancement and ecological restoration ■ Wave modeling for design optimization WSP was awarded a $3.6-million, multi-year contract by the ARPC to lead the design and implementation of a transformative 12-mile living shoreline project along Apalachicola Bay, between Eastpoint and Carrabelle, Florida. This nature based initiative addresses chronic erosion threatening Highway 98—a designated hurricane evacuation route—by replacing weathered hard infrastructure with resilient oyster reefs and intertidal marshes. The project will create approximately 10 acres of estuarine reef and 15 acres of salt marsh, restoring ecological function and enhancing habitat for oysters, crabs, fish and birds. WSP developed a Coastal Conditions Analysis and wave modeling using MIKE21 SW to guide reef placement and marsh viability. Phase 1 construction, completed in May 2024, delivered 5,500 linear feet of reef and 3 acres of marsh with 200,000 plant units. Phases 2 and 3 will add 6,500 feet of reef and over 500,000 marsh units. WSP continues ecological, geotechnical and elevation surveys, with extended construction support and environmental monitoring.

This project is a multi-phase coastal resilience initiative led by the University of Florida and funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Located in St. Johns County, Florida, the project targets over 100 acres of degraded salt marsh habitat along the Intracoastal Waterway, south of State Road 312. Restoration efforts focus on thin layer placement of dredged sediment to elevate drowning marsh zones and promote Spartina alterniflora regrowth. Key elements include living shorelines to reduce wave energy and provide intertidal habitat, adaptive management through vegetation and wildlife monitoring, and protection of critical infrastructure such as Flagler Hospital and State Road 312. WSP supported feasibility analysis, modeling and design development using Civil 3D, aerial imagery and vessel wake prediction tools. The project enhances ecological function, buffers storm surge and supports long term marsh resilience in a rapidly urbanizing coastal environment. This initiative exemplifies integrated coastal engineering and habitat restoration, aligning with regional

goals for flood protection and environmental stewardship.

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