Soon after the Christmas holiday, the beach will make its comeback.
Manatee County officials will be winding down sand-screening and sifting operations at Coquina Beach by the end of the year.
Using sand-sifting machines, county contractors and crews have been able to return tons of sand ton the beaches in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach while assisting the barrier island communities in their recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
While other municipalities have trucked the debris sand that washed over roads and properties to landfills, these sifting operations also have provided the county with fill for future infrastructure projects, bringing about significant savings. Since the storms hit in September and October, drop-off locations at Coquina Beach have coordinated sifting sand from residents, businesses and island cities.
It is anticipated that the sifting operations will continue through Christmas, but the county is announcing that sand collections and dropoffs will end by mid-December to allow workers to conclude their work and restore Coquina park.
The final deadline for sand deliveries to the Coquina Beach collection site is set for the end of the day on Saturday, Dec. 14.
According to a statement from the county, “to ensure compliance and protect local beaches, it should be emphasized that private entities are not permitted to deposit sand onto public beaches. Sand removed from properties following hauling operations should be properly disposed of in accordance with local regulations and available disposal options.
For information on sand disposal, the county asks that people contact their local public works department or trash hauler for guidance.