Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

The Beach Management Funding Assistance Program Was Recently Improved, but Some Stakeholder Concerns Persist

Report 14-12, December 2014

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Report Summary

  • To protect the state's beaches and reduce the impact of erosion, the Legislature provides funding for local government beach and inlet management projects through the Department of Environmental Protection's Beach Management Funding Assistance Program. Program officials have made recent changes to improve consistency and transparency, including a revised program rule that became effective in August 2013. However, stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the eligibility and ranking criteria that the program uses to select and prioritize projects.
  • Analysis of the points awarded for Fiscal Year 2014-15 projects shows that a small number of factors account for a majority of project points. Our analysis determined that five beach and inlet management project criteria accounted for 55% and 69% of the total points awarded, respectively. Our survey asked respondents to identify the most important criteria. The criteria that received the highest scores, and the ones that respondents wanted to revise, included severity of erosion, threat to upland structures, recreational and economic benefits, and local sponsor financial and administrative commitment.
  • To address the prioritization of projects, the Legislature could consider separate project lists for federal-state funded projects and state-local funded projects. To increase focus on the value of projects, the Legislature could consider directing DEP to revise how it considers various administrative criteria. The Legislature could also consider options to simplify the application process as well as alternatives to account for storm damage occurring after applications have been submitted.

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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
beaches, inlets, water resource, restoration, nourishment, renourishment, conservation, preservation, coastline, erosion control, storm damage, FEMA, US Army Corps of Engineers, habitat protection, ecosystem, economic benefit