The St. Augustine Municipal Marina received grant funding approval from the Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) for 25% of a repair project cost, totaling up to $500,000 dollars, as well as an additional $250,000 dollars from the St. Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach District.
During Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the Marina’s breakwater dock was severely damaged. Built in 2013, the breakwater dock has a site-specific design to provide vital weather protection to the rest of the marina and its guests. The breakwater dock lessens the damage to the rest of the Marina by serving as a wave attenuator, reducing the energy and impact from incoming waves.
“The breakwater dock did its job by protecting the Marina from Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022,” said Eric Mauldin, Marina Harbormaster. “Then, when Hurricane Nicole impacted us six weeks later, on November 10, 2022, the breakwater dock sustained further damage. It is essential we repair it before next hurricane season, and are thankful for this funding opportunity which allows us to do so.”
With this initial funding, the Marina will hire a contractor to complete repairs before the 2023 hurricane season. The City of St. Augustine will then apply for reimbursement funding from FEMA for repair costs, an estimated $2 million dollars.
St. Augustine Municipal Marina
The St. Augustine Municipal Marina is located on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway just south of the historic Bridge of Lions. The Marina is within 1 nautical mile of the St. Augustine Inlet, which serves as the principal inlet for the City of St. Augustine, all of St Johns County, and adjacent inland counties. The marina provides deep-water fueling services, free sewage pump-out service, potable water, overnight dockage, and moorings for commercial vendors, hundreds of recreational and commercial boaters, marine fire and law enforcement vessels, and thousands of seasonal vessels.
Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND)
Created by the Florida Legislature in 1927 to be the state sponsor of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway in Florida. FIND is responsible to construct, operate and maintain local Waterways. It consists of the twelve counties along the east coast of Florida from Nassau through Miami-Dade County with a board comprised of a governor-appointed commissioner from each county. Commissioner Carl Blow has represented St. Johns County since 2009, including a term as Board Chair. FIND levies a real property tax on all property within the district's boundaries to generate the funds necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.
St. Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach District
The Port District is governed by five at-large commissioners elected to four-year terms. Commissioner Matt Brown is the current board chair. Established in the late 1930's by the Florida Legislature and subsequently approved by referendum vote of those residing within its boundaries, the Port District is an ad valorem taxing authority with a broad range of authority for building warehouses, wharfs, bridges, and other structures for the commercial development of the port.
For more information on these grants, contact the City of St. Augustine General Services Department at 904.825.1010. For media inquiries, contact Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, at 904.293.3307.
Original source can be found here.
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