Ocean Ridge Project

Beaches South of South Lake Worth (Boynton) Inlet

Current Project 

2026

The Ocean Ridge Shore Protection Project, located along a 1-mile stretch of beach south of Boynton Inlet including Ocean Ridge Hammock Park and Boynton Beach Oceanfront Park, began in March 2026. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracted with Weeks Marine, Inc., to dredge approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand from a borrow area 1,800 feet offshore, transport the sand to the shoreline via pipeline, and restore the beach. 

The Project will repair significant erosion sustained during the passage of Hurricane Nicole and subsequent storms. It is designed to provide 5-7 years of long-term protection from future storm impacts for coastal public infrastructure, recreational space, and critical nesting habitat for threatened and endangered sea turtles. As a federally authorized coastal storm risk management project, this Project is contracted and primarily funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with Palm Beach County as the local sponsor and in collaboration with the City of Boynton Beach and the Town of Ocean Ridge. 

Federal beach nourishment projects operate 24/7 to reduce costs and complete the project within a narrow environmental window due to peak marine turtle nesting season. Audible back-up signals on all heavy equipment working on the beach are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Although the public will be restricted from immediate work areas, access to the beach will be maintained using sand ramps built over the pipeline at dune walkovers and at 250-foot intervals. After dredging and demobilization, the beach will be tilled to reduce compaction of the new sand.