Beach Resiliency Forum Explores $14-54M Solutions

The Westport Parks and Recreation Department held a community forum on October 1-2 to discuss potential solutions for addressing severe erosion at Westport's four beaches: Compo Main, Compo South, Old Mill, and Burying Hill. RACE Coastal Engineering explored three main options for beach nourishment with costs ranging from $14 million to $54 million depending on approach and scope. The discussion included dredging projects, dune restoration, and importing sand from other sources. RACE engineers noted that the town is on a US Army Corps of Engineers list to be notified of dredging projects for navigation channels that Westport might utilize. The forum represented continuation of a July 13 community conversation about protecting and preserving Westport's important public beach spaces amid ongoing erosion and storm impacts.