Mississippi Initiates $30 Million Beach Restoration Project in Hancock County
Mississippi is launching a $30 million beach restoration project in Hancock County, aiming to restore the shoreline to its original 200-foot width for the first time since the 1960s. This initiative is part of a broader coastal restoration effort overseen by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which began planning large-scale improvements in 2009 post-Hurricane Katrina. Authorized in 2014, funding was secured through the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The federal government will finance 65% of the project, while Hancock County will cover the remaining 35%, approximately $9.1 million. Project activities will include widening the beach, constructing berms, and planting dunes to enhance natural defenses against storms, with expected substantial completion by summer 2026.
