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Jul 9, 2025:
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Raise and Rehabilitate Seawalls
Castillo De San Marcos National Monument » Raise and Rehabilitate Seawalls » Document List
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (CASA) is proposing a project to repair and raise the historic seawalls of the Castillo. The seawalls are part of a larger system of seawalls that protects the City of St. Augustine. The Castillo was built by the Spanish starting in 1672 and is located along the Matanzas River northeast of the St. Augustine historic district. Like the Castillo, the seawalls are constructed of coquina, which is a stone formed from shells. Coquina was widely available in St. Augustine and believed to be a more suitable material for the fort than wood because it would not burn and could absorb cannonball fire. However, coquina is porous and not very strong or durable which has led to substantial subsidence and erosion of the seawalls over time. Not only are the seawalls degrading but are also the lowest elevation of the City's seawall network, making the Castillo the first area to flood during storm events.
The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance the protection provided by the seawalls in order to reduce flooding within CASA and adjacent properties while preserving the surrounding natural and cultural resources. The historic seawall is 1,355 linear feet and comprised of five (5) different wall sections that vary in degrees of deterioration necessitating the need for repair: North, North Transition, Center, South, and South Transition Seawalls. Each section of seawall was constructed at different times with different materials and methods, which will require differing rehabilitation solutions.
The need for the project is to address structural integrity issues at the seawall, including effects of aging, erosion, storm damage and flooding, as well as mitigate the impacts of sea level rise by raising the seawall elevations.
The National Park Service conducted two public meetings in June and September 2024 to share project information with the public and accepted comments to inform the project. With consideration of the public comments received, the National Park Service is pleased to share the Environmental Assessment (EA) that shares the alternatives considered and analysis of impacts of raising and repairing the seawalls. Public comments on the EA will be accepted from June 9 - July 9, 2025.
The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance the protection provided by the seawalls in order to reduce flooding within CASA and adjacent properties while preserving the surrounding natural and cultural resources. The historic seawall is 1,355 linear feet and comprised of five (5) different wall sections that vary in degrees of deterioration necessitating the need for repair: North, North Transition, Center, South, and South Transition Seawalls. Each section of seawall was constructed at different times with different materials and methods, which will require differing rehabilitation solutions.
The need for the project is to address structural integrity issues at the seawall, including effects of aging, erosion, storm damage and flooding, as well as mitigate the impacts of sea level rise by raising the seawall elevations.
The National Park Service conducted two public meetings in June and September 2024 to share project information with the public and accepted comments to inform the project. With consideration of the public comments received, the National Park Service is pleased to share the Environmental Assessment (EA) that shares the alternatives considered and analysis of impacts of raising and repairing the seawalls. Public comments on the EA will be accepted from June 9 - July 9, 2025.