New Smyrna Beach Residents Build Natural Coquina Seawall

Homeowners race to complete project before turtle nesting season begins.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:57pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting the dramatic scale of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, with massive, weathered coquina boulders dotting the foreground and the vast, powerful seascape dominating the background.As coastal communities in Florida turn to natural solutions to fortify their shorelines, the race is on to complete protective coquina rock revetments before the arrival of sensitive sea turtle nesting season.New Smyrna Beach Today

After a 3.5-year permitting battle, New Smyrna Beach homeowners have just 10 days to finish constructing a natural coquina rock revetment seawall before the start of turtle nesting season.

Why it matters

Coastal communities in Florida are increasingly turning to natural solutions like coquina rock to protect against erosion and rising sea levels, rather than traditional concrete seawalls that can disrupt local ecosystems. However, the permitting process for these natural projects can be lengthy and complex.

The details

The coquina rock revetment seawall project in New Smyrna Beach aims to use an ancient natural material found along the Florida coast to create a more environmentally-friendly coastal defense. Coquina is a sedimentary rock made up of compressed seashells that has been used for centuries in construction. Homeowners had to navigate a 3.5-year permitting process with local and state authorities before being approved to build the seawall.

  • The permitting process for the coquina seawall project took 3.5 years.
  • Homeowners have 10 days to complete construction before turtle nesting season begins.

The players

New Smyrna Beach Homeowners

Residents of the coastal community who are building the natural coquina seawall to protect their properties.

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What’s next

Homeowners must finish the coquina seawall project within the next 10 days before turtle nesting season starts, or they will have to wait until the end of the season to complete the work.

The takeaway

As coastal communities in Florida grapple with erosion and sea level rise, the use of natural materials like coquina rock for seawalls and revetments is becoming more common. However, the lengthy permitting process remains a significant challenge for homeowners and municipalities looking to implement these environmentally-friendly solutions.