Laying the pipe was a job in itself which went on for many days prior to
the actual renourishment beginning. Sand was pumped from more than
a mile offshore through these pipes, and temporary walkovers were
created for beachgoers.
The freshly-pumped sand was a darker color than the existing beach
sand, and was also softer underfoot. An Army Corps of Engineers
spokesperson said that the sand would eventually lighten, and that the
sand had to meet specific criteria mandated by the state for Lee County
beaches, including grain size distribution, shell content and color.