The South Jetty is a federally engineered coastal wave control structure that provides crucial marine navigational aid by protecting and stabilizing the entrance to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Working in tandem, the jetties prevent cross-currents and redirect the tidal flow. However, during major storm events, the two jetties absorb wave activity and storm surge, which can exacerbate beach erosion by disrupting the natural movement of sand and water from north to south.

Consequently, the Venice Beach renourishment project is primarily funded and managed by the USACE.

Learn more about the design and purpose of seawalls, bulkheads and revetments from USACE here. 

Conditions at the South Jetty are weather-dependent. When a storm approaches, City officials monitor potential storm surge impacts, expected wind speeds, rainfall, and storm intensity, and may be forced to close the South Jetty walkway and Humphris Park for public safety.

For significant storm events, the park must be closed in advance of the storm so that park benches, picnic tables, and trash receptacles can be moved inland and secured to prevent them from being displaced into the inlet. A storm approaching from the south will almost always generate storm surge and wave washover at the South Jetty.

The South Jetty absorbs wave impacts coming from the south, offering protection to the North Jetty as intended, and vice-versa when the storm approaches from the North. Sarasota County manages and maintains the North Jetty.

The South Jetty and adjacent properties are owned, managed, and maintained through cross-jurisdictional agreements, requiring federal, state and City approvals before any maintenance or repairs can commence. The City of Venice is responsible for maintaining and repairing the Humphris Park parking lot, park access, walkway access, and the asphalt pedestrian walkway that spans the South Jetty.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for the jetty bulkheads, revetment, and riprap, and coordinates with the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) to address the inlet and waterway. WCIND also aids in securing and coordinating materials and funding sources. Materials used include granite riprap, asphalt, crushed concrete, and other industry-standard pervious and impervious materials. Materials are funded through federal, state, County, and City mechanisms, grants, and agreements.

USACE prioritizes addressing storm damage in coastal areas based on urgency, with immediate attention given to situations that pose a direct threat to life and safety. As a result, the USACE may attend to regions more severely impacted by storms before considering the need for assessments or repairs to the jetty.

Keeping the South Jetty repaired and maintained is vital to providing safe navigation through the Venice Inlet.

Bulkhead: is a structure placed along shoreline intended to retain/prevent sliding of land and protect the upland area against wave action. Read more. 

Cross-current: 

Jetty: a man-made wave control and tidal influence structure that protects an inlet or navigational pass. Read more. 

Revetment: large rocks or riprap placed along the sloping sides of the jetty to protect the structure, encourage marine life habitat, and interrupt directional storm surge. Learn more. 

Tidal flow: A horizontal movement of water 

Shore Protection Program: Federal program managed by USACE that manages 30 percent of the nation's shorelines through beach fills and restorations and other coastal engineering best practices. Learn more. 

Storm Surge: the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted tide. The surge is caused primarily by a storm’s winds pushing water onshore. Learn more. 

► 1935 - The Jetties at Casey’s Pass were authorized by the United States Congress in the Rivers and Harbors act of 1935. The projects would include construction of the north and south Jetties and the dredging of a new channel 8 feet deep by 100 feet wide designed to provide a direct connection from Roberts Bay to the Gulf of Mexico and stabilize Casey's Pass.

► 1937 - The over-650-linear-foot jetties were constructed using 19 steel sheet pile cylinders with creosoted wood sheet pile bulkheads. Following construction, the inlet was dredged and additional materials were placed behind both jetty bulkheads.

► 1940s to 1980s - Periodic inspections, maintenance, and numerous storm repairs were conducted by USACE, including additional steel, concrete and riprap placement at the bulkheads and sand placement from inlet dredging. In 1969, more than 6,000 tons of stone were placed around the steel bulkheads, and the 10-foot-wide asphalt walking path was added.

► 1990s to present - Frequent repairs conducted in coordination with USACE and the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) due to an aging structure and increased storm activity and intensity, including Hurricane Ian in 2022, Hurricane Idalia in 2023, and Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. The City is currently working with USACE and WCIND to develop a long-term restoration project intended to strengthen the jetty for many years to come.

► For a more comprehensive history of the South Jetty, contact the Venice Museum and Archives.