Living on Florida’s Atlantic coast is a blessing a daily front-row seat to the rhythms of the sea, the salt air, and spectacular sunrises. But as the planet warms and waters creep higher, the ocean is reminding us that it’s more than just a backdrop. One such reminder comes in the form of king tides those naturally occurring, extra-high tides that push seawater further inland than usual.
Here in Volusia County, they’re no longer just a curiosity; they’re becoming a regular stress test for our seawalls, docks, drainage systems, and shoreline properties.
What Are King Tides?
“King tide” is the informal term for the highest predicted tides of the year, occurring when the sun, moon, and Earth align, and the moon is closest to Earth (perigee).
During these cycles, water levels rise several inches higher than typical high tides, pushing across beaches, streets, and low-lying coastal areas especially where sea-level rise and development have reduced natural drainage.
King tides are natural and predictable, but their effects are magnified by climate change, aging infrastructure, and overdeveloped shorelines three factors that hit Volusia County especially hard.
Why Volusia County Is So Vulnerable
Volusia County sits in a low-lying coastal zone with interconnected tidal waterways from the Halifax River to Turnbull Bay and Mosquito Lagoon. These inland estuaries respond directly to tidal changes, so even small fluctuations in sea level have outsized effects.
- Backflow Flooding
When king tides elevate river and ocean levels, the stormwater system reverses drains and outfalls can’t release runoff because the downstream tide is too high.
- Compounded Weather
King tides often coincide with late-summer storms. When high tide meets heavy rain, the water has nowhere to go, causing temporary street flooding even without a named storm.
- Coastal Erosion
Higher tides mean waves reach further up the beach, undermining dunes and seawalls. Over time, this leads to structural damage, foundation exposure, and costly rebuilds.
- Aging Infrastructure
Many coastal drainage systems and seawalls in Daytona Beach, Ponce Inlet, and New Smyrna Beach were built decades ago before today’s tidal heights were common. Those systems are now under pressure from forces they weren’t originally designed to handle.
Real Impacts We’re Seeing
Local agencies have issued multiple flood advisories this season warning that king tides, when combined with rainfall, could inundate streets, yards, and low-lying homes. Some coastal roads near the Halifax River are already seeing chronic “sunny day” flooding during these high tides.
For property owners, that means water intrusion, salt damage, undermined foundations, and erosion of bulkheads or seawalls issues that only grow costlier with time.
Marine Construction Solutions: Building Coastal Resilience
This is where marine infrastructure becomes not just a repair effort, but a resilience investment. The same principles that protect waterfront homes today will define which properties and communities withstand tomorrow’s rising waters.
Older concrete seawalls can be capped, tied back, or entirely replaced with reinforced concrete, vinyl, or composite sheet pile systems. Modern designs include Jet Filter™ weep systems to relieve hydrostatic pressure, stainless tie-backs, and deep embedment to prevent overturning during extreme tides.
- Helical Anchoring Systems
Replacing traditional deadman anchors with helical tie-backs can provide adjustable, inspectable, and stronger resistance critical in soft or saturated soils along Volusia’s riverbanks.
- Stormwater Outfall Backflow Prevention
Installing tidal check valves or duckbill valves at outfalls prevents reverse tidal flow into neighborhoods. This relatively small upgrade makes a major difference during king tide events.
- Dock & Pier Elevation
Rebuilding docks with elevated framing and composite decking allows them to withstand higher water levels and wave action, while still maintaining ADA access and function.
- Dune & Shoreline Stabilization
In coastal zones, natural and engineered dune reinforcement using FRP sheet piles, geogrid wraps, and vegetation stabilization helps prevent erosion during peak tides and storms.
Why East Coast Marine Construction & Design
At East Coast Marine Construction & Design, we don’t just build in Volusia County, we live here. Our team has decades of hands-on experience in marine engineering, coastal construction, and structural rehabilitation, specializing in environments where salt, tide, and time are constant challenges.
We’ve delivered resilient solutions for municipal seawalls, private waterfronts, and marina systems throughout the region, from the Halifax River to Ponce Inlet, including projects that directly address the kind of stress king tides impose.
Our expertise includes:
- Design-build seawalls (concrete, steel, vinyl, FRP)
- Tie-back and deadman systems engineered for coastal soils
- Drainage improvements and outfall retrofits
- ADA-compliant access docks and boat ramps
- Dune and shoreline stabilization systems
We approach each project with both engineering precision and local understanding ensuring that what we build not only meets code, but meets the realities of Volusia’s coastal environment.
When the tides rise as they always do you want a contractor who understands the full picture: hydrology, design loads, permitting, and performance.
That’s East Coast Marine Construction & Design from the oceanfront to the riverfront and all points in between.
Final Thoughts
King tides are a glimpse into our future water levels. They remind us that the coastline is constantly shifting, and only proactive design and construction will keep pace.
Volusia County’s future resilience depends on infrastructure that adapts, not just reacts and that starts with builders who understand the forces at work.
If you’re seeing signs of king tide flooding, seawall distress, or drainage failures on your property, now is the time to assess and strengthen your marine infrastructure.
Contact East Coast Marine Construction & Design today for a consultation or inspection and protect your investment before the next king tide rolls in.
