State officials on Tuesday granted final approval on a shoreline restoration project at Lido Beach, effectively closing a chapter on a long fight about saving one beach in part by dredging a pass by Siesta Key.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a final order to grant a joint coastal permit, allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to move ahead on a long-term restoration project. The permit allows the use of 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from Big Pass to be used to renourish Lido Beach. That’s about 400,000 fewer cubic yards of sand than originally planned; a more modest amount was approved by Administrative Law Judge Bram Canter. A group of petitioners from Siesta Key had filed a lawsuit against the City of Sarasota, the Army Corps and other parties to stop the project.

Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin urged petitioners not to appeal and to let the project move forward now, promising the city would closely monitor Big Pass to see if the dredging resulted in ecological harm. “I remind all this permit requires unprecedented monitoring and future adjustments as warranted. Significant resources—$2.5 million—also have been set aside to address any unforeseen effects,” Barwin says. “While we do not expect to use those funds, it serves as an insurance policy of sorts. It’s time residents, boaters and businesses all work together on this challenge and opportunity.”

Petitioners declined to comment specifically to the decision but said a strategy is in process to protect Siesta Key.

City spokeswoman Jan Thornburg said the federal agency will cover 62 percent of the $22-million renourishment project. The rest of the funding will be split between the state and city. She stressed both Lido and Siesta Key beaches remain open to the public.