Perdido Key Beach Nourishment


Contacts: Project Manager Timothy Day, CFM Enviro. Programs Manager 3363 West Park Place Pensacola, FL 32505 Phone: 850-595-1144 Keith Wilkins, PG REP Bureau Chief Pat Chunn Aide to Bureu Chief 221 Palafox Place Pensacola, FL 32502 Phone: 850-595-3496 Chips Kirchenfeld Division Manager Water Quality & Land Management 3363 West Park Place Pensacola, FL 32505 Phone: 850-595-3439 Robert Turpin Division Manager Marine Resources 3363 West Park Place Pensacola, FL 32505 Phone: 850-595-4395 Perdido Key Beach Nourishment Project Summary Presentation (Click to View) NEW Public Meeting to discuss Gulf-front easements January 13, 2011 at the Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, 13660 Innerarity Point Road 6:30-7:30 p.m. History - As a result of the impacts from Hurricane Ivan (2004) the beaches on Perdido Key were designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as "Critically Eroded" (designation updated 2009). Critically Eroded is defined as follows: "Critically eroded area is a segment of the shoreline where natural processes or human activity have caused or contributed to erosion and recession of the beach or dune system to such a degree that upland development, recreational interests, wildlife habitat, or important cultural resources are threatened or lost. Critically eroded areas may also include peripheral segments or gaps between identified critically eroded areas which, although they may be stable or slightly erosional now, their inclusion is necessary for continuity of management of the coastal system or for the design integrity of adjacent beach management projects." As a part of the engineering study, the needs of beach nourishment were determined to be different between those properties east of Perdido Key State Park and those to the west, including the State Park. The eastern properties have lost both beach width and depth resulting in a need for a typical beach nourishment project. The western properties retain sufficient beach width, however they have lost beach depth, and will need sand placed on the upper beach (south of the post-Ivan constructed dune) to provide a similar level of storm surge protection. Click for larger image Click for larger image A feasibility study was completed in May 2006 including an off-shore sand search to identify potential borrow sites. Environmental permitting was initiated in 2006 and permits have been obtained through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (0273340-001-JC) and US Army Corps of Engineers (SAJ 2007-0764). As required by Florida Statute 161.141, an Erosion Control Line (ECL) must be established to separate the boundary line between sovereignty lands of the state bordering the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent upland properties. A public hearing was held on December 10, 2007 by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida (FDEP). The presentation may be viewed by clicking here. A map series of the ECL may be downloaded here. There are two critical steps in the process of nourishing our beaches. The first step it through acquisition of necessary easements from Gulf front property owners that will allow a variety of actions on Perdido Key beaches. Benefits to landowners by granting easements include: enables property protection through nourishment hurricane debris removal (post-Ivan cleanup was delayed over 90 days waiting for easements) emergency protective measures such as the constuction of the post-Ivan dune funded by FEMA protective measures resulting from the impacts of hurricane Gustav (between Johnson's Beach and Perdido Key State Park) - not yet constructed, funding will be by FEMA Deep Water Horizon oil spill response - County staff was authorized on private property though BOCC enactment of police powers A sample draft of the easement may be viewed here. The second step will be the identification of funding for project construction and maintenance. The anticipated cost of construction is approximately $14.5 million. Funding will be split between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems) and Escambia County. Based on existing public access to Perdido Key beaches the cost-share is anticipated to be 66% County and 34% State. At this time the Board of County Commissioners has not approved a local funding source. On December 23, 2010, the Mobile Press-Register ran an article proclaiming BP would pay for nourishment of Alabama beaches. Staff is investigating to confirm and advocate for similar funding for Escambia County beaches. Due to damages from Hurricane Gustav (2008), approximately $1.6 million from FEMA will soon be available to help repair beach damages between Johnson's Beach and Perdido Key State Park.