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Minutes 04/08/2014 PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION CLAM BAY COMMITTEE APRIL 8, 2014 The Clam Bay Committee of the Pelican Bay Services Division met on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Community Center at Pelican Bay, 8960 Hammock Oak Drive, Naples, Florida. APPEARANCES: Susan O'Brien, President Joe Chicurel Tom Cravens John Domenie Michael Levy ALSO PRESENT: Neil Dorrill, Dorrill Management, Administrator Tim Hall,Turrell & Hall Associates, Inc. Arielle Poulos,Turrell & Hall Associates, Inc. Mohamed Dabees, Humiston & Moore Engineers, Inc. CLAM BAY STAKEHOLDERS: Henry Bachman Marcia Cravens Peter Duggan Annice Gregerson Mary Johnson Kathy Worley ROLL CALL/AGENDA APPROVAL All members of the Committee were in attendance. A MOTION and second was made to approve the Agenda. A discussion of where extra work will be taken on and what the related costs would be will be included under Item 8. The Board then unanimously approved the Agenda as amended. Information about a drowning at Pelican Bay Beach was noted by Mr. Cravens, who had been advised by security that a guest had been found in the water the previous day at South Beach. AUDIENCE COMMENTS Peter Duggan, representing Linda Roth, asked the Committee if they would consider four statements, previously provided to Mrs. O'Brien. The Chairman indicated that they would be discussing these statements, and both she and Mr. Hall had recommendations on the issues. Clam Bay Committee—Minutes April 8, 2014 Page 2 APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 18 AND MARCH 4 MEETING MINUTES A MOTION was made to accept the February 18 meeting minutes. The Chairman suggested that an update on canoe trail signs on Page 56 of the February minutes be included, and a period and upper case letter be included after the word "posts". With a second,the February 18 minutes were unanimously approved by the Board as amended. A MOTION was then made to accept the March 4 meeting minutes, seconded, and unanimously approved by the Board. SUGGESTED LANGUAGE ON WHEN/WHY TO DREDGE Information on this topic was previously provided by Kathy Worley, and it was suggested that another reason for dredging would be water quality. Mr. Hall indicated that everything being talked about at this point was about maintaining tidal flow, and after discussion, it was agreed that water quality would not be an issue addressed under this topic. The essence of what Dr. Dabees had set up on when and why to dredge was included, and while the data is reported annually, he would prefer to see it on a monthly basis, as that will give them a better chance of catching a problem before it is crucial. Mr. Cravens agreed. For clarification,the information is being collected monthly, but the report is generated annually. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT TEXT ON PARAMETERS TO BE USED TO DETERMINE IF DREDGING IS NEEDED Dr. Dabees had previously provided information on when the necessity is reached for dredging, and added that as he went through the parameters that a single one should not be a trigger to dredge, as in that case it could be an indicator or an error. Dr. Dabees noted through photographs for the Committee that the pass itself in Section A is wider than previously, while Section B is very clogged. The pass that was dredged a year ago is still open, and the water is flowing between the gulf and the Bay. Mr. Dabees indicated that they are proposing that the monthly photographs and reports be checked for range, and if it is not stable, the Committee and the Board can be notified of necessary action. Dr. Dabees briefly went over what had happened in the past year, noting that the channel had meandered in various directions to stay open. The scope of the monitoring is the channel, segments B and C and the flood shoal. Section A should be above 300 square feet, and above 450 in sections B and C as the benchmarks. Clam Bay Committee—Minutes April 8,2014 Page 3 The cost of the extra bathymetric testing at the six month point as recommended by Dr. Dabees would be an additional $15,000. At this point it is unknown whether they will receive any funding from the County for the Clam Bay program. Dr. Dabees noted that before 2008 the pass was stable and did not require any dredging, but since the collapse it is a much more critical situation, and he advocated emergency situation collections. The Committee members agreed that the monitoring approach needed to be changed, but at the moment costs were an important issue as well. It was agreed that the wording would say that the Committee was committed to testing yearly, and every six months if needed, and Number 3 would be used as the first trigger for testing as recommended by Dr. Dabees. The necessity of collecting for both bathymetry and flow was discussed, with the tides being the main driver of the water in and out of the Bay. Fresh water flow changes the components, and that mix will vary. The benchmark graphs were explained by Dr. Dabees, the parameters were gone over, and the averages were noted in sections A, B and C. Section A can self correct, while Section B is much more challenged, with multiple factors contributing to that. There is a possibility that only Section B could be dredged, as Section C is very difficult to reach. Dr. Dabees indicated that he felt at this point that all the plans and specs were in place to do the proposal for the ten year permit plan. Mrs. O'Brien stressed the need to stay on focus to complete the Management Plan, and Mr. Cravens suggested that Dr. Dabees continue to monitor the pass, and if action to pursue a Nationwide dredging permit becomes necessary, he should then contact Mr. Dorrill. Dr. Dabees indicated that this has already been done, as the system is very vulnerable, and contingencies are needed. The Board agreed after discussion that both issues could be addressed simultaneously, and a MOTION was made to recommend to the PBSD Board that Dr. Dabees and Mr. Hall be authorized to apply or renew the Nationwide permit. This will give the PBSD the ability to use that permit to dredge Section B if it becomes necessary. The Motion was then seconded and passed four to one by the Committee with Mrs. O'Brien voting against it. Dr. Dabees will prepare the text for the Management Plan that summarizes what is in the charts and the graphs, and provide it to the Commission members. Clam Bay Committee April 8,2014 Page 4 DISCUSSION OF DRAFT TEXT ON TYPICAL DREDGE CUTS AND MAXIMUM DREDGE CUTS The typical dredge cuts were previously provided, and text will be prepared for the Management Plan to explain and clarify what those recommended cuts mean by Dr. Dabees by the 21st of April for consideration before the meeting on the 24th A short break was then taken. DISCUSSION OF OBJECTIVES FOR MANAGEMENT PLAN A draft and an alternative draft were previously prepared for the Committee and included in the materials, and the order of the objectives as listed in the materials will be 1,4, 5, 2 and 3, and the numbers will be made consecutive to reflect that. The use of the words "water quality" was objected to in number 3, and the words "where possible"were taken out to meet the approval of the Committee. The word "protect" was taken out of number 5 and replaced with the word "monitor". The Committee agreed that they were comfortable with the Plan as prepared by Mrs. O'Brien. The meaning of a nuisance species was discussed, and Water Management District defines them as a native species that grow counteractive to the objectives to be met. A native plant can become a nuisance, and the ability to act on that after review would then be permitted. The inclusion of information on fish and bird surveys was discussed at length, and the words "conduct periodic bird surveys to keep the species list current and in support of ongoing management activities" will be included in the Management Plan, and a base line list of fish will be prepared as well as periodic surveys. The County tracks sea turtle nests on the beaches and prepares detailed reports, and this information will be incorporated into the Management Plan, and a baseline number of gopher turtle burrows will be established as well and monitored every few years. Specific terms to be used were agreed upon, and Mr. Hall will prepare the copy for the Plan on these items, and excerpts from the comprehensive information gathered by the Conservancy on benthic organisms will also be included. Monitoring of the access and use of the facilities was discussed, and Mr. Hall will again wordsmith the various components of the objectives for the Committee. Clam Bay Committee April 8,2014 Page 5 DISCUSSION OF EDITS RE: SEAGATE, PAGE 6 OF MANAGEMENT PLAN AND OTHER NEEDED EDITS The Committee discussed the boat docks and motorized vessels at Seagate and how to best word the Plan in this regard. Mr. Hall will prepare the appropriate language as suggested by the Committee on this issue and provide it to them at the next meeting. Language regarding the archeological sites within the NRVA will also be included by Mr. Hall. POSSIBLE NEW REPORTS/ACTIVITIES FOR FY 2015 FOR CLAM BAY The biological section was allotted approximately$8,000, and the bird and tortoise monitoring were being included as part of the Objectives section of the Management Plan. Based on the Committee's discussions, Mr. Hall will revamp the numbers and participating parties as it relates to new activities and reports and bring them to the next meeting. UPDATE ON BOATS IN CLAM BAY AND REVISED ORDINANCE Previous documentation was provided on the boat activities in Clam Bay, and Mrs. O'Brien indicated that the sign and ordinance issues were on hold at the moment; however, Mr. Hall will be meeting with one of the County attorneys the following day on these issues. Identifying the speeding boat endangering other people within the Bay will be tagged and potential solutions will be discussed with Mr. Dorrill. ADJOURNMENT On a MOTION and a second,the meeting was then adjourned at 4:05 p.m. '3 Susan O'Brien, Chairman Printed 11/12/2014 at 9:06:44 AM