TR 83-1
)
NATURAL RESOURCES
OF COlliER COUNTY
FlOR I DA
)
PART 1
BEACH MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND
I MPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL
TR~~-'
1983
) Research supported in part by the
Florida Department of Environmental Regulation and the
Coastal Zone ~~nagement Act of 1972. as amended. Administered by the
Office of Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
r ::
TECHNICAL REPORTS
) NATURAL RESOURCES OF COLLIER [OUNTY
83-1. BEACH MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL
83-2. THE BEACH IN COLLIER COUNTY:
A MODEL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
83-3. A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FOR THE COASTAL BARRIERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
Technical Report No.83-1
')
MARK A. BENEDICT
PRINCIPAL AUTHOR
MARK A. BENEDICT, PH.D.
Director
JUDSON W. HARVEY
Coastal Zone Management
Associate
MAURA E. CURRAN
Coastal Zone Management
Technician
(i)
ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
,
)
COLUER COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMPLEX
3301 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST
NAPLES. FLORIDA 33942-4977
PREFACE
Overview
Collier County's coastal zone, defined for administrative purposes as
that area of the County on the Gulf side of U.S. 41 (the Tamiami Trail).
encompasses 328 square miles of coastal barrier, bay, wetland, and
maritime upland habitats. The coastal zone stretches 57 miles from the
northwest to southeast and varies in width from 2 miles at the north
county line, to 12 miles in the vicinity of Marco Island and 8 miles near
the southern county border. Collier County's coastal zone, which makes
up 16 percent of the County's total land area, is inhabited by 38.800
people (1980 census), 45 percent of the County's population. An addi-
tional 29,300 people live within 5 miles east of U.S. 41. In total. 79
percent of the county's population is found within 10 miles of the Gulf
of Mexico.
)
The County's coastal zone is characterized by both developed and undevel-
oped areas. Of the 328 square miles in the coastal zone 67 square miles
(21 percent) are developed. Of the remaining 261 square miles 123 square
miles (37 percent) are undeveloped and preserved as Federal (Everglades
National Park, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Sanctuary), State (Faka-
hatchee Strand, Collier-Seminole, and Delnor-Wiggins State Parks and
Barefoot Beach State Preserve), and County (Tigertail and Clam Pass Beach
Parks) resource management and protection areas. The remaining 138
square miles (42 percent) are undeveloped and in private ownership.
Unlike most of the rapidly developing counties in South Florida, Collier
County is unique in that the great majority of its coastal zone is still
in its natural state. Hundreds of thousands of acres of coastal barriers,
wetlands, bays, and marine grassbeds are still relatively undisturbed,
much as they have been for thousands of years. It is these areas that
have made Collier County so aesthetically attractive. If properly
managed they will continue to function in this respect.
)
Of equal importance, however, are the natural resources of these
undeveloped regions of the coastline areas which are ecologically vital
to both the County and southwest Florida. The coastal barriers, if they
remain unaltered, serve as a first line of defense against the sea.
Storm surge damage, coastal flooding, and erosion of the mainland can be
alleviated or slowed by a functioning, natural system of coastal
barriers. The wetlands, shallow bays, and marine grassbeds are other
important parts of the coastal ecosystem. The mangrove forests (those in
Collier County being some of the largest, undisturbed systems in the
United States and one of the best developed in the world) and associated
marshes provide the organic materials and detritus that form the basis of
the coastal food chain and support the abundant shellfish and finfish
resources of southwest Florida. The unaltered coastal ecosystem not only
functions as a haven for birds, fish, and other wildlife. but may also
provide necessary refuge for those species that have been driven from
adjacent, heavily altered or extirpated coastal systems. The undisturbed
natural systems of Collier County form the keystone for the south Florida
ecosystem. The coastal zone links the estuarine systems of Lee and
Monroe County while the vast, unspoiled eastern area of the County
connects the coastal and interior wetland systems with those of Dade and
Broward Counties.
Almost half of the unaltered coastal zone in Collier County is under the
ownership and/or management of Federal, State, or Local agencies for the
sole purpose of protecting the natural systems. Although this is
gratifying, it is important to remember that the other half of the
undisturbed coastal area is in private ownership. In addition, both the
private and the managed coastal areas are bounded by uplands that are
either developed or projected for future urban or agricultural dev-
elopment. Activities undertaken in the private areas of the coastal zone
or on adjacent upland property, if not properly planned, could result in
the degradation of our remaining undisturbed coastal areas in only a few
decades and the loss of their resources. In a recent position paper R.
A. Livingston wrote that "if history is our guide, one basic problem lies
in public acceptance of almost any level of environmental deterioration
as long as it occurs gradually enough". To safeguard the coastal zone
resources of Collier County from gradual deterioration and to ensure
their continuing function as a vital part of the southwest Florida
ecosystem, positive and direct steps must be taken. Predominant among
these must be the implementation of a program to ensure that all future
land use activities proposed for the coastal zone are designed to be
totally compatible with, or at least not inimical to, the natural
resources and the associated recreation values of the County's un-
disturbed coastal areas.
Collier County Coastal Zone Management Program
)
The coastal zone is one of Collier County's major assets. Abundant_
natural resources, ample recreation opportunities. and popularity as a
homesite for many seasonal and full time residents are factors of the
coastal zone well recognized by the Board of County Commissioners, the
County staff, and-many local conservation and business groups. For these
reasons the community as a whole has supported past and present coastal
zone management activities in Collier County.
With the support of the Board of County Commissioners and grants from
the Office of Coastal Management, Florida Department of Environmental
Regulation, and the Erosion Control Program, Florida Department of
Natural Resources, the Collier County Natural Resources Management
Department is developing a County Coastal Zone Management Program. A
major goal of this program is the protection of the natural resources of
Collier County's coastal barriers, bays, and wetlands and the management
of coastal development in order to ensure that future land-use activities
will not degrade these resources. The Program is a continuous. multi-
year project involving, research, implementation, and environmental
protection activities. Progress to date includes data incorporated into
the following Technical Reports:
)
Technical Reports 83-1, 83-2, 83-3
Beach Management Planning and
Implementation Strategies at
the Local Level
The Beach in Collier County: A
Model in Southwest Florida
Drafts plans for beach and
coastal barrier management
in Collier County; describes
major components and imple-
mentation of Collier County
Coastal Zone Management Pro-
gram; identifies Collier
i ;
)
A Resource Management Program for
the Coastal Barriers of Collier
County, Florida
Technical Report 84-1
Natural Resources Management Plan
Technical Reports 84-2. 84-3
Coastal Barrier Resources
Coastal Estuarine Resources
)
Technical Report 84-4, 84-5
Coastal Zone Management Units:
Data Inventory and Analysis
Coastal Zone Management Units:
Atlas
Technical Report 84-6
Draft Ordinances for Protection
of Coastal Ecosystems
)
iii.
County as a model for beach
management in Florida; pro-
vides background data on
beach resources, dynamics.
and past management activi-
ties;
Sets natural resource goals
and policies for county and
describes how they will
be implemented; highlights
coastal barriers, bays. and
wetlands as areas of special
management concern; delin-
eates the currently undevel-
oped portions of the coastal
zone as a distinct land-use
type requiring careful re-
view prior to any land de-
velopmental or alterational
activities;
Evaluates and analyzes the
current resources and en-
vironmental features of the
county's coastal barriers
and coastal estuarine areas;
presents data on shoreline
migration. beach and inlet
dynamics. and estuarine eco-
systems; describes man's
presence in the coastal zone
and his current and poten-
tial impacts;
Delineates the coastal zone
of Collier County into dis-
crete management units and
beach segments; compiles
site-specific data on re-
sources and management for
each unit;
Reviews the existing codes
and environmental ordinances
for Collier County in com-
parison to those from other
Floridan counties; drafts
model ordinances covering
resource review, vegetation
standards. coastal construc-
tion activities. and perfor-
mance bonds.
Upcoming Program activities include: (1) The design and implementation
of a development review procedure that closely ties the permitting of a
land-use activity, proposed in or adjacent to the currently undeveloped
regions of the coastal zone, to a specific ecological community, its
resource values, and its limiting biological and physical factors. The
procedure will be designed to ensure that only those activities
compatible with habitat values and functions, or designed to minimize
adverse impacts on those values, will be allowed (project funded by
D.E.R. Office of Coastal Management); and (2) The continuation of dune
restoration and protection activities at all County beach parks and
access points. The latter proj ect involves the removal of exotic plant
species, the reconstruction and revegetation of dunes damaged by storm
activity or visitor use, the construction of back dune feeder walkways
and dune crossovers, and the placement of signs and low profile fences to
maintain the restored dunes (project funded by the D.N.R. Erosion Control
Program) . The results of these and other proj ects conducted under the
County Coastal Zone Management Program will be the subject of future
Technical Reports prepared by the Natural Resources Management Dep-
artment.
Acknowledgements
)
The Natural Resources Management Department thanks the staff of the
D.E.R. Coastal Management Office and the D.N.R. Erosion Control Program
for the assistance they have given in the development of the Collier
County Coastal Zone Management Program. The Department also acknowledges
the staff of other County agencies and Departments that have provided
technical support to this Program. Special appreciation and gratitude is
expressed to Diane Brubaker, Linda Greenfield, and Margaret Tinney of the
Community Development Division, whose assistance materially aided in the
preparation of these Technical Reports.
)
)
INTRODUCTIOr-;
The beach is a valuable resource, both in its ability to protect
upland areas by dissipating wave energy and in its recreational and
aesthetic appeal.
Mans' activities at the land-sea interface can ad-
versely impact its functional and economic value. Consequently the beach
has been the site of both State and Federal managment efforts.
Beach
)
conditions and the intensity of land development vary tremendously along
the coast. Since it is difficult for state-wide agencies to be familiar
with local beach characteristics and management goals, local programs are
needed to contribute detailed first-hand data to the review process.
Since beach communities have the most to lose from the unguided develop-
ment of beaches, it is essential that they formulate their own objectives
and policies pertaining to beach management and protection.
Federal and. State agencies encourage and aid long-range beach
management planning and implementation at the local level.
Over the
)
last ten years the Federal government has awarded planning funds to
coastal states through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion Office of. Coastal Zone Management. Some of these funds have been
utilized by regional agencies in developing state-wide programs while
others have been contracted to municipalities to support local programs.
The statutory authority for the formulation and adoption of local
beach management programs in the state of Florida lies in Part II of
Florida Statutes Chapter 161, the Beach and Shore Preservation Act.
This act designates the Board of County Commissioners as the local shore
and beach preservation authority and empowers a county to carry out those
investigations necessary to "plan a logical and suitable program for
1.
comprehensive beach and shore preservation within its county." The Act
-further grants the County Commission the broad regulatory powers neces-
sary to achieve this goal as well as the authority to fund local programs
by the levying of taxes and/or the issuance of bonds.
BEACH MANAGEMENT IN COLLIER COUNTY
Collier County serves as an excellent model of beach management
actions that can be undertaken at the local level. ' Early beach resource
management studies in the Naples area were conducted by the Army Corps
of Engineers (1972) and Wanless (1975). A Naples beach study, authorized
by the City Council, was completed in 1980 (Suboceanic Consultants, Inc.
1980).
)
The first beach management attempt at the County level was made in
1973 with the passage of a coastal setback ordinance.
This ordinance
declared it unlawful to excavate. alter ground elevation, or build a
structure within one hundred feet of the vegetation line or one hundred
and fifty feet of the mean high water line without first obtaining a
variance from the Board of County Commissioners. It further stated that
variances would not be granted for any activity within fifty feet of "any
point or line of erosion that has existed on the applicant's property
within the past twenty-five years".
In 1975 the Collier County Board passed a Coastal Construction
Control Line Ordinance.
This Ordinance rescinded the previous setback
requirements and adopted in their place the fixed Coastal Construction
Control Line recommended by the State.
In addition it provided for the
)
2.
issuance of variances for activities seaward of the Line and for appeals
of the location of the Line.
Between 1975 and 1981 several attempts were made to revise the
ordinance.
Although some amerl(:!ments were passed, the most important
revision was never presented for Board approval. This revision to adopt
a coastal construction code was withdrawn because of criticism that it
was not based on a detailed study that provided supportive data and that
it was not site-specific in nature.
Realizing the value of the County's beach
.
resources
and citing the
lack of specific criteria for CCCL variance evaluation, the Board of
County Commissioners in 1981 directed the staff of the Community Devel-
opment Division to undertake those actions necessary to develop a com-
prehensive, long-range beach management program for Collier County.
)
In 1981 the Division submitted an application for funds from the D.E.R.
Office of Coastal Management to assist in the development of such a
program.
Once received these funds were used to hire graduate-level
interns to work with the County Environmentalist in the in-house prepar-
ation of a beach management program pursuant to Part II of F.S. Chapter
161. This project has been underway for eight months. Additional D.E.R.
funds have been made available to carryon the development of this
program and its implementation.
COLLIER COUNTY BEACH ~~AGEMENT PROGRAM
The Collier County Beach Management Program involves a multi-faceted
approach to natural resource management.
It recognizes the need for
)
3.
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three different yet inter-related components: the Data Base, the Haster
Plan. and Implementation Aids.
The program is designed to cover all
aspects of beach managemcnt in Collier County yet bc flexible and re-
sponsive to additional data input, changes in shoreline recession rates.
and public opinion. The program is holistic. It covers the entire beach
system of Collier County including the intertidal and supratidal beach
zones, dunes, and inlets.
DATA BASE
The essential first step in any natural resource management program
is the collection of resource information and the compilation of a data
base upon which subsequent management decisions can be made.
This
approach is commonly used by the National Park Service in the management
of their lands (Godfrey and Benedict, 1977).
The Collier County Beach
Data Base consists of three parts, the Resource Inventory, the Historical
AnalysiS, and the Synthesis (Figure 1).
Resource Inventory
The Resource Inventory provides County-wide information on the
current status of both natural and man-made beach features. Specifically
the Resource Inventory provides data on the following:
Beach Width and Condition - Graphic representation of the variabil-
ity in beach width in Collier County, the setback of engineered
structures and land development activities, and the setback of the
Coastal Construction Control Line from the mean high water shore-
line;
Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Inventory
distribution of vegetation and wildlife on
of the diversity and
the barrier beaches;
Inlet Condition - Current status of resources associated with inlets
such as fishing and navigation;
)
Land Use Classification - Separation of the barrier coastline by
ownership and types of uses such as commercial, residential, and
public recreation;
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Figure 1. Collier County beach management data base.
5 .
Survey of Structures - Mapping and description of the effects of
engineered beach front protection structures such as seawalls,
revetments, and groins;
Beach Access and Recreation Conditions - Location of beach access
points and assessment of the recreation quality of the beaches in
the vicinity.
In summary, the Resource Inventory describes what features occur along
the beach and where they are found.
Historical Analysis
Information on the current beach resources, both natural and man-
made, is not sufficient to make enlighter:ed management decisions. In
addition, an understanding of beach processes and of changes in the beach
; )
over time are necessary. The Historical Analysis provides information on
these aspects of the Data Base. Specifically it includes data on:
Climatic-Hydrographic Setting - Summary of the effect and importance
of winds, waves, and tides in influencing the dynamics of Collier
County's beaches;
Shoreline Changes - Systematic measurement of the shoreline position
at 73 reference points from 1885 to 1981. Data were used to calcu-
late cumulative shoreline changes, beach erosion rates, and rates of
shoreline fluctuation in different parts of the County (Figure 2);
Inlet Dynamics and Alterations - Mapping of sequential changes in
the position .of tidal passes and erosion or accretion of adjacent
shorelines. Includes history of modification by jetty construction
or dredging;
Beach Profiles 1973 - 1982 - Selected profiles made by D.N.R. in
1973 were re-established and resurveyed in 1982 (Figure 3);
Littoral Transport - Graphic representation of littoral drift rates
from Walton (1973) based on littoral transport theory, shipboard
wave observations in the Naples area, and the effect of local beach
orientation on littoral transport rates;
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4 1885 - 1981
A 1927 -1981
· 1962 - 1981
o 1973 - 1981
) Figure 2. Cumulative shoreline changes: north Collier County.
7.
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Beach Profi les
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1982
Figure 3. Comparative beach profiles: north Collier County.
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Sand Budget Analysis - Calculation of sand volume changes in the
nearshore area based on comparison of Federal hydrographic surveys
in 1885 and 1970.
In short, the Historical Analysis describes what has happened along
the Collier coastline in the past, what the controlling processes are,
and what future changes can be expected.
Synthesis
Data contained in the Resource Inventory and the Historical Analysis
provides the beach manager with a powerful tool. The synthesis of these
two components endows the Data Base with a predictive ability. Although
nothing can be forecast with certainty, this is the best and perhaps the
only way for the beach manager to look into the future while reviewing
present day petitions.
The synthesis of the Resource Inventory and the Historical Analysis
)
also permits the identification of discrete beach segments along the
County's coastline (Figure 4). These beach segments, which are delimited
according to -their resource features and their predicted shoreline
changes, are the most significant end-product of the Data Base with
regard to beach management. The technique of identifying and separating
beach segments for management purposes has been applied previously by
Pilkey et al (1978) and Harvey (1982).
Beach segment maps with site-
specific information on beach/barrier characteristics, shoreline migra-
tion history, recreational value, and hazard potential (Figure 5)
emphasize the distinct nature of different portions of the Collier County
coastline and the need to treat each separately in terms of management.
MASTER PLAN
The second component of the Collier County Beach Management Program
)
is the Master Plan (Figure 6).
It relies on and builds from the Data
9.
TIDAL
PASSES
BAR RIER
BEAC HES
BEACH
SEGMENTS
BAREFOOT
BEACH
Wiggins Pass
VANDERB ILT
BEACH
Clam Pass
9
PARK
SHORE
Doctors Pass
10
11
12
13
NAPLES
HEADLAND
Gordon Pass
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KEEWAYDIN
ISLAND
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Figure 4. Location map; Collier County barrier coastline.
10.
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BEACH SEGMENT
COf\jCEPT
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· Beach / Barrier
Characteristics
· Land Use &
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History
· Recreational
Value
· Hazard
Potential
o Management Considerations
~ Figure 5. Beach segment identification and separation.
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Collier County beach rnanagel:lent master plan.
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Base yet is entirely different in scope.
As opposed to the Data Base
which states facts, the Master Plan puts forward the County's goals and
objectives relating to beach management.
In addition it recommends
specific policies on which to base decisions regarding permit applica-
tions and outlines specific actions to be undertaken to enhance the
County's beach resources. In short, the Master Plan presents a concensus
on how the County wishes to handle its beach resources and what steps
will be taken to develop an effective management program to accomplish
County goals.
The Master Plan is divided into three parts, the Goal, the Objec-
tives, and the Recommendations. The first part describes the current
management status of the beaches and the justification for a Beach
Management Program.
It then presents the Goal of the Master Plan which
,)
is to "manage the beaches, dunes, and inlets of Collier County to insure
the protection and maintenance of these system's functional and recrea-
tional values.1I
Following the justification of the program and the presentation of
a unifying goal, the Master Plan sets forth the objectives of the Beach
Management Program.
The Program deals both with beach resources and
beach activities, and therefore both resource management objectives and
activity objectives are needed. Resource objectives cover the beach, the
dunes, and the inlets while activity objectives cover construction,
recreation, and restoration.
An example of a resource obj ective is:
Strictly protect all remaining coastal strand vegetation for its
ability to act in storm protection and for its habitat value for
native wildlife.
Taking beach construction as an example, an activity objective is:
)
13.
Prohibit any shorefront construction activity that would result in
a structure (either habitable or protective) that ~..ould interfere
in the onshore-offshore or the alongshore transfer of sand.
Once general beach management objectives have been formulated they
are applied to the data base to yield recommendations.
Recommendations
not only address policies to be followed while evaluating beach permit
applications but also suggest actions to be taken for the benefit of the
beach system.
As were the Master Plan objectives, the recommendations
are broken down into resource-specific and activity-specific categories.
The resource-specific recommendations are grouped' by beach, dune, and
inlet resources while the activity-specific recommendations are classi-
fied according to construction, recreation, and restoration activities.
Realizing that the evaluation of a petition depends on the location
of the site, its current resource utilization. and its shoreline process
)
characteristics, area-specific recommendations are also presented for
different parts of the Collier County coastline.
This systems approach
to beach management is accomplished by the superimposition of resource
and activity recommendations upon the beach segments delineated in the
Data Base.
Beach segments are grouped together into management units
highlighting their distinct resource characteristics and functional
interdependence.
Once grouped, management decisions can be made in
keeping with the characteristics of the entire sand sharing unit, elimi-
nating the danger of piecemeal, project-by-project evaluation.
The Vanderbilt Beach area is a perfect example of a discrete unit
that must be managed accordingly. The area is characterized by numerous
structures built precariously close to mean high water and by a rela-
tively high rate of shoreline retreat.
In addition there exists a
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conglomeration of poorly integrated seawalls, revetments,and unfortified
14.
shoreline areas. Clearly, permit applications should be treated differ-
ently at this location than at less intensely developed areas with wide
setbacks.
Recorr.mended policies for petition review in the Vanderbilt
Beach area include:
Permit the construction of hard, shoreline protection structures
only where necessary to protect buildings constructed too close to
the beach; however, take those steps necessary to insure that those
structures are the minimal needed and that they are constructed in
such a way as to reduce adverse impact on the adjacent beach;
Where riprap is placed as a protective structure insure the public's
right to use the seaward and adjacent beach areas when high waters
prohibit pedestrian passage seaward of the structure by requiring
the construction of riprap bypass stairs and walkways;
Prior to permitting the repair of storm damaged structures, require
realignment to better integrate the structures with adjacent areas.
In order to insure that each unit is managed as a whole system, separate,
unit-wide beach plans should be formulated in the future for each recog-
)
nized area.
Unlike the Data Base which is an in-house document, the Master Plan
must be prepared with the input of the general public.
The Plan is
proposed by County staff and modified as necessary following workshops
with representatives from both the private and professional sector. The
final step in the preparation of the Plan is adoption by the Board of
County Commissioners.
When adopted, the goals, objectives, and recom-
mendations become the official County Plan for beach management. To
insure its recognition, copies of the Master Plan must be distributed
to all appropriate State and Federal agencies.
IMPLEMENTATION AIDS
As parts of the Collier County Beach Management Program the Data
Base provides the facts on beach resources and processes while the Master
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15.
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Plan sets County policies regarding the management of the beach system.
In addition to these two components. a successful beach management
program must have the tools necessary to implement the Master Plan and
to maintain and update the Data Base. The preparation of these tools or
implementation aids is the third component of the Beach Management
Program (See Figure 7).
At present, six discrete implementation aids are being prepared for
the Beach Management Program. These are:
1.
Beach Monitoring Program In order to periodically update the
County Data Base. permanent beach monitoring stations have been set
up along the County's coastline. Both beach profile stations and
photographic reference stations have been established. Profile
stations were established at the location of 1973 DNR profiles to
assess seasonal and annual changes in beach slope and in the loca-
tion of the vegetation line. Photographic reference stations are
designated camera sites selected to provide a pictoral record of
shoreline change in Collier County. All stations are particularly
useful for the evaluation of rapid shoreline changes following major
coastal storms;
2. Dune Management Project - In order to carry out the objective of
dune protection in Collier County a dune management plan has been
prepared for all public beach parks and access points. Depending on
need and location, the project includes dune recon-struction,
coastal strand revegetation, the removal or thinning of Australian
pines, the construction of dune crossovers and surficial beach
walkways, and the erec tion of fences. signs. or other barriers
to prevent pedestrian traffic from damaging sensitive dune areas;
3. Coastal Construction Ordinance and Performance Bond System A
maj or revision to the County's Coastal Construction Control Line
Ordinance is necessary to implement the site-specific objectives
and recommendations of the Master Plan and to provide a legal basis
for their enforcement. Along with the revised ordinance, a per-
formance bond system is being set up to require the posting of
bonds to cover the cost of restoring beach and dune resources lost
due to construction errors or negligence;
4.
Administrative Rules and Procedures - In order to insure compliance
with all aspects of the adopted Haster Plan, administrative rules
and procedures are being set up within the County's governmental
system. Such rules deal with the County-wide administration of
beach-related petitions and follow-up inspections. The procedures
mandate close coordination between the County's Building, Zoning,
and Engineering Departments;
16.
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Collier County beach management implementation aid
17.
5. Undeveloped Barrier Beach Use Guidelines - In Collier County unde-
veloped barrier beaches are classified as "Special Treatment" under
the Zoning Ordinance. This zoning overlay system recognizes the
barrier beaches' ecological values and functional characteristics
and requires the approval of site development plans prior to land
alteration. Although these regulations are designed to permit
only those activities that are compatible with the ecological
characterist ics of the areas. the lack of specific construction
guidelines creates confusion for the public and inconsistency in
County permitting. For this reason, barrier beach use guidelines
are being developed as a part of the Beach Management Program;
6. Coastal Structure Performance Standards - In order to provide for
the effective and rapid review of coastal construction petitions
and to let the land owner and developer know what is and is not
acceptable, coastal structure performance standards are being
prepared for Collier County. These standards. to be drawn up in
cooperation with the County Building and Engineering Departments
and with local professionals, will be based on coastal codes first
developed in 1979. The standards cover both habitable and protec-
tive structures.
These are not all the tools necessary for the effective implementation of
the Master Plan. As additional needs arise, new implementation aids will
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be developed.
SUMMARY
The beach system is a valulable resource that needs to be managed to
insure its protection and continued maintenance.
To accomplish this a
three part Beach Management Program is being developed for Collier County
(Figure 8).
The program contains:
(1) a Data Base that describes what
resources exist, where they are found. and what processes control their
change; (2) a Master Plan that presents local beach management goals and
objectives as well as recommends policies for reviewing permit applica-
tions and actions for resource enhancement; and (3) Implementation Aids
that provide the tools necessary for the effective implementation of the
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program.
18.
Feedback
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COLLIER COUNTY
BEACH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
DATA BASE
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What? Where?
How Long?
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MASTER PLAN
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'] :=-igure 8. Beach management program summary.
19.
Feedback
The Beach Management Program is designed to protect the entire
beach system, the intertidal and supratidal beach zones, the coastal
strand and dune communities, and the inlets. It is a dynamic program
that will be modified and amended as additional data is obtained. The
goal of the Program is clear. to protec t the resources of the beach
system for their functional and recreational value. Beach protection is
in the interest of all County residents. There are a number of different
opinions on how to achieve this. Only a close interaction between all
citizens (Figure 9) will result in a Beach ManagetiJent Program with the
strength to carry out this goal.
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20.
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Figure 9. Beach management interactions at the local level.
21.
REFERENCES
Godfrey. Paul J. and Benedict, M.A. 1977.
Natural Resource Management Plan for Cape Cod National Seashore -
Phase I. National Park Service Coop. Res. Unit, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. U.M. - N.P.S.C.R.U. Report Number 23.
Harvey, J. 1982. An assessment of beach erosion and outline of manage-
ment alternatives: Longboat Key, Florida. Contract report to the
Town of Longboat Key, FL.
Pilkey, O.H., Jr., Neal, W.J., Pilkey, O.H., Sr. 1978. From Currituck
to Calabash: living with North Carolina's barrier islands. North
Carolina Science and Technology Research Center. Research Triangle
Park, N.C.
Suboceanic Consultants Inc., 1980. Naples beach study report. Contract
report to the City of Naples, FL.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1972.
Collier County, Florida.
Jacksonville, FL.
Beach Erosion control study:
Army Corps of Engineer District,
)
Wanless, H.R. 1975. Report on the beaches of Naples, Florida. Contract
report to the City of Naples, FL.
REPORT-MB 2/28
)
22.