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Clam Bay Committee Minutes 11/19/2021PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION CLAM BAY COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 19, 2021 The Clam Bay Committee of the Pelican Bay Services Division met on Tuesday, October 19 at 9:00 a.m. at the SunTrust Bank Building, 801 Laurel Oak Drive, Suite 102, Naples, Florida 34108. In attendance were: Clam Bay Committee Susan O'Brien, Chairman Denise McLaughlin Pelican Bay Services Division Staff Neil Dorrill, Administrator Chad Coleman, Operations Manager Darren Duprey, Assoc. Project Manager (absent) Also Present Jennifer Bobka, Earth Tech Jennifer Brunty, Stantee Consulting (by telephone) Michael Rodburg Rick Swider Karin I1errnzann, Ops. Analyst Lisa Jacob, Project Manager Barbara Shea, Admin. Assistant Mohamed Dabees, Humiston &Moore APPROVED AGENDA (AS PRESENTED) 1. Roll call 2. Agenda approval 3. Approval of 07/13/2021 meeting minutes 4. Audience comments 5. Water Quality a. Report for January -June 2021 b. Total phosphorus results for 2020 and 2021 c. Six-month and annual reports d. Appendices for TP and TN data e. Upland pond data for water management f. Record keeping 6. Clam Pass a. Timeline for dredging b. Quantity of sand to be removed 7. Clam Bay a. Mangrove monitoring b. Stressed mangroves c. Scaevola removal d. Osprey nest e. Canoe trail marker 8 8. Next meeting 9. Adjournment Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting October 19, 2021 ROLL CALL All members were present and a quorum was established Mr. Rodburg motioned, Ms. McLaughlin seconded to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimouslv. Ms. McLaughlin motioned, Mr. Rodburg seconded to approve the 07/13/2021 meetine minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AUDIENCE COMMENTS None WATER QUALITY REPORT FOR JANUARY-JUNE 2021 Ms. O'Brien introduced Dr. Jennifer Brunty, Associate, Senior Environmental Scientist with Stantec, who prepared our Clam Bay Water Quality Analysis Report for January - June 2021, and participated in this meeting by telephone. Ms. O'Brien commented on the good news within the report including (1) total nitrogen continues to be nonproblematic, and (2) copper and dissolved oxygen is within compliance limits (and has improved during the last 6 months vs. 2020 data). Total phosphorus continues to be problematic, with the number of exceedances in these six months greater than in 2020. Dr. Brunty commented that phosphorus is naturally high in Southwest Florida; it is naturally occurring and part of the geology. Unfortunately, the use of fertilizer adds to the naturally high level of phosphorus. Dr. Brunty commented that there is no correlation among the dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus results. She suggested that we keep an eye on total nitrogen levels as nitrogen is necessary in conjunction with phosphorus to form algae blooms. Ms. McLaughlin questioned the benefit to be achieved from dredging the sediment out of stormwater ponds. Dr. Brunty commented that copper and phosphorus attaches to the sediment at the bottom of lakes. She commented that although lake bottom dredging is the ultimate way to remove phosphorus and copper from the system, it is expensive and difficult to find a waste disposal site. She would recommend dredging only if there was a particular lake that was largely contributing phosphorus and/or copper to the system. She noted that one or two of our stormwater lakes have higher levels of these nutrients. Ms. O'Brien commented that the PBSD has never dredged any of our lake bottoms. She also noted that we have data on lake bottom sediment in selected lakes. Mr. Dorrill commented on the difficulties that would be encountered in attempting to dredge a lake bottom including the lack of a barrier that could be constructed to de -water and harvest the material from the lake bottom, and dispose of it at an appropriate site. Mr. Dorrill commented that about 8-10 years ago, the PBSD did several geotube projects for lake bank remediation, which used materials from the lake bottoms to fill the geotubes. He suggested that we look at copper and phosphorus levels in these specific lakes, to determine if the dredging during these projects resulted in improved nutrient levels. Mr. Dorrill commented that the DEP has established site specific nutrient numeric criteria for Clam Bay (as opposed to the state-wide criteria), and asked Dr. Brunty if it would be possible to 2 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting October 19, 2021 request that the DEP re-evaluate the standards that have been set. Dr. Brunty responded that we could present scientific reasons to the DEP and request that they re-evaluate the criteria. APPENDICES FOR TP AND TN DATA Ms. O'Brien requested that a graph showing the upper limit levels of phosphorus vs. actual monthly sampling data point results be included in an appendix to the report. UPLAND POND DATA FOR WATER MANAGEMENT Ms. O'Brien commented that three or four years ago we discontinued reporting on water quality data from stormwater ponds. She suggested that Ms. McLaughlin's Water Management Committee discuss this issue and determine the type and frequency of reporting, if any, to be prepared in the future. Ms. O'Brien suggested that the variables as described in the Clam Bay Management Plan that we are responsible for reporting are included in a Clam Bay Water Quality Report, and that a separate report is prepared for the upland stormwater management ponds. She suggested that we be consistent with the Clam Bay Management Plan, RECORD KEEPING Ms. Jacob commented that the County's Pollution Control Division uploads all of the sampling data to the FDEP's WIN database. Both Pollution Control and the PBSD maintain the data. CLAM PASS TIMELINE FOR DREDGING Dr. Dabees, Coastal Engineer with Humiston & Moore, commented that Clam Pass continues to hover at a critical threshold. Our maintenance dredging project will be targeted to occur (1) during optimal tide levels, and (2) before or after the beach renourishment project at the North Beach Facility. When the time is appropriate, we will obtain the required permits and issue a notice -to -proceed to the contractor. The project is expected to occur at the earliest in November, and at the latest in April. Sand placement will be determined by the conditions at the time. Dr. Dabees noted that the South Beach Facility can continue to function while the project is on -going. He commented that he will coordinate with Earth Tech on the protection of the seagrass beds during the project. QUANTITY OF SAND TO BE REMOVED Dr. Dabees commented that a preconstruction survey, completed just prior to mobilization, will determine the quantity of sand to be removed. Currently the estimate is 10,000 cubic yards plus or minus 2,000 yards. Dr. Dabees estimates that the project will be completed in two to three weeks if all goes as planned. CLAM BAY MANGROVE MONITORING Ms. Jennifer Bobka, Environmental Consultant with Earth Tech, commented that our mangrove plots show that we are seeing overall improvement, system -wide, in the health of our mangroves. She noted that just one plot, identified as "ET8" (located far north along the Strand) showed a decline in health. Ms. Bobka noted that Earth Tech completed extensive channel maintenance this year in this area. STRESSED MANGROVES 3 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting October 19, 2021 Ms. Bobka commented that Earth Tech has been tracking four identified stressed mangrove areas, located on the west side. Areas #2, #3, and #4 show stable to improving conditions. Ms. Bobka noted that area 41 has not improved and that there are no hand -cut channels in this area, which may be a contributing factor. She commented that the addition of hand -cut channels would require a permit, and that she will discuss the procedure for obtaining such a permit with her colleague, Mr. Sterk. Ms. O'Brien commented that we would need to explore the number of new hand -dug channels to be dug and the estimated cost. Mr. Dorrill commented that the Windstar community and Haldeman Creek community have similar mangrove areas. Ms. Bobka commented that she will discuss with Mr. Sterk whether these communities have experienced similar areas of mangrove die -offs. SCAEVOLA REMOVAL Ms. O'Brien commented that staff did not proceed with the Phase 1 scaevola project, adjacent to Bay Colony, as staff has learned that Bay Colony is not interested in removing scaevola from their property. Mr. Coleman explained that since scaevola is "seedling sourced," the project would not make sense, without Bay Colony and the Strand (in such close proximity) completing their own scaevola removal projects. Mr. Coleman commented that the County (Coastal Zone Management Division) has removed scaevola in some areas, but these projects are not a County priority. Ms. Bobka commented that if you remove scaevola, you will destabilize the dune until the replanting takes hold. She also noted that the burrows of gopher tortoises would be disturbed. Ms. O'Brien suggested that we invite the appropriate scaevola point person in the County's CZM Dept. to speak on this subject at a future committee meeting, in order to make a decision on this issue. Mr. Dorrill and Mr. Rodburg thought this would be very beneficial. Mr. Dorrill questioned whether the County has treated any of the Brazilian Pepper on the eastern edges of the Clam Bay system. Mr. Coleman responded that he is not aware of any County Brazilian Pepper removal projects in this area. OSPREY NEST Ms. Bobka commented that the osprey platform located between North Beach and South Beach has been replaced and the platform located at the North Beach Facility will be installed after the end of turtle season (Oct. 31). CANOE TRAIL MARKER 8 Ms. Bobka commented that she expects canoe trail marker 8 to be installed next week, based on recent contact with the County's CZM Dept. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 a.m. Susan O'Brien, Chairman Minutes approved Li4as presented OR " as amended ON Lo j date 4