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Clam Bay Committee Minutes 01/05/2022PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION CLAM BAY COMMITTEE MEETING JANUARY 5, 2022 The Clam Bay Committee of the Pelican Bay Services Division met on Wednesday, January 5 at 2:00 p.m. at the PBSD Office in 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 Michael Rodbmg Rick Swider Karin Herrmann, Ops. Analyst Lisa Jacob, Project Manager (absent) Barbara Shea, Admin. Assistant Jeremy Sterk, Earth Tech APPROVED AGENDA (AS AMENDED) 1. Roll call 2. Agenda approval 3. Approval of 10/19/2021 meeting minutes 4. Audience comments 5. Clam Bay a. Information on permits needed and estimated costs for hand -dug channels b. Clam Bay monitoring c. Osprey nest platform d. 2021 Annual Clam Bay Report e. County's exotic removal and dune restoration program, including possible PBSD participation f. Boater safety signage 6. Clam Pass a. Timeline for dredging b. Tidal gauge at marker 14 c. Mitigating northward movement of Clam Pass d. Date for 2021 Physical and Tidal Monitoring Report 7. Water Quality a. Clam Bay water quality sampling sites and annual Clam Bay water quality report b. Date for 2021 Water Quality Report 8. Next Meeting Date (Add -on) Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting January 5, 2022 9. Adjournment ROLL CALL All members were present and a quorum was established Ms. McLaughlin motioned, Mr. Rodburg seconded to approve the agenda as amended with the addition of agenda item #8. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. McLaughlin motioned, Mr. Rodburg seconded to approve the 10/19/2021 meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AUDIENCE COMMENTS None CLAM BAY PERMITS NEEDED AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR HAND -DUG CHANNELS A proposal by Earth Tech Environmental for consulting services for Clam Bay hand -dug channel permitting was included in the agenda packet. Ms. O'Brien suggested that Mr. Sterk (Environmental Consultant with Earth Tech) and staff go ahead and set up a pre -application meeting for this proposed project, in order to get direction from the South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers on what would be required for our project. The goal of this project is to improve the health of stressed mangroves in Clam Bay, by adding hand -dug channels in these areas. Mr. Dorrill commented that we need some documentation on the approximate linear feet of the proposed additional channels and preliminary target areas. Mr. Sterk agreed and suggested that we would need to present a basic plan for our project. Mr. Dorrill noted that it is possible that we may only need an amendment to our current permit. Mr. Sterk commented that it is clear that adding new channels would improve flow and improve the health of the mangroves. CLAM BAY MONITORING A proposal by Earth Tech Environmental for 2022 Clam Bay environmental consulting services was included in the agenda packet. Ms. O'Brien commented that the proposal is 16.5% higher than last year's proposal. Mr. Sterk commented that this increase is a result of additional mangrove and seagrass monitoring. Mr. Dorrill commented that an additional one-year contract with ETE can be put in place (without soliciting other bids) through the County's "direct -select process." Ms. O'Brien suggested and the committee agreed to bring a recommendation to the full board to approve a contract for one year with ETE for Clam Bay monitoring in 2022. OSPREY NEST PLATFORM Mr. Dorrill commented that the remaining replacement osprey nest platform has been fabricated. This platform was destroyed by I3urricane Irma. Mr. Dorrill commented that the County's Growth Management permitting staff are requiring that we obtain a coastal construction control line variance, and that although he has expressed his opposition to this requirement (as the pole is a Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting January 5, 2022 replacement pole), he has not yet prevailed. One additional "vehicle on the beach" permit is needed. Ms. O'Brien commented that residents have expressed their disappointment in this delay. 2021 ANNUAL CLAM BAY REPORT Ms. O'Brien commented that Earth Tech's 2021 Annual Clam Bay Report has been issued and noted that the report was comprehensive and well presented. A link to the entire report was included at the bottom of the meeting's agenda index page and is posted on the PBSD's webpage on the County website. Ms. O'Brien commented on the Clam Bay canoe trail markers which are in need of repair, and requested that staff follow tip with the County's Coastal Zone Management Dept. regarding these repairs. Ms. O'Brien requested an update on the contractor who is in charge of exotic treatment of the eastern section of Clam Bay. Mr. Sterk responded that Aquagenix had the contract for this work. However, since the company is no longer in business, the County is now in the process of contracting with Earth Tech for this work going forward. COUNTY'S EXOTIC REMOVAL AND DUNE RESTORATION PROGRAM Ms. O'Brien commented that after the County's beach renourishment project has been completed, they will be removing exotics (including scaevola) and rebuilding the dunes in the beach renourishment areas. The County has asked us whether we would like to participate in this project. Ms. O'Brien suggested that it may be more cost effective to participate in the County's project than to develop our own project for similar tasks. She suggested that we obtain more information on the County's project and share it with the PBF, Bay Colony, and the Strand. Mr. Coleman noted that scaevola is a "seed source" and therefore, a scaevola removal project only makes sense if all of the adjoining properties were to participate in scaevola removal projects on their properties. Mr. Dorrill commented that staff and our Coastal Engineer, Humiston and Moore, are researching whether exotic removal and dune restoration was a condition of the County beach renourishment program. CLAM PASS TIMELINE FOR DREDGING Ms. O'Brien commented on the Clam Bay tidal ratios for December which have improved significantly and indicate an improvement of tidal flow into and out of Clam Pass. Mr. Dorrill commented that per discussions with our coastal engineers, Humiston and Moore, tidal ratios are just one of several criteria looked at when assessing the need to dredge. He noted that Dr. Dabees (Coastal Engineer with H&M) continues to recommend that we proceed with the dredging contract in place, in light of the volume of sand in Sections B and C. Mr. Dorrill has scheduled a meeting with the contractor on or about Jan. 18, in advance of the "notice to proceed" meeting with the DEP. He noted that the goal is to have the work completed in February. The volume has changed in Section A; "the spit" sand area has disappeared. Mr. Dorrill commented that the current situation now lends itself to the use of a hydraulic mini -dredge by the contractor. He noted that because there is roughly 9-10,000 cubic yards of sand in Sections B & C, we will proceed with this project. TIDAL GAUGE AT MARKER 14 Ms. O'Brien commented that the Marker 14 tidal gauge has been repaired by Earth Tech. MITIGATING NORTHWARD MOVEMENT OF CLAM PASS Ms. O'Brien suggested that the committee look at whether we have any mitigation tools to stop the northward movement of Clam Pass. Mr. Rodburg suggested that the northward movement is a 3 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting January 5,2022 function of nature. He also suggested that the PBSD has a discussion with the PBF on possible long- term options. Mr. Dorrill commented that the inlet project involves a lot of grading. DATE FOR 2021 PHYSICAL AND TIDAL MONITORING REPORT Mr. Dorrill will follow up with Dr. Dabees on when we can expect to receive the 2021 Physical and Tidal Monitoring Report, WATER QUALITY CLAM BAY WATER QUALITY SAMPLING SITES AND ANNUAL CLAM BAY WATER QUALITY REPORT Ms. O'Brien commented that the agenda materials included two exhibits from the Clam Bay Management Plan, (1) the historic water quality monitoring stations in Clam Bay, reported for the last 15 years, and (2) the new water quality sampling sites which have been reported in the Clam Bay Annual Report for the last 5 or 6 years. She noted that the upland water quality data, included in the the most recent Clam Bay Water Quality Report has never been included in that report. Ms. O'Brien advocated that this data be put in a separate report, in order to be consistent with the Clam Bay Management Plan. Mr. Dorrill commented that he will follow up and have the final 2021 annual Water Quality Report reformatted into two reports. Mr. Coleman commented that he will ensure that these two reports are billed and paid for separately. DATE FOR 2021 WATER QUALITY REPORT Ms. O'Brien requested that staff establish a due date for the 2021 Water Quality Report, NEXT MEETING (ADD -ON) The committee agreed to schedule the next committee meeting on March 23 at 1:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:01 p.m. Susan O'Brien, Chairman Minutes approved L_ as presented OR [_J as amended ON 1,2 0 bl L2 date 4