Loading...
Clam Bay Committee Minutes 03/23/2022 PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION CLAM BAY COMMITTEE MEETING MARCH 23,2022 The Clam Bay Committee of the Pelican Bay Services Division met on Wednesday, March 23 at 1:00 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 Michael Rodburg Susan O'Brien, Chairman Rick Swider Denise McLaughlin Pelican Bay Services Division Staff Karin Herrmann, Ops. Analyst (absent) Neil Dorrill,Administrator Lisa Jacob,Project Manager Chad Coleman, Operations Manager William Mumm, Sr. Field Supervisor Darren Duprey,Assoc. Project Manager Barbara Shea,Admin.Assistant Also Present Jennifer Brunty, Stantec Consulting (by telephone) Mohamed Dabees,Humiston&Moore Jack Cullen,PBSD Board Jeremy Sterk, Earth Tech APPROVED AGENDA(AS AMENDED) 1. Roll call 2. Agenda approval 3. Approval of 01/05/2022 meeting minutes 4. Audience comments 5. Water Quality a. 2021 Clam Bay water quality report b. Recommendations in report 6. Clam Pass a. Update on dredging b. 2021 and 2022 mean tide ratios c. Date for 2021 Physical and Tidal Monitoring Report d. Mitigating northward movement of Clam Pass 7. Clam Bay a. Preapplication meeting with South Florida Water Management District b. Update on County's exotic removal and dune restoration program, including date for PBSD to notify CZM of its participation c. Osprey nest platform d. Canoe trail marker repairs e. Boater safety signage 8. Beach renourishment update(add-on) 9. Adjournment 1 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting March 23,2022 ROLL CALL Mr. Swider was absent at the start of the meeting and a quorum was established. Mr. Swider joined the meeting at 1:44 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL Mr. Rodburg motioned, Ms. McLaughlin seconded to approve the agenda as amended with the addition of agenda item#8. The motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF 01/05/2022 MEETING MINUTES Ms. McLaughlin motioned, Mr. Rodburg seconded to approve the 01/05/2022 meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AUDIENCE COMMENTS None WATER QUALITY 2021 CLAM BAY WATER QUALITY REPORT Dr. Jennifer Brunty, Associate, Senior Environmental Scientist with Stantec, participated by telephone, and provided a brief overview of her draft 2021 Clam Bay Water Quality Report. She highlighted, (1) copper and total nitrogen results look good, (2) there was a 32%exceedance rate for total phosphorus over the year, and (3) the long time it takes to get phosphorus out of the sediment. Dr. Brunty identified some minor corrections to her draft report and will provide an updated final report. Ms. O'Brien complimented Dr. Brunty on a very well-done report. She noted that overall,the report results had good news except for total phosphorus. Ms. O'Brien provided TP exceedances data from 2018 to the present, which showed declining percentages, indicating that we are heading in the right direction. She also pointed out that for the fourth consecutive year we are in compliance for copper,through both community and staff efforts. RECOMMENDATIONS IN REPORT Ms. O'Brien commented that Dr. Brunty's Water Quality Report included the following recommendations. • Samples should be taken from the middle of the water column (slightly deeper). Ms. Jacob will follow up with the County Lab. • Hardness data should be provided for all of the berm samples, so that copper data collected can be appropriately evaluated. Ms. Jacob will follow up with the County Lab. • It is recommended that we verify that the calculations for conductivity in 2020 were for "conductivity"rather than"conductance." Ms. Jacob will follow up with the County Lab. • In order to lower the nutrient level in Clam Bay, leaves need to be kept out of storm drains. Mr. Coleman commented that staff removes leaves from work sites wherever possible. CLAM PASS UPDATE ON DREDGING Dr. Mohamed Dabees, Coastal Engineer with Humiston & Moore,provided an update on the Clam Pass dredging project. He commented that the project started at the end of February and is 2 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting March 23,2022 expected to be completed by April 15,prior to the start of turtle nesting season. Dr.Dabees noted that the Pass is closed and the contractor is working in Section "C." He noted that the contractor's equipment failure resulted in a work delay of almost a week. Dr. Dabees commented that seagrass is carefully monitored and that the construction plans accommodated seagrass areas. Mr. Dorrill commented that the PBF has decided to keep the South Beach facility open throughout the project. He also noted that we will allow the contractor to work into the early evening. Ms. Charlotte Culgin, a Seagate resident, expressed concerns on the odor coming from the canal behind her home, resulting from the closure of the Pass. She questioned whether the dredging project could have been completed without closing off the Pass and requested better communication with Seagate residents on future dredging projects. Dr.Dabees commented that the construction work is an interruption to the system,but without this work,the system could not maintain itself on its own. He noted that we always try to minimize the disruption, but unfortunately the contractor's equipment failure during this year's work added almost a week to the project. Ms. O'Brien commented that in the future we will try to limit the amount of time of the project as much as possible. Mr. Dorrill commented that we will add Ms. Culgin to our list of entities to contact prior to future dredging projects. Ms. Jennifer Weidenbruch, a Seagate resident, questioned why there is not a more permanent solution (instead of periodic dredging). Dr. Dabees commented that Clam Bay is a very unique ecosystem,which borders on dense development. He noted that the Clam Bay Management Plan was designed to "replicate nature" and suggested that Ms. Weidenbruch reviews this plan. Dr. Dabees commented that he closely monitors monthly tide ratios and that Mr. Sterk (Earth Tech) monitors environmental and ecological elements of Clam Bay. Ms.McLaughlin commented that the mangroves will provide protection to the PB community in the face of sea level rise. Ms. O'Brien commented that our goal is for a healthy estuary. 2021 AND 2022 MEAN TIDE RATIOS Ms. O'Brien commented on the fluctuations in the monthly tidal ratios in 2021 and 2022. DATE FOR 2021 PHYSICAL AND TIDAL MONITORING REPORT Dr. Dabees commented that his 2021 Physical and Tidal Monitoring and 2022 Post- Construction Report will be issued by June 1. Ms. O'Brien commented that the Clam Bay Management Plan requires a report at least annually, and therefore we are out of compliance (the last report was issued in the first quarter of 2021). Dr. Dabees disagreed. MITIGATING NORTHWARD MOVEMENT OF CLAM PASS Ms. O'Brien commented on the general northward movement of the mouth of Clam Pass, and asked whether any strategies might mitigate this movement. Dr. Dabees commented that the northward movement is the natural evolution and also may be a result of sand renourishment at Clam Pass Park. Ms. O'Brien commented that the County's most recent renourishment project contributed to sand accumulation in CIam Pass. Dr. Dabees commented that he has communicated our concerns on this issue to the County's Coastal Zone Management Dept. and he will coordinate/consult with them on future renourishment projects. Mr. Dorrill commented that prevailing winds and storms have an effect on Clam Pass. The system is event driven. CLAM BAY PREAPPLICATION MEETING WITH SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MGT.DISTRICT 3 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting March 23,2022 Ms. O'Brien commented that we are looking to meet with the South Florida Water Mgt. District to discuss construction of a few additional hand-dug channels in a few areas of stressed mangroves. Mr. Jeremy Sterk, Environmental Consultant with Earth Tech, commented that he will schedule this meeting. He commented that he is currently in the process of reviewing our mangrove forest to determine which hand-dug areas will be included in his 2022 maintenance project and during this review, he will determine which areas would benefit from additional hand-dug channels. UPDATE ON COUNTY'S EXOTIC REMOVAL&DUNE RESTORATION PROJECT Ms. Jacob reported that the County is working on obtaining an extension for their exotic removal grant. They do have preliminary plans for a project. Ms. Jacob commented that Pelican Bay would be added as an"add-alternate"to a future County exotic removal contract. OSPREY NEST PLATFORM Mr. Sterk reported that he is working with TSI (our Clam Pass dredging contractor), who has agreed to use their equipment to install the osprey nest platform sometime before the dredging project is completed. CANOE TRAIL MARKER REPAIRS Ms. Jacob reported that the County's Coastal Zone Management(CZM)Dept. expects to work on the canoe trail marker repairs after the County dredging projects are completed. Mr. Sterk reported that the CZM Dept. has offered to replace all of our canoe trail markers, where necessary. BOATER SAFETY SIGNAGE Mr. Dorrill commented that he will contact the Chair of the County Coastal Advisory Committee to obtain an update on the boater safety signage. BEACH RENOURISHMENT UPDATE (ADD-ON) Mr. Dorrill commented that he will follow up and meet with the Contessa resident who spoke at the March PBSD Board meeting. He noted that the Contessa beach area was not critically eroded when the County survey was completed. Mr. Coleman commented that he has provided additional information on the beach renourishment project to this resident, who has not responded back to him. OTHER COMMENTS Mr. Rick Lillie asked what entity is responsible to remove trash along PB boardwalks and the berm. Mr. Dorrill responded that the PBF owns this property and typically picks up the trash in these areas. Mr. Coleman commented that the PBSD may assist the PBF. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m. IL-4.1:7)16141114: Denise McLaughlin, Chair Minutes approved ( s presented OR F j as amended ON [ q/t'o/aUDa 1 date 4