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PBSD Clam Bay Minutes 06/16/2025PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION CLAM BAY COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 16, 2025 The Clam Bay Committee of the Pelican Bay Services Division in on Monday, June 16 at 9:00 a.m. in the PBSD Conference Room, Truist Building, Suite 102, located at 801 Laurel Oak Drive, Naples, Florida 34108. In attendance were: Clam Bay Cmte. Michael Rodburg, Chair Bob Lufkin (by telephone) Cindy Polke Rick Swider Pelican Bay Services Division Staff Dave Greenfield, Supr. -Field II Neil Dorrill, Administrator (by telephone) Karin Herrmann, Project Manager I Dawn Brewer, Ops. Support Spec. II Lisa Jacob, Project Manager II Chad Coleman, Deputy Director Barbara Shea, Admin, Support Spec. II Darren Duprey, Supervisor — Field I (absent) Also Present Mohamed Dabees, Humiston & Moore Jeremy Sterk, Earth Tech Dave Trecker, Vice Chair of the C.A.C. APPROVED AGENDA (AS AMENDED) 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll call 3. Agenda approval 4. Audience comments 5. Clam Bay survey report 6. Options for long-term resiliency of the beaches 7. Possible follow-up discussion from the June 11 PBSD Board meeting a. Presentation of a slideshow (add -on) 8. Adjournment ROLL CALL All members, except Mr. Lufkin who participated by phone, were present and a quorum was established. Mr. Rodburg motioned, Ms. Polke seconded to allow Mr. Lufkin to appear by phone due to extraordinary circumstances. The motion carried unanimously. Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting June 16, 2025 MR, DORRILL PARTICIPATED BY TELEPHONE S. Polke motioned, Mr. Swider seconded to approve the agenda as amended with the addition of item #7a, as requested by Ms. Polke. The motion carried AUDIENCE COMMENTS None CLAM BAY SURVEY REPORT Dr. Dabees, Coastal Engineer with Humiston & Moore, provided a review and discussion of the April 2025 Clam Pass survey report. Highlights included the following. • The scope of the survey was more expansive than in previous years (since 2017) and included intersects within sections A, B, C, and southward including Outer Clam Bay. Outer Clam Bay was included to determine any long-term changes. The survey did not include the east side of "the island" within Section C, as this area is not part of the permitted channel. • Surveyors use eco-sounders and GPS locators to compile the data in this report. • The tidal range in Outer Bay on average is greater than a foot, and more than half of that in the Gulf. • As described in the 2014 Updated Clam Bay Management Plan, the system is event (storm) driven and consequently, dredge events are not performed on a scheduled cycle. • The system is not designed to support navigation. • The goal of the hand -dug channels is to improve the health of the mangroves. • The sand overwashed along the perimeter of Outer Bay requires attention and has been included in the next scheduled maintenance project. • To the credit of Pelican Bay and the County, Clam Pass has been kept open since the 2012/2013 event, by conducting dredging events when appropriate. • Cross-section cuts were reviewed as provided in the survey report; channel migration was noted. • Dredging can only be performed in those areas where we are authorized to dredge. • The tidal range in Outer Bay is currently at .65, which is above the critical threshold of .5 (and above the first alarm of .6). Although this data shows that no dredge is currently indicated, a planned dredge at the end of the year is a preventative measure. This planned dredge will provide a reset before the expiration of our permits. • We have requested a two-year extension of our U.S.A.C.E. permit, which expires in 2026. • The system currently behaves differently than it did 20-30 years ago due to approximately 75 feet of mangrove erosion (triggered by a large dredge project in 2007), which caused a change in the curve of Clam Pass. • The decline in seagrass acreage is typical of regional trends; factors affecting seagrass are water clarity, water depth, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and level of nutrients, which have all been affected by the damage to the environment from recent storms. • All of our bays, inlets, and estuaries have had impacts from recent storms. Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting June 16, 2025 not put in place in January. Mr. Coleman responded that initially we were unable to obtain any quotes from our pre -approved qualified contractors, who were busy with other jobs. This caused a delay in our project. Unfortunately, after we were able to obtain a quote, the FWC declined our project request until we can document that there are no active turtle nests. Ms. Polke questioned whether the PBF could have done the RFP. Dr. Dabees commented that there are only a handful of contractors who would be capable of moving sand out of Clam Bay and onto the beach. Mr. Sterk commented that Mr. Patrick Wack has brought concerns over areas of stressed mangroves adjacent to inlets in Outer Bay. He noted that there is a permitted hand -dug channel in this area which is included on the 2025 ETE plan for channel restoration. Mr. Swider commented that PBF resiliency efforts will continue to receive more traction with calls to step up improving the health of the mangroves. Mr. Rodburg commented that although the mangroves have suffered in recent years, their health is improving, and that we will hold steady with our policies and procedures which have been effective. Mr. Swider questioned how we could get out the information contained in ETE Clam Bay Monitoring and Management annual reports to the community. Mr. Rodburg commented that it is unfortunate that there is a lot of misinformation on these topics out there in the public. Mr. Coleman commented that we continue to put out more and more articles on these topics in the PB Post and PB e-blast but unfortunately, only 8% of PB residents read these articles. Mr. Rodburg noted that residents focus on our beach erosion, which is an observable condition. He suggested that staff puts together a simple Q & A on our beaches and dredging, including the primary purpose (to maintain the health of our ecosystem) and constraints of our permits. Dr. Dabees commented that within two months of Hurricane Ian, the price of sand doubled, and that we are competing with nearby entities for contractor work. He noted that the cost to the County for beach restoration of Park Shore, Vanderbilt Beach, and the remaining Collier beaches is approximately $20 million. Dr. Dave Trecker, Vice Chair of the County Coastal Advisory Committee, commented that these costs will only increase in the future. Ms. Polke suggested that the PBF would support contributing funds to beach restoration in order to protect their valuable assets. She questioned what our FY26 beach renourishment budget of $4.5 million is for. Dr. Dabees responded that it is to reimburse the County for the beach renourishment of that portion of Pelican Bay private beach which is outside of Collier County's responsibility. He noted that the County pays for beach areas which are within 'h mile of public access. Mr. Rodburg commented that we piggyback on the County's project and pay for the renourishment of our private beach areas. OPTIONS FOR LONG-TERM RESILIENCY OF THE BEACHES Mr. Rodburg commented that the PBP has established subcommittees for Clam Pass and our beaches, and suggested that once these committees are operational, members should attend PBSD Clam Bay meetings for educational purposes. Ms. Polke commented that the PBF Board has suggested that all PBF committee members should attend all PBSD meetings. Mr. Rodburg suggested that the committee, in conjunction with our consultants, should look at whether our plan to raise the berm up to seven feet is appropriate, or would a better height or a better material be advantageous. He commented that the County's beach template is for 85 feet up to the vegetation line (established by the County). Mr. Rodburg reported that at the last BCC meeting, an audience member suggested enlarging the template width to increase protection. Dr. Dabees commented that the permitting agencies want to ensure that the sand that we place on the beach does not cover the nearshore hard bottom, and that if this were requested, that an environmental impact study would be required. He noted that state and federal law manages impacts to environmental L! Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting June 16, 2025 resources. Dr. Dabees commented that in recent years, the U.S.A.C.E. spent $6 million on Southwest Florida resiliency studies with no results. Mr. Rodburg concluded that at a future date this committee will consider the feasibility of long-term resiliency alternatives. FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION FROM THE JUNE 11 PBSD BOARD MEETING Ms. Polke requested clarification of our reclamation of 12,000 cubic yards of sand. Dr. Dabees commented that our 2025 dredge plan estimates the removal of 12 — 13,000 cubic yards of sand from Clam Pass. Mr. Rodburg noted that this sand is suitable for placement on South Beach. He noted that we have three sources of sand which are (1) dredged sand from Clain Pass, (2) trucked -in sand, and (3) recently deposited sand in Clam Bay (beyond the vegetation line). PPT PRESENTATION ENTITLED "PROPOSED PBSD CLAM BAY NRPA MANAGEMENT PLAN VS. 1998 CBRMP (ADD -ON) Ms. Polke provided a 2013 PPT presentation entitled, "Proposed PBSD Clam Bay NRPA Management Plan vs. 1998 CBRMP," which was found on the City of Naples website (author unknown). Mr. Coleman commented that staff and Mr. Rodburg had not reviewed this presentation and that it may not be factual. Mr. Rodburg questioned, (1) "What am I looking at?" (2) "To whom and when was this presented? (3) Is this one person's opinion? and (3) Is this reliable? Ms. Susan Devoe, a Seagate representative who sits on their board, commented that Seagate residents are in lockstep with the PBSD and are not interested in navigation. Ms. Polke commented that we can manage Clam Bay together with our neighbors. She provided personal pictures of Clam Pass, showing changes from 2010 to 2024. Mr. Rodburg acknowledged that currently there is more sand in Clam Bay than in the past, and asked Ms. Polke, "So what?" Ms. Polke asked for a study of the wildlife that was once in Clam Bay and water flow that was once in our ditches, that no longer exists. Mr. Coleman cormented that plenty of wildlife still exists in Clam Bay and along the berm, and that we can provide wildlife pictures taken recently by staff and residents. Dr. Dabees commented that flood shoals are a protected environmental resource and that it is unlikely we could obtain authorization from the agencies to dredge a flood shoal. Mr. Rodburg commented that he did not see any value in this presentation, but that he would review it again. Dr. Trecker asked Ms. Polke, "From what professional engineering expert did you get the idea of approving the dredging of cut 44?" Ms. Polke commented that this was done a long time ago. Dr. Trecker suggested that Ms. Polke is presenting a proposal that she cannot justify. Ms. Polke commented that she did not suggest any proposal; she asked whether the opening still exists. Mr. Rodburg suggested that Ms. Polke does her homework and reads the ETE Clam Bay Monitoring & Management annual report, before offering her opinions which are not based on facts, history or science. Ms. Polke questioned how the sand buildup has affected sea life in the bay and in the berm. Mr. Sterk commented that his annual report, for the last ten years, includes seagrass and protected species monitoring. Dr. Dabees questioned whether Ms. Polke has read the Clam Bay Management Plan. Mr. Rodburg commented that this is our foundational document and suggested that Ms. Polke reads it as a member of this committee. Mr. Rodburg questioned whether Ms. Polke is a representative of the PBF, and noted that the PBSD has its own mission. Ms. Polke commented that the PBF would like to know how we can renourish our beaches before the 2025 hurricane season so that we can protect our assets. Mr. Rodburg commented that he 5 Pelican Bay Services Division Clam Bay Committee Meeting June 16, 2025 is as concerned about the beach as anyone, but that we work within the constraints of our system and that we cannot renourish our beach until the County is ready to renourish Vanderbilt Beach. The PBF cannot change this fact. Dr. Dabees commented that the Pelican Bay private beach segment is too small to stand on its own for a beach renourishment project, and if it were undertaken, it is likely that all of the sand would be washed away. The larger the project, the more stable the beach will be. He noted that the PBSD reimburses the County for that portion of their beach renourishment project related to our private beach. Dr. Dabees commented that it is unlikely that you could hire a contractor or obtain a permit for a PB private beach renourishment project. The meeting was adjourned at 11:06 a.m. �1 r l e. Michael Rodburg, Chi 'r Minutes approved [ V 1-]as presented OR"as amended ON -h�� date