1992-319 CZM Section II (2.0)
2.0 REVIEW OF EXISTING STUDIES
INTRODUCTION
Coastal areas are well-documented as valuable resources for
recreation and for their abilities to protect inland and upland
areas from storm surges, tidal effects, and flooding. Federal
and state management personnel usually are not as familiar with
local beach characteristics, or concomitant management goals, so
that local resource management offices must often assume these as
a planning priority. Policy 1.3.2 of the Conservation and
Coastal Management Element of the current County Growth
Management Plan requires development of a County Coastal Zone
Management Plan.
The statutory authority for the formulation and adoption of local
beach management programs in the state of Florida lies in Part II
of the 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 also empowers a county to carry out a
comprehensive program ensuring beach and shore preservation
within its borders. Broad regulatory powers, and the authority
to fund local programs by levying of taxes or issuance of bonds
are also empowered by the Act.
Beach management in Collier county has proceeded slowly. In 1973
a Coastal Setback Ordinance was passed. This ordinance made it
unlawful to excavate, alter ground elevation, or build any
structure within 100 feet of the vegetation line, or 150 feet of
the mean high water line, without first obtaining a variance from
the Board of county Commissioners. No variance would be granted
for any activity within 50 feet of any point or line of erosion
that had existed on the applicant's property within the past 25
years.
In 1975 the Setback Ordinance was rescinded and a County Coastal
construction Control Line ordinance, based on the State
recommended delineation, was adopted in its stead. This
ordinance also provided for issuing of variances for activities
seaward of the CCCL, as well as for appeals concerning the
location of the State-drawn line. Several minor amendments were
attached to the ordinance between 1975 and 1981. A critical
revision, to adopt a coastal construction code, was withdrawn
because of an alleged lack of supporting data and its lack of
site-specificity.
From 1982-84 Collier County Environmental section received a
grant, supported in part by the Department of Environmental
Regulation and the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
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amended, administered by the office of Coastal Zone Management,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The grant was
dedicated to organizing a coastal management program, conducting
the research necessary to prepare a beach resource inventory,
developing a master plan and developing implementation aids to
insure its implementation.
As a result of studies funded by these grants, seven Technical
Reports and an atlas of coastal zone management units were
generated to address concerns about the County's coastal
resources. The fOllowing is a synopsis of the 1983-1984
technical reports and other literature applicable to Collier
county beaches and inlets:
2.1 REVIEW OF COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT (CZM) REPORTS
TR 83-1: BEACH MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
Beach Manaqement Planninq and Implementation Strateqies at the
Local Level, briefly describes a history of beach management
studies in Collier County from the early Corps of Engineers
(l972) to the passage of a Coastal Construction Control Line
Ordinance by the Board of Commissioners. The report suggests a
structure for a coastal zone management plan based on data
collection and analysis, management flow charting, and
implementation aids which include the following:
1. A Beach Monitoring Program - Establishes permanent beach
monitoring stations along the County coastline to record
beach profile changes and seasonal and annual vegetational
succession. Photographic reference stations record overall
shoreline changes, particularly during and after coastal
erosion from tropical storms.
2. Dune Management Program - Provides for dune reconstruction,
strand revegetation, exotic tree removal, construction of
dune crossover and beach surface walkways, erection of
fences, signs, and pedestrian barriers at all public beach
parks and access points.
3. Coastal Construction Ordinance and Performance Bonds System -
Revises the CCCL Ordinance to provide site-specific
objectives and ensure a sound legal basis for enforcement of
same. Sets up a Performance Bond system requiring posting of
sufficient funds by any developer to cover cost of beach and
dune restoration or mitigation resulting from construction
errors or negligence.
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4. Administrative Rules and Procedures - Proposes rules
governing county-wide administration of beach-related
petitions and follow-up inspections, as conducted by the
Building, Zoning, Engineering and Natural Resources
Management Departments.
5. undeveloped Barrier Beach Guidelines - All undeveloped
barrier island beaches are designated "ST" in zoning.
Regulations are provided to permit only those activities that
are compatible or provisionally compatible with the
ecological, hydrological and sedimentological characteristics
of an area.
6. Coastal structure Performance standards - Guidelines are
proposed to inform the land owner and developer as to
acceptable coastal construction, and to enhance the rapid
review of construction petitions. standards are based on
coastal codes developed in 1979 and conform to Building and
Engineering Department criteria as well.
In 1987 an updated version of 83-1 was written by Benedict and
Brooks of the Conservancy, Inc.; it includes a recommendation
section which suggests that beach management plan objectives and
recommendations be broken down into "resource-specific" and
"activity-specific" categories. The "resource-specific"
recommendations are grouped by beach, dune and inlet resources,
and "activity-specific" recommendations are classified according
to construction, recreation, and restoration activities.
Realizing that the evaluation of a proposed beach project depends
on the location of the site, its current resources utilization,
and its shorelines process characteristics, area-specific
recommendations are also necessary for different parts of the
Collier County coastline. This systems approach to beach
management is accomplished by superimposing 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, eliminating the danger of piecemeal,
project-by-project evaluation.
TR 83-2: THE BEACH IN COLLIER COUNTY: A MODEL IN SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA
The Beach in Collier Countv: A Model in Southwest Florida is a
paper that was presented at the 1983 Annual Florida Shore and
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Beach Preservation Association/American Shore and Beach
Preservation Association (FSBPA/ASBPA) Conference. Collier County
serves as a model of a wide range of beach conditions, coastal
dynamics and utilization of beach resources in southwestern
Florida. In addition to exhibiting a diversity of barrier island
types, Collier County possesses excellent examples of extremes of
barrier island preservation and complete alteration by man's land
development practices. The paper briefly describes beach
conditions and shoreline changes in Collier County. The data
presented are from historical analysis of shoreline changes and
an inventory of beach resources that was currently in progress at
that time. The 1984 series of Technical Reports (TR 84-2 through
TR 84-5) contains the results of these studies.
TR83-2 gives a physiographic setting of the
County coastline, geomorphic classification
brief discussion of alterations to beaches.
recommendations include the following:
37-mile-long Collier
of the barriers and a
Management
1. Revision of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) due
to erosion of areas that at that time were seaward of the
MHW. In 1988 this was accomplished by the Department of
Natural Resources.
2. A revised CCCL needed to include those areas in which no
line had ever been established, such as the Cape Romano
complex, Cannon and Coconut Islands, and the inside of tidal
passes. This was not accomplished in the 1988 revisions.
3. Along developed or developing beaches new criteria are
necessary to evaluate proposed activities seaward of the
CCCL.
4. Permitting criteria should be based on rate and character
of shoreline changes and should specify compatible and
non-compatible uses within each area.
5. Existing county ordinances banning removal and destruction
of coastal vegetation should be strictly enforced.
6. Performance standards should be developed for artificial
dune and crosswalk construction.
7. Removal of Australian pines on the beach and a maintenance
program thereafter.
8. Collier County needs to evaluate the issue of rebuilding
structures after a major hurricane.
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TR 83-3: A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE COASTAL BARRIERS
OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
A Resource Manaqement Proqram For The Coastal Barriers of Collier
Countv. Florida, was originally a paper presented at the annual
Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association/American Shore
and Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA/ASBPA) conference in
1983. It discusses the importance of implementing a resources
management program based on local data in order to preserve the
economic values of local coastal barriers while allowing
reasonable use of private property. The structure of the
management plan is divided into three components which include
the following:
1. A Database which describes the coastal barrier resources
and the processes which affect them.
2. A Resource Management Plan which identifies the management
activities necessary to protect valued coastal resources.
3. Implementation projects designed not only to provide a legal
basis for the program, but also to provide additional data on
the coastal barrier units, and to enhance those resources
that have been degraded. An example of a project is the
development of a Coastal Barrier Ordinance, which would
provide review standards for coastal development, and a dune
restoration and protection project.
TR 84-2: COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES
Coastal Barrier Resources was the first comprehensive study of
the beach and its processes in Collier County. It formed the
base from which the successive Coastal Zone Management Technical
Report Series was created. The area the study encompassed is a
36-mile barrier coastline from the Lee/Collier County line
southward to Cape Romano. However, it excluded the isolated
barriers to the south due to the low level of land development
activity and their poorly integrated sand supply.
The purpose of the study was to gather the data needed to develop
scientifically based management programs for the protection of
Collier county's coastal barrier resources. The report describes
shoreline changes and the migration of coastal barriers as they
relate to sand supply, and the condition of the beach and dune
zones. It includes data on the physical and climatic settings of
the coastal area, geomorphic classification of coastal barriers,
littoral drift, sand supply in the nearshore zone, tidal pass
dynamics, shoreline migration, and beach and dune
characteristics.
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The following recommendations concerning the future of the
Collier county coastal barrier beaches were derived from this
study:
1. A revised CCCL ordinance should include a line in the
vicinity of tidal passes that needs to be repositioned
landward and extended inside the passes to reflect data that
correlate tidal pass dynamics with massive fluctuation in the
shoreline of adjacent beach. In short, revise the CCCL to
account for tidal pass dynamics.
2. criteria to evaluate proposed activity seaward of the CCCL
should be based on the rate and character of shoreline
changes in different beach areas of the county and should
specify compatible and non-compatible uses within each area.
3. Performance standards for artificial dune and crosswalk
construction are needed to encourage private beach front
owners to restore and protect a vegetated storm buffer.
4. Collier county needs to evaluate the issue of rebuilding
structures after a major hurricane.
TR 84-3 COASTAL ESTUARINE RESOURCES
Coastal Estuarine Resources evaluates and analyzes the current
resources and environmental features of the Collier County's
coastal estuarine areas. This report is based on data obtained
from field surveys and a general overview of the extent,
conditions, and development of the coastal estuaries in the
County. It addresses those factors primarily associated with the
estuaries, lagoonal bays, and brackish tributary systems,
emphasizing general biological, chemical, physical, vegetational
and ecological aspects. It also provides examples of the various
subsystems found in these areas, denotes the major vegetational
features thereof, lists the approximate areal extent of wetland
or water area to mainland or dry upland regions, and provides a
prognosis of the future of such areas in Collier County based on
presently observable trends.
Five major topics are considered in this report:
1. Protection or preservation of wetlands, including mangrove
forest systems, as well as some related upland vegetational
ecosystems.
2. Water quality management within the estuary, especially in
regard to pollution and its control.
.
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3. Dredge and fill effects on the estuarine system in general.
4. Evaluation and control of freshwater input into the coastal
estuarine system.
5. Protection, where required, of valuable submerged habitats to
ensure maintenance of sport, commercial or aesthetic aspects
of fisheries and associated biota.
A synopsis is provided of the major factors that impinge on the
estuarine systems in Collier county. This is followed by
definitions of the various systems. within each, the major
vegetational assemblages are briefly considered, including any
detrimental effects that man or nature might impose. Finally,
the eight (8) major drainage areas, as delineated for this study,
are each briefly organized in regard to physical, physiographic,
biological and demographical impacts. Included herein are
recommendations for minimizing or otherwise controlling adverse
impacts on such systems.
The report integrates with the goals and plans of the state of
Florida in regard to the coastal zone areas of the peninsula.
The study is also an integrative effort with the Resource
Management Programs and the Natural Resources Elements of the
Collier County Comprehensive Plan. The specific goals of this
plan include:
1. The conservation, maintenance and restoration of the natural,
biological, and physical resources of Collier County, and
attainment of an environmental program to effectively manage
and protect the natural resources.
2. Collection, evaluation and dissemination of information on
these resources and their uses.
3. Conservation, maintenance or restoration of native habitats,
including those listed as rare, endangered, unique, or
otherwise incompatible with human use.
4. The protection or preservation of physical, biological,
hydrological, and atmospheric systems within the County.
Report TR 84-3 recommendations are as follows:
1. The Environmental section should be maintained in a
Department status. The permanent staff should be expanded to
include both field and administrative positions. This.
expansion would allow a more efficient attainment of the
goals and responsibilities of the Environmental office.
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2. A permanent long-term monitoring program should be initiated
for monitoring biological and chemical parameters within the
county area. This should include terrestrial, fresh and
estuarine-marine water systems, and could be implemented
using presently available scientific equipment checked and
serviced on a weekly basis by Department personnel. The data
base so obtained would provide a continuing picture of
general environmental conditions in regard to proposed or
requested environmental perturbations.
3. Environmental data collected by the Department should be
correlated with that obtained by the Collier County Health
Department. A database program should be established on the
governmental computer system for access by either department,
and by other agencies or personnel within and outside the
county government.
4. A database exchange program.should be initiated with Lee and
Hendry County governments, and with Everglades National Park
to ensure rapid and timely communications and awareness of
perturbations, both natural and man-made, within the
southwestern Florida ecosystem.
5. The Environmental Department should be given power of
ordinance enforcement either directly (by issuance of cease
and desist warrants) or indirectly (by final authority
review) for any proposed or continuing
environmentally-related projects within the county. This
should include authority to deny, or require mitigation for,
any proposed project.
6. An Environmental Awareness Program should be initiated to
educate the general population of Collier county about
important environmental concerns, as well as on why and how
environmentally-related permitting activities are conducted.
TR 84-4 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT UNITS: DATA INVENTORY AND
ANALYSIS
TR 84-5 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT UNITS: ATLAS
Coastal Zone Management units: Data Inventory and Analysis (TR
84-4) separates the coastal zone of Collier County into discrete
management units and beach segments. The Coastal Zone Management
Unit: Atlas (TR 84-5) was prepared as an accompanying technical
report rather than attempting to intersperse all supporting
management unit graphics. It contains graphic information on
aerial photographs such as beach transacts (ACE, DNR, BERM,
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Collier county field stations) and structural information
(groins, revetments, seawalls and beach access locations). This
report assisted in the compilation of data for the inventory and
analysis.
Resource Management units and Beach Segments (TR 84-4) were
created to assist resource managers with a system-wide and
site-specific data base from which management decisions can be
based. This unit concept benefits managers by providing data and
recommendations on resources, land use, and physical processes
prior to receiving requests for site-specific project review as
well as providing the documentation to support the resultant
recommendations. The database is in a format that can
continually be updated and expanded as more information is
collected by staff.
Resource management units were delineated for the coastal zone on
three different levels. On the broadest, system-wide basis, the
entire coastal zone of Collier County was divided into eight
estuarine units. These units, termed coastal drainage districts,
reflect historic sheet flow pathways (or close to them) from the
interior of the county to the Gulf of Mexico. The drainage
districts established for Collier County (Coastal Zone Management
Atlas, page 5) encompass all parts of the County's estuarine
system, brackish marshes, mangrove forests, open bays, seagrass
beds, and associated uplands.
The coastal barriers of Collier County were also included in the
above-mentioned system-wide drainage districts. They form the
next level of organization of Collier County's coastal management
units. From the Lee county Line to Cape Romano, the 37 miles of
shoreline are divided into ten coastal barrier units, each of
which is bounded to the north and south by a tidal pass. These
units are then broken down into 37 sub-units known as beach
segments, that represent areas distinct from one another and
possess similar physical features (erosion rates), land use
characteristics ( parks vs. public ) and resource attributes
(extent of dune removal) .
The remainder of this technical report is devoted to the
presentation of resource data that existed at the time of
publication. The report starts with a synopsis of the
information available for each of the eight coastal drainage
districts. This is followed by summaries of the data on the ten
coastal barrier units. Coastal barrier units and beach segment
descriptions are followed by CUltural/historic and wildlife
summaries.
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since the coastal drainage district section does not have
significant impact on our beach resources, recommendations for
the beach segments are included in this review.
BEACH MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS BY BEACH SEGMENT
BAREFOOT BEACH
1. Future structures should be elevated on pilings.
2. Use of fill should be prohibited.
3. Establish a dune protection zone with centralized
crosswalks. The zone should be approximately 100 feet in
width and all Australian pines should be removed.
4. All efforts should be made to protect any remaining
coastal hammock.
VANDERBILT BEACH
1. Develop a management plan that takes into account the
cumulative effects of shoreline stabilization, as well as
compatible integration with neighboring projects.
2. No encroachment of upland protective structures should be
permitted any further seaward than those already present,
or up to the presently existing vegetation line.
3. New structures should be designed to cause minimal damage
and interference with natural beach processes.
4. A dune protection zone should be established that calls
for preservation and reconstruction.
5. Dune walkovers are needed where foot traffic continues to
impose stress on remaining coastal strand vegetation.
6. Selected Australian pines need to be removed.
7. Develop restrictions to minimize impact on several
specimens of sea grapes.
8. Land run-off from condominiums behind mangrove swamps may
produce eutrophication and should be carefully monitored.
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PARK SHORE
1. In unaltered areas between seawalls where continued scarp
recession necessitates corrective action, the front line
of the existing structure should be integrated with the
adjacent existing scarp, using a combination of sand
fill, stabilizing vegetation, and rock boulders.
2. New structures must be designed to have minimal
interference with natural beach processes.
3. Reconstruction after a major storm should be restricted
to the landward side of a prohibitive setback line.
NAPLES
1. Protect coastal vagetation and reconstruct dunes.
2. No encroachment of any upland protective structures
should be permitted seaward of the existing vegetation
line.
3. Any new structures should be designed to interact with
natural beach processes.
4. Repair of structures should be allowed only after
alternatives for redesign or repositioning have been
exhausted.
5. Reconstruction of inhabited structures after major storm
damage must be restricted to areas behind a prohibitive
setback line.
6. Seawall conditions need to be examined, and alternatives
to misalignment be considered after storm damage.
7. The volume of the ebb tidal delta at Gordon Pass should
be monitored and the location of dredge disposal be
adjusted accordingly.
8. All efforts should be made to protect any remaining
coastal hammock.
KEEWAYDIN ISLAND
1. This unit has been classified as an Undeveloped Coastal
Barrier under the 1982 Federal Coastal Barrier
Resources Act (P.L. 97-348); it is included in unit P16,
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Keewaydin Island. This act prohibits the use of most
federal funds (e.g., financial assistance for new utility
and transportation facilities) for projects on designated
undeveloped coastal barriers. In addition, as of October
1, 1984, no federally subsidized flood insurance coverage
is available for any coastal barriers classified as such.
2. Any future development in this area should be of low
impact, stilt cottage construction as far away from the
beach as possible.
3. Property owners should be encouraged to remove Australian
pines and retain all native dune and beach vegetation.
4. No structural stabilization of the shore should be
undertaken.
5. Owners should be warned as to hazard potential prior to
any construction.
6. Preserve established setbacks.
7. Encourage vegetational management.
8. Establish and maintain narrow isolated foot trails.
COCONUT ISLAND
1. Construction should be discouraged.
2. This coastal barrier unit has been classified as an
Undeveloped Coastal Barrier under the 1982 Federal
Coastal Barrier Resources Act (P.L. 97-348); it is
included in unit P16, Keewaydin Island. This Act
prohibits the use of most federal funds (e.g., financial
assistance for new utility and transportation facilities)
for projects on designated undeveloped coastal barriers.
In addition, as of October 1, 1984, no federally
subsidized flood insurance coverage is available for any
coastal barriers classified as such.
MARCO ISLAND
1. The County should strongly encourage enhancement and
restoration of elevated crosswalks.
2. No other structures should be allowed seaward of the
Coastal Construction Control Line.
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3. continue to encourage landward relocation and realignment
of seawalls after storm damage and to require pUblic
seawall by-pass walkways where high tide beach is
nonexistent, if the recommendation is to rebuild the
seawall.
4. Following renourishment a dune protection zone should be
established and crosswalks be constructed.
5. Beach raking should be discouraged.
CAPE ROMANO COMPLEX (KICE. MORGAN. AND CAPE ROMANO ISLANDSl
1.. These coastal barrier units have been classified as
Undeveloped Coastal Barriers under the 1982 Federal
Coastal Barrier Resources Act (P.L. 97-348); it is
included in Unit P15, Cape Romano. This Act prohibits
the use of most federal funds (e.g., financial assistance
for new utility and transportation facilities) for
projects on designated undeveloped coastal barriers. In
addition, as of October 1, 1984, no federally subsidized
flood insurance coverage is available for any coastal
barriers classified as such.
TR 84-6 DRAFT ORDINANCES FOR THE PROTECTION OF COASTAL
ECOSYSTEMS
Draft Ordinances for the Protection of Coastal Ecosvstems is the
result of part of the implementation of the Collier County
Coastal Zone Management program. A survey was conducted which
requested information from 67 counties in Florida to determine
the extent and coverage of local Ordinances directed towards
various types of environmental concerns. Topics included the
following: Water Management, Coastal Construction, Sewage
Regulations, Landscaping and other Ordinances which directly
addressed environmental factors. This survey was undertaken as a
means of assessing, on a comparative basis, the Ordinances of
Collier County with those presently implemented in other
Counties. By excerpting the best parts of the Ordinances under
consideration and incorporating them into revised or totally
rewritten Collier County Ordinances, a series of "Model
Ordinances " were then produced and assessed for completeness and
effectiveness in protecting coastal resources. Of all the
counties surveyed, only 30% (20 counties) responded and of those
counties only 11 had any kind of environmentally oriented
program.
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Regardless of tne size and type of environmental program, if the
ordinances associated with it are not, or are only intermittently
enforced, then the program is considered to be nonexistent. The
report explains that Collier county's Environmental Impact
statement Ordinance and the Special Treatment Regulations of the
Zoning ordinance seem to be effective in their intent to protect
natural resources. The County has other ordinances written to
protect natural resources, however, they have been limited or
weakened by the many exemptions (i.e., Tree Removal Ordinance and
CCCL Ordinance). These and other Ordinances are partially or
completely ineffective with regard to environmental protection,
and will need to be revised if the native ecosystems within the
County are to be preserved and maintained.
The report then presents four new Ordinances that address
Vegetation, Coastal Construction, Performance Bonds, and the
Natural Resources Council for Collier County. Each ordinance is
in draft form and has not been reviewed by County staff.
2.2 REVIEW OF CITY OF NAPLES/MARCO ISLAND REPORTS
The following have been authored by entities outside Collier
County Government. These reports provide information on specific
areas within the County, or specific topics of study concerning
shoreline dynamics in Collier county.
1. "BEACH EROSION CONTROL STUDY. COLLIER COUNTY. FLORIDA".
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. 1972.
This report organized and briefly analyzed basic data
concerning shoreline changes in Collier County. Hydrographic
surveys had been conducted by the Federal Coast and Geodetic
survey in 1885 and 1927. The Army Corps of Engineers
resurveyed selected profiles in 1957, 1968, and 1970. In
addition, the results of fourteen core borings taken in the
nearshore zone between Doctors and Gordon Pass were reported.
As a result of this study an erosion control project, which
included construction of a terminal groin north of Gordon
Pass, and nourishment of 5.6 miles of beach along Naples
between Doctors Pass and Gordon Pass was recommended.
Inadequate support was expressed locally in Collier County to
justify submission of the project to congress for
authorization.
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2. "RECOMMENDED COASTAL SETBACK LINE FOR COLLIER COUNTY.
FLORIDA". Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Laboratory;
University of Florida, Gainesville, Contract Report to the
Department of Natural Resources. 1974.
Florida Statutes Chapter 161.063, enacted by the Florida
Legislature in 1971, provides for the administration of a
Coastal Construction Setback Line along the Gulf and Atlantic
shores of the State. This Line was located for the purpose
of preventing significant alteration of the existing
beach-dune system and to prevent existing and future
construction from being unreasonably subjected to damage or
destruction from the effects of storms or beach erosion. The
criteria used for locating the Line included the expected
storm surge level, wave uprush, offshore slope and island
topography, and measurements of historic shoreline change.
Topographic and hydrographic profiles were surveyed in
Collier county during 1973 at 148 locations from the north
County Line to Hurricane Pass and on Marco Island. The
Coastal Construction Setback Line was then established and
referenced to a monumental baseline which was mapped using
the State System of Plane Coordinates. The setback of the
Line averaged 75 to 150 feet landward of the mean high water
line along developed beaches, and 150 to 250 feet along
undeveloped beaches. However, the report cautioned that
compliance with the recommended setback line did not imply
that structures would be safe or even reasonably risk-free
from storm damage.
3. "REPORT ON THE BEACHES OF NAPLES. FLORIDA". Harold R.
Wanless, University of Miami, Miami, Florida. Contract
Report to the Naples City Council. 1975.
Utilizing data from aerial photographs, beach and nearshore
profiles, and personal site inspections, Wanless described
the general physiographic and dynamic characteristics of the
Naples City beaches. The report develops models for the
landward migration of beaches, interference by seawalls and
groins, and short-term erosion and recovery cycles. The
report recommended the following:
(1) Removing closely spaced groin fields.
(2) Removing or replacing existing seawalls in disrepair or prone
to damage.
(3) Conducting a study to determine volumes and directions of
sand transport, sources of sand for beach nourishment, annual
cycles of fluctuation on the beaches, and maintenance costs
associated with the protection of upland, shore front
property.
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4. "NAPLES BEACH STUDY REPORT". Suboceanic Consultants, Inc.,
Naples, Florida. Contract Report to the Naples City Council.
1980.
The consultant gathered and interpreted existing shoreline
surveys, offshore profiles, and models of beach response to
storm conditions. In addition, beach and offshore profiles
were resurveyed for use in up to date comparisons of beach
width and slope changes over the long- and short-term. The
presence and condition of upland protection and navigation
structures such as seawalls, groins, revetments and jetties
were evaluated. Report recommendations included the
following :
(1) Eliminating the city's 150 foot minimum setback from the mean
high water line and 75 foot setback from the vegetation line
while retaining only the DNR Coastal Construction Control
Line as a part of the city's Ordinance.
(2) Removing 27 deteriorating timber pile groins.
(3) Repairing damaged seawalls, and requirement of the addition
of buried rubble in front of newly constructed seawalls.
(4) Installing a terminal groin north of Gordon Pass.
(5) Depositing sand dredged from Doctors Pass onto the beaches
south of the Pass.
(6) Restoring dunes at Lowdermilk Park and constructing 21 pUblic
accesses.
(7) Instituting a beach monitoring program in cooperation with
the State Division of Beaches and Shores.
5. "EFFECTS OF SEAWALL CONSTRUCTION ON BEACH AND INLET
MORPHOLOGY AND DYNAMICS AT CAXAMBAS PASS. FLORIDA".
Michael F. stephen. University of South Carolina, PhD
dissertation. 1981.
The morphology and dynamics of Caxambas Pass were examined
through analysis of aerial photographs, beach and nearshore
profiles, wave size and refraction analysis, sediment budget,
and grain size characteristics. The study concluded that
seawall construction in the 1950's on south Marco Island
amplified the wave field near the inlet, causing spit
formation, over-nourishment of the inlet's interior shoals,
and channel redistribution. The author further concluded
that seawall construction indirectly resulted in the
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inability of the inlet to provide sand to south Marco Island,
loss of sediment storage areas, and the reduction of
beneficial sheltering of south Marco Island from attack by
waves. The final result of seawall construction was judged
to be a transformation from a tide-dominated inlet morphology
to a more wave-dominated morphologic form.
6. "BEACH DYNAMICS AND THE SOCIETAL RESPONSE TO BEACH EROSION AT
MARCO ISLAND. FLORIDA". William J. Reynolds. state
University of New Jersey, PhD dissertation. 1982.
Aerial photographic analysis and sediment budget measurement
was performed to characterize beach dynamics at Marco Island.
In addition, the societal response to beach erosion was
examined by reviewing the history of seawall construction
along an eroding segment of the Island. The author concluded
that aerial photographic analysis along fluctuating
shorelines may disguise actual shoreline mobility and lead to
faulty conclusions regarding the direction and magnitude of
shoreline changes. The author further concluded that
construction of seawalls along north central Marco Island
caused the recreational beach seaward of the seawalls to be
completely eroded. Marco Island is represented as a
prototype for modern coastal barrier development or
redevelopment.
7. "BEACH MANAGEMENT STUDY FOR COLLIER COUNTY". Coastal
Engineering Consultants, Inc. 1987. Report to the Board of
County commissioners, 90 pp. Naples, Florida.
The beaches of Collier County are some of its most valuable
natural resources. They provide primary recreational areas
for both tourists and residents, and offer protection to
coastal properties from storm surge, wave, and tidal erosion,
and support a diverse native flora and fauna.
A substantial data base exists for assessing County beach
resources. These include three previous beach surveys
conducted by the State of Florida beginning in 1973; five
previous surveys by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dating
to 1885; three complete sets of aerial photographs of the
County plus numerous ancillary photographs of specific
coastal sites; six reports on county beaches or passes, plus
numerous other reports containing relevant information on
climate, wave and water levels, shoreline processes and
geomorphology, demographics and growth; a series of
sub-bottom samples collected off the Collier County coast by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and 60 beach and 34
offshore profiles made by Coastal Engineering Incorporated.
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These data, in conjunction with those provided by the Collier
county Coastal Zone Management Program in 1982-1983, have
shown that the county's coastal mainland and offshore barrier
island systems both respond to several factors, including
littoral longshore currents, tidal and wave action, onshore
and offshore winds, and nearshore sediment composition and
grain size. Erosion (sediment removal) and accretion
(sediment accumulation) are natural consequences of these
factors and are important in determining the size, shape,
stratigraphic and sedimentary composition, and thus the
stability and longevity of these beaches, and ultimately of
the coastal barriers themselves.
Both developed and undeveloped portions of the Collier County
coastline undergo migration as a result of erosion from the
north and subsequent accretion to the south. Erosion
occurring in undeveloped areas (e.g., Barefoot Beach,
Delnor-Wiggins state Recreation Area, south Keeywadin, Kice
and Morgan Islands) poses no immediate problem provided these
areas remain undeveloped. On the other hand, erosion of
urban beaches (e.g., Vanderbilt, Park Shore, Naples and
particularly Marco Island) has resulted in the loss of much
or nearly all of the existing shoreline. Losses are almost
continual, with values as high as 67.7 cubic yards of sand
per linear feet recorded between 1973 and 1987. Several
other stations with losses of over 100 feet of dry beach have
been documented since 1973.
The critical magnitude of these data becomes even more
apparent when it is realized that the data obtained and
assessed by the Coastal Zone Management reports "tended to
underestimate the rate at which erosion occurred and
overestimated the rate of accretion" (Coastal Engineering
Consultants, Inc., 1987, p. 14).
Wave refraction analysis measures wave trains as they impact
the shoreline, particularly as the waves approach and impinge
on the passes. These data show that Wiggins, Hurricane,
Capri/Big Marco and Caxambas Passes all exhibit natural
refractive influences on incoming wave trains. An
immediately observable consequence is the construction of
shoals which, in turn, increase the refractivity of the area
seaward of the pass. These shoals can act as natural groins
or jetties and distribute sand carried by long-shore littoral
currents more equitably around the passes.
Man-modified passes such as Doctors Pass, Gordon Pass and the
Naples pier do not fare as well. In the former two passes,
wave refraction and sediment starvation occur south of each,
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and contribute to severe erosion. On the other hand, the
pier pilings of the Naples pier produce selective
interference on incoming wave trains and create a "wave
shadow" where sand deposition occurs. The beach width at the
pier is the widest in the Naples area.
Moreover, where "shore-hardening" structures such as
seawalls, bulkheads, revetments and the like have been
installed parallel to the shore, the sand loss has continued
unabated, resulting in a drastic lowering of the vertical
shore profile in front of the protected structures.
Erosion of this magnitude, if allowed to continue, will
result in beach loss at rates of 2-4 feet per year or more.
Where erosion control and shore protecting structures exist,
there is danger that they will become undermined resulting in
their loss of integrity. The limited area available for
recreational use will continue to decrease in any event, and
the potential for damage from a major storm will
concomitantly increase. continued loss of both natural
foreshore and dune systems drastically alters the ability of
coastal wildlife to colonize, feed, breed, nest and survive.
The solution to this problem is three-fold and will require a
unified county-wide program of management, monitoring, and
maintenance and restoration. Primary goals of this program
are re-establishment of 1) storm protection capabilities, and
2) recreational capacities. The recommendation for the most
effective means of achieving these goals is beach
renourishment. Included within this recommendation is dune
restoration and revegetation. The conceptual plan is divided
into two project areas: Park Shore/Naples and Vanderbilt
Beach; the estimated cost is $15,000,000.
Borrow areas have been reconnoitered from nearshore areas off
Naples. Bottom sediments appear compatible and could be
utilized to stabilize the downstream sides of existing
passes. Although several nearshore areas in the vicinity of
Caxambas, Big Marco, and Hurricane Pass appear to have enough
sand deposited in their respective ebb tidal delta shoals to
allow judicious borrowing for beach renourishment,
hydrological complexities recommend against their use.
Acceptance of the recommendation would allow beach
renourishment to begin as early as Spring, 1991. This
assumes that preliminary engineering design, detailed sand
source studies, and environmental assessments begin
immediately, and be completed before submitting permit
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applications, or to initiate state funding applications.
Local funds must exist to allow state matching funds,
assuming the latter are available. Projected storm damage
reduction benefits would total approximately $80,000,000 and
recreation benefits approximately $2,700,000 per year, based
on DNR Guidelines.
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