1992-319 CZM Section II (7.6-7.8)
7.6 CLAM PASS
7.6.1 SIGNIFICANCE TO NATURAL SYSTEMS
7.6.1.1 Introduction
Clam Pass is a natural unimproved inlet that connects the Gulf of
Mexico to a number of small lagoons and creeks that are aligned
approximately parallel to the shoreline. It provides for tidal
action and flushing between Gulf waters and the approximately 600
acres of bay and mangrove preserve that were deeded to Collier
County by westinghouse Communities of Naples, Inc. as part of the
Pelican Bay development order. The inlet is bound on both sides
by undeveloped beaches, Collier County's Clam Pass Park to the
South, and Pelican Bay Beach, part of the Pelican Bay PUD, to the
north (Figure 7.6-1). The entire Clam Pass system can be
considered to include the 2 miles of beach and dune ridge north
to vanderbilt Beach Road, 0.6 miles of beach and dune ridge south
to Seagate Drive, the associated back bay systems including those
of Outer, Inner, and upper Clam Bays, and the adjacent
developments of Seagate and Pelican Bay, east to U.S. 41.
The majority of the system is encompassed within the Pelican Bay
PUD, which includes approximately 2,104 acres: 1,312 acres of
uplands and 792 acres of marine and estuarine wetlands, beach
lands, and water.
7.6.1.2 Biophvsical Features
Clam Pass is a dynamic mixed energy inlet, affected by a
combination of wave and tidal action, although wave forces
dominate. Wave-dominated inlets are subject to frequent
sedimentation at the mouth, even though the "throat" of the
channel is somewhat more stable. predominant wind directions are
from the southwest in summer and from the northwest in winter,
affecting the direction of waves transporting littoral drift. In
the winter, the heavy southward littoral drift causes the small
channel to swing towards the south, with the opposite happening
in summer. During the winter months, the beach usually becomes
steeper, with large sandbars developing offshore, and the 8'and
9' contours moving further waterward. The mean tidal range at the
pass is approximately two feet, whereas there is about a 0.9'
range in Outer Clam Bay, and a 0.2' range at Upper Clam Bay.
The pass frequently has been closed by natural sedimentation. The
most recent closures were in the spring of 1981, the spring of
1988, and by tropical storm Keith in November of 1988. Each time,
the pass was opened by county dredging operations. Historic
aerial photographs indicate that passes existed to the north and
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south of the present inlet. These passes were closed by spit
growth and storm overwash. According to historic soil maps
(1937), there were two aqditional passes to the south, while Clam
Pass was also much wider than it is at present. The sites of the
former tidal passes were heavily invaded by Australian pines
during the 1960's and 1970's. The resultant dense canopy and
litterfall has restricted the formation of dunes in these areas.
The opening of nearby accessory channels during storms is common
at Clam Pass. During the "No Name" storm of June 18, 1982, such a
channel was opened 500 feet to the south of Clam Pass, but was
quickly closed by northward littoral drift and overwash.
During the thirty year period of aerial photographic record, the
submerged flood tidal delta inside Clam Pass was colonized by
mangroves, forming a small island that has continued to grow
(Figure 7.6-2). Colonization of flood tidal deltas and overwash
fans by wetland species is an important process in maintaining
biological productivity along wave dominated barrier coastlines.
At the entrance of the pass, depths are variable from -1' to -6'
NGVD, but more commonly between -2' NGVD and -3' NGVD at mean
water, with considerable shoal areas of -1' or less inland. The
channel location varies seasonally, and the width of the channel
is only about 30' to 50' wide. These factors cause the pass to be
basically non-navigable. However, the pass serves the crucial
function of flushing a large portion of the back bay area, thus
maintaining water quality and providing a source of clean saline
water to the estuary.
The beach systems to the north and south of the pass include an
extensive dune system, with elevations of +6' to +8', NGVD.
The dune crest exists as a 100' to 200' band between the
intertidal beach and mangrove areas. Dominant native dune crest
vegetation includes sea oats, seagrape, and cactus. Scaevola, sea
blite, and Spanish dagger are also common. This area provides
primary habitat for raccoons, indigo snakes, and eastern
diamondback rattlesnakes. The beach strand has been heavily
invaded by Australian pine and Brazilian pepper. Exotic
vegetation removal programs along the beach have been
implemented. Many of these nuisance trees have already been
removed, especially in the area south of the pass that is part of
the County's Clam Pass Park, and the area 4,500 feet north of the
pass to Vanderbilt Beach Road.
7.6.1.3 Drainaqe Basin Characteristics
Clam Pass opens up into Outer Clam Bay to the south, and Inner
and Upper Clam Bays to the north. These are irregularly shaped
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shallow bays connected to one another by narrow creeks, and
surrounded by approximately 500 acres of estuarine plant
communities. Fringe forests dominated by red mangroves surround
the bays and the small islets near the pass. Landward of the
fringe forests, an extensive mangrove swamp system dominated by
black mangroves or mixed mangrove species exists.
The bays are separated from waters of the Gulf to the west by a
relatively narrow band of mangrove swamp, dune ridge, and beach,
varying from 100' to 1200' in width. These habitats are described
below. The bay system is bound on its east side by mangrove and
black rush marshes, which grade into a transitional zone of
sawgrass and sweet bay tree hammocks, then the adjacent pine
uplands of the Pelican Bay PUD. The narrow black rush zone may
have scattered sawgrass, leather fern, buttonwoods, and Brazilian
pepper where there is more surface fresh water influence. There
is also scattered sabal palm, saw palmetto, and saltbush. within
the bay hammocks, an understory of swamp fern, leather fern,
poison ivy, wax myrtle, grape vine, and wild coffee can be found.
The pine uplands consist mostly of logged and stumped pinelands.
Slash pine predominates, with a dense ground cover of saw
palmetto. Scattered scrub areas vegetated by rosemary, scrub oak,
prickly pear, and spike moss also exist. Much of the upland areas
have been cleared and developed as part of the Pelican Bay PUD.
The Ritz Carlton Resort development to Vanderbilt Beach Road is
the northern extent of the system, and the development of
Seagate, to Seagate Drive, is the southern boundary. The historic
extent of the drainage basin feeding Clam Pass has been
drastically altered by the construction of roads, residential and
commercial/tourist development, and dredge and fill operations.
outer Clam Bav:
outer Clam Bay is an approximately 72 acre lagoon connected to
the Gulf via a channel leading north, then west, to Clam Pass.
The channel is constricted in places, which serves to restrict
flow to the southern reaches of the bay. Depths vary from less
than -1' to -4' NGVD, with an average depth of about -3' NGVD. At
low tide, the north end of the bay and the channel may be mostly
exposed. This bay is strongly influenced by daily tides. Much of
the bay is usually turbid due to the suspension of fine sands
carried by tidal currents. Salinities range from 15 to 35 parts
per thousand. Outer Clam Bay had the highest reported algal
diversity levels in the back bay system, most species being
epiphytic on the prop roots of red mangroves in the intertidal
zone (Humm and Rehm, 1972). Extensive seagrass beds composed
primarily of Cuban shoal grass, were found to be present (Devlin
et al., 1987). Aerial surveys conducted by the County's Natural
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Resources Department staff during the summer of 1990 revealed
that the majority of the substrate of Outer Clam Bay is presently
vegetated with seagrasses. It appeared that turtle grass was the
dominant species of seagrass present. The succession of dominant
species from shoal grass to turtle grass indicates that flushing
rates from the Gulf have increased. Turtle grass requires
greater water clarity and salinity than shoal grass. It is also
more sensitive to environment stress (Devlin et al., 1987). The
surveys indicated that outer Clam Bay contains the greatest
amount of seagrasses, in terms of areal extent and density, of
any inland water body in the County. Cape Romano shoals is the
only submerged location in the County that is covered by more
seagrass area (Figure 5.7-1). Eighty-four species of flora and
fauna were reported in Outer Clam Bay and its approaches from the
pass (Coral Ridge-Collier Properties, Inc., 1979). Tunicates,
horn shells, dove shells, pink shrimp, xanthid crabs, portunid
crabs, lizardfish, mullet, silver perch, pigfish, pinfish,
mojarra, file fish, goby, and juvenile grey snapper were among
the organisms reported observed in the area (FDER, 1984).
Outer Clam Bay and its surrounding wetlands remain in a nearly
natural state. Some alteration to the system includes a filled
area of approximately 14 acres. This area exists to the west of
the narrow, northern portion of Outer Clam Bay and was illegally
filled in 1972 by a previous owner of the parcel. It had been
invaded by exotic vegetation, notably Australian pine and
Brazilian pepper, but has since been cleared as part of a
mitigation plan. As part of the County's parks project, a 2,900'
long by 10' wide public boardwalk and pier was constructed in
1986 through the mangrove wetlands over the narrow section of
Outer Clam Bay, to the beach. As mitigation, mangrove seedlings
were to be replanted on a 2:1 basis for any mangrove trees lost
during the construction of the boardwalk. At the time of this
writing, these mitigation requirements have not been fulfilled.
A study comparing seagrass bed fauna from Outer Clam Bay with
Johnson Bay, a relatively pristine wat6rbody within Rookery Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve, showed differences in
species assemblages. Johnson Bay seagrass bed fauna was dominated
by tUbe-building worms and crustaceans, whereas Outer Clam Bay
had a predominance of infaunal non-tubiculous fauna. It was
concluded that the Clam Bay assemblage may be an indicator of
stress conditions, but more work was needed in this area.
possible stressors may be the restriction of overland sheet flow
of fresh water by the Pelican Bay PUD berm, and the fact that
some fresh water received by the system comes from drainage
canals and run-off from the Seagate subdivision (Devlin et al.,
1987). At the southern extent of Outer Clam Bay, previous dredge
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and fill operations had developed the single family residential
neighborhood of seagate. Four man-made canals, each of which is
one block in length, were dredged for this development. A culvert
exists beneath the Seagate Drive bridge, which connects, via
minimal flow at high tides, the waters of Outer Clam Bay to
Venetian Bay, an extremely man-altered water body that has been
subjected to extensive dredging and filling operations.
Inner Clam Bav:
Inner Clam Bay is approximately 32 acres, and is connected to
outer Clam Bay by a very narrow, winding channel, approximately
6,600' long and between -2' and -3' NGVD deep. Oyster bars in the
channel restrict tidal flow to the upper reaches of the bay,
except during periods of high tides. The average depth of the bay
is approximately -3' NGVD, with a depth range of -2' to -4' NGVD.
The substrate is primarily muddy, with no seagrass beds reported.
Algal diversity was reported to be greatest during the month of
February and lowest in September (Humm and Rehm, 1972).
To the west of Inner Clam Bay, vegetation consists primarily of
mature black mangrove trees, with numerous black and red mangrove
seedlings. An intermittent pond immediately to the northwest of
the bay contains standing water in the rainy season, and is
usually dry during the winter months. This area exhibits typical
mixed tide characteristics. However, during periods of heavy
rainfall, excess run-off water overrides tidal activity. To the
east of the bay, there is a mixed mangrove forest, in some parts
dominated by white mangroves, and in others, by spindly red
mangrove trees. This zone grades into a dense black rush marsh,
eastward to sweet bay hammocks and adjacent upland development.
The wetlands exhibit tidal fluctuations on most spring tides.
During high rainfall events, complete tidal cycles are evident
due to higher water levels. The southern extent of Inner Clam Bay
reaches to the pass via the small tributary. Dominant vegetation
consists of red mangrove trees with some white and black
mangroves. This area is inundated by tidal waters on most flood
tides, and complete tidal cycles are evident due to higher water
levels, as above.
Upper Clam Bav:
Upper Clam Bay is also connected to Inner Clam Bay by a narrow
winding channel. Average depth is approximately -2' NGVD, with a
depth range of -1' to -4' NGVD. Several small ponds are also
connected to this channel. There are no oyster bars or submerged
seagrass beds reported in this area. Significantly fewer aquatic
species were found here than in the other two bays (Coral
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Ridge-Collier Properties, Inc., 1979). Salinities as low as 6.2
and 13.2 parts per thousand were reported in north and middle
upper Clam Bay, respectively (Humm and Rehm, 1972). However,
salinities of approximately 27 parts per thousand, or about 80%
seawater, were recorded at the north end of the bay during field
testing in 1976. These higher salinities indicate periodic
contributions of seawater from the gulf (SWFRPC, 1976).
Upper Clam Bay is adjacent to a mature black mangrove tree forest
to the north and west, containing very large trees. There is
often standing water in this area, which drains through ground
seepage, evapotranspiration, and to a lesser extent, through
run-off. significant tidal flushing in these areas is not
apparent except during exceptionally high spring tides and heavy
rainfall events, which induce high bay system water levels. West
of the bay are a series of small intermittent ponds fringed by
red mangroves. In 1982, these ponds were connected via a series
of man-made shallow ditches as part of the mitigation plan for
the Pelican Bay PUD. The purpose of this project was to enhance
existing habitat by establishing more frequent tidal inundation
to the ponds and surrounding wetlands. Subsequent studies
indicated that fish populations increased in diversity compared
to the species composition that existed in Upper Clam Bay.
However, the tidal influence only extends to a zone approximately
150' from the pond margins, as indicated by the concentrations of
the biological indicator, the coffee bean snail (Melampus
coffeus) (Heald, 1983b).
Further to the north is an approximately 100 acre fill area in
historic black mangrove wetlands, which includes the Ritz-Carlton
Hotel complex and the site of future high rise development as
part of the Pelican Bay PUD. This fill site was the subject of
considerable controversy during the Pelican Bay PUD permitting
process. various environmental consultants claimed that this part
of the system was in a degraded and senescent condition due to
insufficient tidal flushing, presence of dead trees, and lower
recorded productivity (Rumm and Rehm, 1972; Tropical
BioIndustries, 1978; Gee and Jensen, 1978), but the Southwest
Florida Regional Planning Council's study of 1976 indicated that
the limited tidal effects in that area were optimal for the
maintenance of a mature black mangrove forest. Furthermore, this
study indicated that the presence of dead branches and even whole
trees in such a forest is a natural process, where fluctuations
in rainfall and flushing regulate periods of growth and
mortality.
To the east of the bay is a mixed mangrove forest containing red
and white mangroves, and few black mangroves. Tidal activity
occurs during high spring tides and high bay system levels.
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Leather fern, rubber vine and Brazilian pepper are found landward
of the mangroves. Land elevations rise sharply in this area. To
the south is a series of a few small ponds and fringing red
mangrove trees. This area exhibits typical mixed tide
characteristics, except during periods of high rainfall events,
when excess water runoff overrides the tidal characteristics of
the system.
General Drainaae Characteristics:
As pointed out in the previous discussion, the entire system is
very rainfall-dependent. During periods of significant rainfall,
ebb tides dominate, with much greater transport during ebb cycles
than on flood cycles, which are sometimes completely eliminated.
Gee and Jensen (1978) found that significant amounts of water
enter the bay system from the surrounding mangrove areas via
subterranean flow. When significant rainfall events raise the
water elevations in upper Clam Bay to the same level as that
found closer to the pass, the entire bay system is uniformly
flooded.
Previous to the development of areas to the north, south, and
east of the Clam Pass system, periodic closures or shifting of
the pass alignment were not a problem. Drainage from upland
runoff and subterranean seepage provided an adequate supply of
fresh water to the estuary. Tidal flushing was accomplished via
the pass; when that would periodically close, some flushing would
occur through connections to the north and south of the system.
presently, development of these areas prevents free flow along
the back bay systems that run parallel to the shoreline.
Furthermore, natural fresh water drainage patterns have been
drastically altered by development.
Fresh water from storm water run-off is often contaminated with
oils and greases from roads, pesticides, fertilizers, and
herbicides from agricultural and landscaped areas. However, the
Pelican Bay PUD incorporated a water management system into their
plan, whereby drainage from the development is diverted into
grassed swales and lakes for primary treatment and detention.
stormwater is then directed through more swales, culverts, and a
dispersion greenbelt to final discharge into Clam Bays. A
perimeter berm separates the western system of wetlands and bays
from the development to prevent direct overland runoff from
entering the estuary. The drainage system for the northwest
parcel, however, is not that well-defined, and may be a point
source of pollution in the future.
The Seagate development does not have any system for stormwater
treatment before runoff enters the bay. Future consideration for
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stormwater treatment in this area is recommended. However, the
development is relatively small compared to the rest of the
system and point source pOllution is expected to be at a low
level. A 1988 study done by the County Pollution Control
Department indicated that water quality at the southern end of
Clam Bay, in the Seagate area, was acceptable, although nitrogen,
phosphorus, and bacteria levels found in the canals indicated
that there may be minor effects from nearby septic tank fields.
There has been an ongoing controversy regarding the culvert
system located under Seagate Drive that connects Outer Clam Bay
to Doctors Bay to the south. Residents of the Doctors Bay and
Moorings Bay area are generally in favor of increasing flushing
between the two systems, whereas Pelican Bay residents are
generally against the idea. The Doctors Bay area does not have a
stormwater system designed to reduce the amount of pollutant
material from entering the bay, as does Clam Bay. Previous
dredging and filling operations and residential development have
also degraded the water quality of this system over time. The
FDER, in a 1981 report, stated that, "...the flow of water from
Moorings Bay to Clam Bay could have a significant negative impact
on the water quality of Clam Bay. Activities which could
significantly degrade the water quality of a Class II waterbody
are stringently regulated. In view of the limited benefits
expected in terms of flushing of Moorings Bay, the possible
adverse consequences for Clam Bay and the sizeable costs, this
alternative is not recommended." Further concerns have been
addressed regarding the possible effects of connecting two water
bodies with different salinities, tidal ranges, and depths.
Durbin Tabb, of Tropical BioIndustries, addressed these concerns
in a letter to Westinghouse Communities, Inc., in 1983;
"...poorly planned major changes in circulation volumes and
velocity of flow between bay systems having different salinities,
depths, volumes, and inlet configurations can cause widespread
and unexpected re-adjustment of bay bottom sediments, channel
location, salinity regimen, and unforeseen behavior of sand
deposition or erosion around inlets." At present, there is a
minimal culvert connection between the two systems, which
approximates the estimated historic level of natural connection
between the two bay systems.
General Faunal Elements:
Many species of invertebrates and vertebrates are represented in
the Clam Pass system (Appendix 6). The two dominant pulmonate
gastropods around the bays were found to be Melampus spp. and
Cerithidea spp. Insects and arachnids are common year round, as
are fiddler and mangrove crabs and periwinkles. In Upper and
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Inner Clam Bays, tunicates tended to settle most abundantly along
the eastern bay shore, and mussels dominated along the western
shore. This pattern was not evident in outer Clam Bay, where
strong tidal mixing supports oyster and barnacle populations
throughout. Transient vertebrates, such as musk turtles,
rattlesnakes, and alligators, exhibit an increase in activity at
the onset of the rainy season (Tropical BioIndustries, 1978).
Bird species commonly seen are brown pelican, cormorants, osprey,
various herons and egrets, and a family of bald eagles. Several
pairs of little green herons use the area as nesting grounds. The
sandbars near the pass are used by roseate spoonbills, herons,
stilts, and sandpipers. At the beginning of the dry season, as
shallow impoundments around the bays dry out and concentrate
fish, many herons, egrets, and white ibis use these areas as
feeding grounds. Caridean prawns and various species of killifish
and mosquito fish dominate in these impoundments, which are
especially common west of Upper Clam Bay. Warblers, vireos,
redstarts, belted kingfishers, and grackles are common migrant
bird species that overwinter within the mangrove forest (Tropical
BioIndustries, 1978).
7.6.2 PAST AND CURRENT MAINTENANCE
Clam Pass is a narrow, unimproved pass connecting the Gulf of
Mexico with the Clam Pass system. Clam Pass is a shallow, very
dynamic pass which experiences seasonal shifts in alignment. The
littoral drift, which transports sand along the beach, is greatly
affected by the prevailing winds and seas, causing the pass to
"swing" to the south in the winter time and north during the
summer.
Clam Pass has been closed by nature on numerous occasions, the
most recent of which were: the spring of 1981, the spring of
1988, and November of 1988 by Tropical Storm Keith. On each of
these occasions, Collier County obtained the necessary permits
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FDER, and FDNR, and
performed the necessary maintenance dredging to reopen the Pass.
The dredging was accomplished using front-end loaders which
limited the digging to low tidal periods and could not proceed
seaward of the waterline. This type of dredging, although
inefficient, was performed to reopen the pass to allow for
flushing in the back water system and not for navigational
purposes.
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In the past, the FDNR Division of Beaches and Shores has only
issued Conditional Permits to allow maintenance dredging along
the existing alignment. The FDNR has been reluctant to issue a
full permit due to the lack of an extensive engineering
investigation or reports to identify the necessary cross-section
of the pass. Also, the effects on the adjacent shorelines,
topographic surveys of both upland dredge and spoil areas, and a
bathymetric survey of the dredge areas below the MHWL have not
been completed.
7.6.3 SIGNIFICANCE TO RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT
7.6.3.1 Beaches And Other Recreational Facilities
Clam Pass is a small ephemeral inlet which separates the
Vanderbilt Beach and Park Shore Coastal Barrier Units, as
described in Section 3.0 of this plan (Harvey et al., 1983). Clam
Pass provides the northern boundary to Clam Pass Park and a
southern boundary to the Pelican Bay Conservation Area. Both
areas are primarily undeveloped and afford a wide variety of
resource-based recreation activities (FDNR, 1989g).
In 1977, the Collier County Board of Commissioners accepted 3,200
linear feet of beachfront on the Gulf of Mexico (part of the
Pelican Bay PUD settlement) as a major county coastal area park
(Clam Pass Park). The two acre parking area donated by the
development, however, was located on the east side of Outer Clam
Bay, making access to the facility unfeasible at that time.
Clam Pass Park is located on the southwest corner of the Pelican
Bay PUD. The park site is bordered on the north by Clam Pass, on
the south by Naples Cay Development, and to the west by the Gulf
of Mexico. The park contains a total of approximately 36 acres;
which may be broken down into 17 acres of mangroves, 11 acres of
upland vegetation and 8 acres of sandy beach (3,200 linear feet
of beach).
In 1986, Collier County constructed a 2,900 foot boardwalk which
was 10 feet wide in most areas, except where larger mangroves,
protected by FDER permit conditions, caused the narrowing of the
boardwalk by approximately 2-4 feet. The boardwalk runs
generally in a north-south direction, parallel to the Pelican Bay
Improvement District berm, and then directly westward across the
northern end of Outer Clam Bay, ending in a bath house and
concession area at the northern end of Clam Pass Park.
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During the development of the park facility, Collier County
included an extensive dune restoration program. The purpose of
the program was to bring Clam Pass Park to a near natural state
in order to enhance its use as an amenity to citizens and
visitors. The 1987 restoration consisted of the following:
1. Removal of Australian pines and other exotic vegetation,
which were cut and burned on site.
2. Dunes were reconstructed with compatible beach sand, trucked
in from an offsite location.
3. Dunes were revegetated with native vegetation (sea oats and
other native dunal vegetation).
4. Construction of dune overwalks, walkway trails, and fences to
keep the public off the dunes.
5. Installation of interpretive signs designed to educate the
public on the importance of our native species to the health
and productivity of our beach/dune systems.
In addition to Clam Pass Park, Pelican Bay donated five acres at
the north end of the Pelican Bay PUD at Vanderbilt Drive (Figure
7.6-3) and a 120 space parking lot east of the Ritz Carlton. All
the above access was required by state regulations in Chapter
161, F.S., which requires public access at preset distances along
the entire County shoreline. These access points were combined
together as part of these requirements.
To the north of Clam Pass lies the Pelican Bay Conservation Area.
In 1977, as part of the Pelican Bay PUD (and mitigation for the
filling of 98 acres of wetlands), covenants were filed on
approximately 530 acres for preservation, conservation and
limited use recreation. The Conservation Area contains
approximately 129 acres of beachfront and uplands, 129 acres of
wetland, and 277 acres of water. The area contains 7360 linear
feet of beachfront, and encompasses Upper, Inner, and Outer Clam
Bays, its connecting waterways, and/or adjacent wetlands (Figure
7.6-4) .
The covenants filed by Pelican Bay Development for the
Conservation Area state that this area "... MAY ONLY BE USED FOR
CONSERVATION PURPOSES, TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO SUCH
PURPOSES AS CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES,
WILDLIFE DIVERSITY, SCENIC BEAUTY AND AESTHETIC VALUE OF THE
AREA. NO BUILDING, STRUCTURE, FACILITY OR OTHER IMPROVEMENT
SHALL BE PLACED IN THE CONSERVATION AREA UNLESS IT IS PERMITTED
BY DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS AND UNTIL GRANTOR HAS ISSUED ITS
PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL. DECLARANT, MAY IN ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE
DISCRETION, REJECT PROPOSED STRUCTURES, OR FACILITIES IN THE
CONSERVATION AREA, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH STRUCTURE OR
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FACILITY IS A PERMITTED USE UNDER THE DECLARATION OF
RESTRICTIONS. IF THE CONSERVATION AREA, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF,
IS EVER USED IN VIOLATION OF THESE PROVISIONS, CONSERVATION AREA
SHALL AUTOMATICALLY REVERT TO GRANTOR" (COLLIER COUNTY OFFICIAL
RECORDS BOOK 000966, PAGE 0017842).
Permitted uses in the Conservation Area are described in the
Declaration of Restrictions (C.C.O.R. Book 000966, Page 001830)
as follows:
1. >Nature trails including boardwalk
2. Boat trails
3. Boat docks not to exceed 500 sq. ft. per dock (non-commercial
boat launch facilities only - no permanent docking)
4. Paths and bridges
7.6.3.2 Public Boat Ramps
There are no public boat ramps in the Clam Pass system. This is
due to the sensitivity of the area, shallow back bay systems, and
the highly ephemeral nature of Clam Pass. However, there is an
unimproved ramp area located on the southwest edge of the Clam
Pass Park parking lot. This area could be utilized as a canoe
launching facility; power-driven vessels should be forbidden.
7.6.3.3 Marinas
There are no marinas within the Clam Pass system. The Army Corps
of Engineers Permit Special Conditions (for the filling of the 98
acres of wetlands) specify that there is to be no dredging
allowed (by permit or otherwise) in Outer, Inner or Upper Clam
Bays, its connecting waterways, and/or adjacent wetlands, or Clam
Pass (except to maintain the opening to waters of the Gulf of
Mexico). Another permit condition indicates that there are to be
no bulkheads, piers, stilthouses, walkways or other structures
allowed in the Clam Bay system or adjacent wetlands connecting to
private uplands (a small pier and the Collier County boardwalk
were stipulated exceptions to the permit conditions). For these
reasons there will never be a marina permitted in this area.
7.6.3.4 Development And Land Use
Development in the Clam Pass area consists of Seagate, a small
single family subdivision, and Naples Cay, a high rise community,
to the south; and the Pelican Bay PUD to the north and east. The
developments are bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, and
to the east by highway U.S. 41. The Pelican Bay PUD was
established in 1977 by Westinghouse Communities of
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Naples, Inc. (formerly Coral Ridge-Collier Properties, Inc.).
This development consists of 2,104 acres of sandy beach and
uplands. The property is entirely within the boundaries of
Pelican Bay Improvement District which was created by the Florida
Legislature for the purpose of providing water management,
potable water, and wastewater treatment facilities for the
development. Pelican Bay is a planned residential community
including a mixture of mUlti-family dwelling units with
commercial areas, a golf course, school sites, governmental
facility sites, neighborhood and community parks, and protected
beaches and wetlands.
Development conflicts are still present in this PUD and its
environmentally sensitive areas. In northern Pelican Bay,
high-density residential units will be allowed to be constructed
within the Hurricane category 1 zone on 78 acres of mangrove
forest. This was approved as part of the Development of Regional
Impact, and received Army Corps of Engineers and state Department
of Environmental Regulation permits. Mitigation actions were
required as part of the development process. Prohibiting
development in the mangrove swamps, embayments and along the
barrier island not only serves as protection and preservation of
natural resources but also as protection of human lives. The
narrow barrier ridge and back barrier environment is vulnerable
to storm events which poses a threat to the safety of the
population and property. without intensive shoreline protection
for the structures in addition to above-average building
performance standards, this thin strip of unconsolidated sand and
the structures upon it could be completely eroded, inundated or
displaced landward in the event of a major storm. The
northwestern filled area also has a high potential for hazards in
siting multi-family units. Additional construction in these
areas will increase risks to the population.
7.6.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
7.6.4.1 Maintenance Recommendations
The maintenance of the pass opening, as well as the maintenance
of a clean fresh water source is crucial for the continued health
of the back bay system. "The tidal action, coupled with the flow
of fresh water from Pelican Bay Development and surrounding
areas, are extremely important in keeping the mangrove areas and
Clam Bays enviromentally viable. without these two actions, this
area will suffer severe environmental consequences in the decline
of water quality and the loss of mangroves" (Natural Resources
Dept., 1989).
II -291-
The Clam Pass system is being considered for a long term study by
Collier County. consideration will be given to water quality,
monitoring of biological communities, hydrology, and
hydrographics of the system. Pass dredging activities will be
evaluated as data for the preceding considerations become
available. It is the opinion of the Environmental Services
Division of Collier County that maintenance of the pass system
should be limited, to only allow for sufficient tidal flushing to
maintain the health and integrity of the Clam Pass drainage
basin, back bay and mangrove forest habitat system. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers permit (No. 79K-0282) for the filling
activities to the north, east and west of Upper Clam Bay includes
a special condition (II.c) that precludes future dredging in any
of the Clam Pass bays, waterways, or wetlands, except that which
is necessary to maintain the opening of the pass itself.
The value of the seagrass meadows that exist in outer Clam Bay is
described in "Section 5.7: Seagrass Meadows" of this report.
Seagrasses are extremely sensitive to practices that lower water
quality, such as dredging, turbidity, stormwater run-off, and
increases in boat traffic. It is recommended that the seagrass
habitat of Outer Clam Bay be protected as a valuable and unique
resource.
It is strongly recommended that the relatively pristine Clam Bay
system not be degraded by further connections to waterbodies of
lower quality. The lower quality of Doctors Bay to the south,
and Vanderbilt Bay to the north, were caused by development
practices of the past that did not consider environmental
effects. The concerns for cleaning these bays should be
addressed. However, the solutions should entail restoration on
site, rather than diversion to a less polluted estuary.
Furthermore, it should be the aim of the local government to
improve water quality at these locations. This may aid in
restoring some of the submerged natural habitats necessary for
the survival of important commercial fisheries and protected
species.
II -292-
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.
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Figure 7.6-1: Clam Pass Location Map (from NOAA, 1990).
II -293-
.._._-_..,~'_._--"----'-_.--;_.,-_.~.-
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1952
1952-1973
1973 - 1981
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FEET
CLAM PASS
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CD Submerged delta; approx.-3 It MSL
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Figure 7.6-2: Clam Pass: 1952 to 1981, Accretion and Erosion
Patterns (from Harvey, et. al., 1984 - Part 2).
II -294-
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Figure 7.6-3: Vanderbilt Beach Access (cross-hatched area
indicates donated 5 acres at north end of Pelican
Bay PUD at Vanderbilt Drive) (from Collier County
tax assessment map, 1984).
II -295-
l;Vlr
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Figure 7.6-4: Pelican Bay Conservation Area (cross-hatched areas)
(from Collier Soil and Water Conservation District,
1990) .
II -296-
7.7 DOCTORS PASS
7.7.1 SIGNIFICANCE TO NATURAL SYSTEMS
7.7.1.1 Introduction
Doctors Pass is an example of a typical "improved", or
man-altered inlet, located between the Park Shore and Naples
Headland beach management segments within the City of Naples (see
section 3.0) (Figure 7.7-1). Riprap jetties, each approximately
400 feet long, were constructed in 1960 to the north and south of
the pass for the purpose of inlet stabilization. Its back b~y
system includes, from north to south, Venetian Bay, Inner Doctors
Bay, Moorings (Outer Doctors) Bay, and Hurricane Harbor. The
entire bay is sometimes collectively known as Doctors Bay or
Moorings Bay.
Doctors Pass and its associated back bay system has been totally
altered by development, and as such, is considered to be an
artificial waterbody. Its previous Class II status (Appropriate
for Shellfish Harvesting) has been downgraded by the FDER to
Class III (Appropriate for Recreational Activities), in the
1980'S, to reflect the lowered water quality of the system
(F.A.C., Chapter 17-310).
7.7.1.2 Biophvsical Features
Doctors Pass is approximately 150-200 feet wide, 1,200 feet long,
and with depths generally greater than -6' NGVD, except in
shoaling areas. No submerged vegetation or other valuable benthic
habitat is present in the pass due to previous dredging
activities. Fauna commonly observed in the vicinity of the pass
include mullet, clupeids, sheepshead, carangids, and sailors
choice. Speckled trout, redfish, and snook are also reported to
use the pass. Protected species including bottlenose dolphin,
West Indian manatees, bald eagles, brown pelicans, and loggerhead
turtles are sighted in the area as well (Myers, 1985).
Currents and wave direction during the summer months are
predominantly from the southwest, and during the winter, from the
northwest. The net direction of littoral transport is towards the
south (Tackney, 1982). The configuration of the Doctors Pass
jetty structures interrupts natural sediment transport along the
shoreline. According to a 1988 beach nourishment study done for
the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, longshore
currents carrying sediments to the south are directed offshore,
so that much of the sediment load is dropped upcurrent of the
north jetty and on the bypass bar downdrift of the end of the
south jetty. This action starves the downdrift beaches to the
II -297-
south of the pass, and speeds up erosional processes as sediment
continues to be transported southward along the shore. In
addition, it encourages the build-up of the shoal areas outside
of the pass, causing navigational problems for boaters. This
problem is somewhat alleviated by the periodic maintenance
dredging of the shallow sandbars and removal of the spoil to the
downdrift beach areas.
Doctors Pass has been periodically maintenance dredged since the
late 1950's. Initial depths after dredging were to approximately
-4' NGVD due to the presence of a rock layer below. The rock was
removed in the late 1960's to achieve a depth of -6' NGVD. No
further maintenance dredging was done until the 1980's. Shoaling
and the formation of sandbars occurred during these years, due to
the configuration of the inlet and jetties, causing navigational
problems to boaters with deep draft vessels (Tackney, 1982).
Permits were granted in 1983 to the Save the Bays Association
(FDER Permit Number 110602659) to dredge 9,990 cubic yards of
material from four cut sites in the vicinity of the pass, spoil
9,550 cubic yards of beach compatible sand just offshore of the
beach south of the pass, and spoil the remaining silt at an
upland site. Cuts were located in the Gulf of Mexico, just west
of the pass, along the northern perimeter of the pass, and at two
sites just inside the pass. The pass was dredged to -6' NGVD
(FDER, 1982b). Maintenance dredging and concurrent beach
nourishment activities occurred again in 1987 (FDER Permit Number
110955069) and are presently taking place under FDER and FDNR
Permit Number 111558339 to the City of Naples. The 1989 dredging
permits allow for dredging to -7' NGVD and removal of up to
44,000 cubic yards of material within the pass and the bay system
to provide navigational access to all waterfront residences. The
southern downdrift beaches will be renourished by placing beach
compatible spoil material below mean high water adjacent to the
shoreline. Sediments that are enriched with heavy metals or have
over 5% silt and clay content are unsuitable for beach
renourishment, and are being spoiled on approved upland sites.
Water quality monitoring, semiannual reports, turbidity control,
and a manatee protection plan are included as conditions in the
permit requirements.
7.7.1.3 Drainaqe Basin Characteristics
Historically, Doctors Pass was a small natural tidal inlet
subject to migration and closure (Figure 7.7-2). It fed the back
bay system, which consisted of relatively shallow open water
areas fringed by mangroves and connected by narrow tidal creeks.
This system was tidally connected to the Clam Bay system to the
north, through a mangrove forest that nearly separated the two
back bay systems (G. Copeland survey map, 1947).
II -298-
In the 1950's, Collier County constructed Seagate Drive, severing
the connection between Outer Clam Bay and Venetian Bay and
creating two dead-end bay systems. Reconnection, via minimal
culverts under Seagate Drive, was done in 1976 to aid in
flushing. However, over time, the decreasing water quality of
Doctors Bay may threaten the more pristine Clam Bay Preserve.
Excessive dewatering of the already shallow Outer Clam Bay is
also a threat, especially if the culverts are ever enlarged.
The state of Florida relinquished title to its sovereign lands
within the Doctors Bay system in 1959, prior to extensive
development of the area. Alteration activities included dredging
channels and canals to approximately -12' NGVD, destruction and
filling of mangrove wetlands, and construction of concrete
vertical bulkheads along the altered bay shoreline. Further
development was permitted in 1969 for the over-water structures
of the Park Shore development. The original configuration of the
bay and shoreline has been completely altered by development
(Figure 7.7-3). The current waterway is approximately 3 miles
long, aligned north and south.
Presently, developments include the Moorings Bay and Park Shore
subdivisions, built in the 1960's and 1970's. Park Shore consists
of single and mUlti-family residences, residences hotels, and
commercial operations, located around the Moorings Bay system.
Many of the buildings are high-rises. Venetian Bay has several
over-water structures on concrete pilings, including commercial
and mUlti-family units. The eastern side of the bay is developed
mainly by single family residences, with lawns sloping down
toward the water.
Finger fills and overpasses constrict the bay system to the south
of the pass at Mooring Line Drive, and to the north of the pass
at Harbour Drive and Park Shore Drive. These constrictions also
reduce water quality and flushing rates of the four segments of
the bay system.
The entire drainage basin is developed, with no natural resources
remaining. Fresh water sources, necessary for maintaining the
integrity of an estuary, have been drastically altered by
development. Precipitation, surface runoff, and groundwater
infiltration supply fresh water to the system. However, these
have been altered by the removal and filling of wetlands and the
addition of impermeable surfaces such as roads, house pads, and
driveways. Domestic sewage is diverted to the City of Naples
Sanitary Treatment Plant, but stormwater empties directly into
the bay, carrying with it pollutants such as heavy metals and
oils from automobiles, and fertilizers and pesticides from lawns
(FDER, 1981).
II -299-
Point source stormwater discharge pipes empty into the bay at
many points along the entire shoreline, for the most part,
without prior treatment. In addition, the majority of single
family homes lining the eastern shoreline of the bay system have
lawns that slope downward toward the water, again allowing lawn
chemicals to directly enter the bay, either through seepage holes
in the seawalls or over the tops of the seawalls (FDER, 1989c).
Water quality is degraded by the condition of the bay bottom, and
by direct input of contaminated runoff. The dredged bottom
encourages the build-up of anoxic silt by removal of healthy
substrate from the euphotic zone. Benthic flora and fauna cannot
survive in the deeper, murkier waters. Stratification often
occurs, with a colder, denser, oxygen-poor layer of water
occurring closer to the bottom, making it even more uninhabitable
by fish and other aquatic organisms. Wind action is not
sufficient to mix the deeper waters created by dredging with
healthier, more oxygenated surface waters. In addition, lower
dissolved oxygen levels cause ammonia and hydrogen sulfide to be
released from the sediments to the overlying water. The release
of these noxious gases from sediments is increased when the
substrate is disturbed by heavy boat traffic or additional
dredging (FDER, 1981). Bulkheaded shorelines prevent the growth
of emergent shoreline vegetation, an important source of nutrient
uptake and as habitat for estuarine species.
Tidal circulation patterns studied in 1980 (Missimer and
Associates) indicated that there is only limited movement of
water perpendicular to the central channel. Tidal flushing to the
north of Harbour Drive is minimal. Canals are poorly flushed due
to the flow diffractions and eddies created by protruding
seawalls, and their dead-end configuration (FDER, 1981).
7.7.2 PAST AND CURRENT MAINTENANCE
Prior to 1958 Moorings Bay and Doctors Bay were shallow, open
water areas fringed by dense mangrove swamps and connected by
narrow tidal creeks. The system exchanged water with the Gulf of
Mexico directly through Doctors Pass and indirectly through Clam
Pass. At that time Doctors Pass was a small meandering natural
pass.
In 1958 Collier County constructed Seagate Drive, at which time
fill was deposited between Outer Clam Bay and Moorings Bay to
support the causeway. This action resulted in two dead-end bay
systems - Outer Clam Bay to the north, and Moorings Bay to the
south.
II -300-
The Moorings Development company of Canada made a request to the
Trustees for the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (TIITF) for the
state to relinquish title to its sovereign lands in this area.
In 1959, considerable alteration of Moorings Bay took place,
including the destruction of the mangrove fringe, dredging of the
shallow bays to an elevation of approximately -10 feet (NGVD),
and construction of vertical concrete seawalls along the
perimeter of the bay. Fill was dredged and deposited behind the
seawalls to create higher elevations for development.
During late 1959 and early 1960, Doctors Pass was straightened
and jetties were constructed. The jetties were designed by the
Coastal Engineering Laboratory at the University of Florida in
Gainesville. The jetties are composed of rock and are parallel
to each other about 200 feet apart. They are approximately 400
feet long with 75-foot wings at the seaward ends. A channel 60
feet wide and eight feet deep was to be dredged down the middle;
however, rock was encountered in the initial dredging which
restricted the depth to approximately -4 feet (MLW). The pass
was redredged in 1964 and again in 1968 when a dragline was used
to remove the large rocks. The depth of the channel after the
removal of rock was in excess of -6 feet (MLW).
No maintenance dredging was performed for several years.
Navigation became difficult during the 1970's as shoals formed in
the outer channel. Many sailboats and deep draft vessels were
limited to using the pass at high tide only. Groundings became
more frequent, until 1983 when Save the Bays Association, Inc.
was issued a permit to redredge the pass. Maintenance dredging
occurred again in 1987 and 1990 to approximately -8 feet (MLW).
7.7.3 SIGNIFICANCE TO RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT
7.7.3.1 Beaches and Other Recreational Facilities
Doctors Pass provides a major ingress and egress point to the
Gulf of Mexico for residents and visitors of the Moorings and
Park Shore subdivisions. It is bound to the north by the Park
Shore Coastal Barrier unit and to the south by the Naples
Headland Coastal Barrier unit (both are located within the limits
of the City of Naples) (Figure 7.7-1).
Beaches to the north and south of the pass front condominiums.
There are three City of Naples beach accesses and one County
access in the Park Shore Barrier unit, all of which are located
north of Doctors Pass. From south to north the accesses are: Via
II -301-
Miramar, Veda do Way, Horizon Way, and the County access at Park
Shore. City-owned accesses are each about 100' wide'; Via
Miramar and Vedado Way each contain 42 parking spaces, and
Horizon Way, recently acquired from the County, has a 40 space
parking lot.
The County-owned and maintained beach access is situated at the
northern end of Park Shore unit 5. The Park Shore access is a 20
foot by 650 foot parcel, covered with sandy beach and Australian
pine. An asphalt walkway meanders almost the entire length of
the site, and provides access for handicapped citizens. Part of
the walkway is an elevated boardwalk that protects the dunes and
natural vegetation of the beach area. The east end of the
parcel, along Gulfshore Blvd., is a 42 space parking lot.
The nearest beach access south (3700 ft.) of Doctors Pass, is
Lowdermilk Park. The Park was named after the former City
manager (1949 through 1961), Fred Lowdermilk, in appreciation of
his personally carrying out many aspects of City government. In
1948, Lowdermilk organized" The Naples Plan", which was
developed to raise funds for civic improvements such as the
dredging of Naples Bay, Gordon Pass and Doctors Pass. Lowdermilk
also set up a nursery where palm trees and flowering trees were
raised to plant on City streets and parks (including Lowdermilk).
Lowdermilk Park contains 212 parking places, a concession stand
and restroom/changing facilities.
7.7.3.2 PUblic Boat Ramps
There are no public
Shore developments.
anticipated for the
present development
Director, Parks and
boat ramp facilities in the Moorings or Park
No public boat ramp facilities are
Doctors Pass area in the future, due to
(Personal communication, Chris Holley,
Parkways, City of Naples).
7.7.3.3 Marinas
One marina services the Doctors Pass area. The Park Shore Marina
is located at the south end of Venetian Bay, in the Venetian Bay
Villages shopping center. The marina offers fuel, live and frozen
bait, rental tackle and rental boats. There are approximately
three boat slips (depending on boat size and rental boat status
there may be up to eight total slips) available for use by the
public for access to the Villages commercial development.
Residents inside Doctors Pass and the bay system are provided
with mooring facilities. There are approximately 343 private
residences with boat docks or other mooring facilities. Also,
nearly every condominium provides a slip with the unit. The
II -302-
boating population that utilizes Doctors Pass is very seasonal.
During the summer months the boating population using the Bay
systems and the pass is at a minimum, avera~ing 397 boats. The
peak winter boating population is approximately 1,003, and almost
all the boat slips in the bay system are in use. The average
size of boats during the season is over 16 feet in length (759
boats) (Myers, 1985).
No other marinas are planned for this area. All coastal areas
serviced by Doctors Pass are developed.
7.7.3.4 Development And Land Use
The Moorings and Park Shore subdivisions are supported by Doctors
pass and its Bay systems, including venetian Bay, Inner Doctors
Bay, outer Doctors Bay to the north of the Pass, and Moorings Bay
to the south of the pass. Until the late 1950's these were open
water habitats with dense mangrove fringes and narrow tidal
creeks. Development pressure on beaches and upland habitats
resulted in the dredging, filling, and subsequent establishment
of Moorings Bay and Park Shore subdivisions. These developments
include single and multifamily residences, including high rise
condominiums. The lagoon system has been almost completely
bulkheaded with concrete seawalls; major portions of the bay have
been severely altered by dredge and fill finger canal peninsular
developments.
Moorings Bay, which is situated behind the Park Shore coastal
barrier unit, has been altered and developed similar to
Vanderbilt Beach. Nearly all of the existing lagoonal shoreline
has been seawalled and filled with dredge material to provide
acceptable land for development of waterfront residential units.
other waterfront developments, such as Venetian Isle, are
constructed on fill material and bounded by shoreline protection
structures, with little elevation from sea level to the first
floor of the residential unit.
Intensive beach front development, inadequate construction
setbacks and accelerated erosion rates have resulted in
residential units that are in a precarious position from upper
Park Shore south to the earlier settled Naples Headland and
Gordon Pass area. High erosion rates have also required
extensive hardening of the shoreline to protect beachfront
property, resulting in a fortified concrete barrier seawall along
most of this beach management segment. Establishment of large
numbers of groins gave rise to "groin fields" which catch and
retain drifting sandi jetties were placed at tidal inlets to
stabilize fluctuating passes conflicting with natural processes.
II -303-
This stabilization is temporary, and continual loss of sand and
the steepening of the nearshore environment will increase erosion
rates.
Water-dependent facilities in this area consist of wet slip
storage located at private or club marinas; there are no pUblic
facilities. Because of the structured shoreline of the back
shore environment and limited access, the Park Shore coastline
provides poor recreation and low ecological value to the system.
Any remaining value will diminish with the accelerated receding
shoreline.
7.7.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
7.7.4.1 Maintenance Recommendations
Appropriate permits have been obtained for the continued
maintenance dredging of the pass and shoal areas in its vicinity.
The recommendations in this document are in agreement with those
of the State and Federal agencies involved in permitting these
activities.
7.7.4.2 Recommended Restoration Activities
The development practices of the past several decades in
environmentally sensitive areas, such as in Moorings Bay, have
caused major degradation of ecological systems. Residents and
local government share the responsibility for restoring these
degraded systems to the point where they are at least not a
threat or nuisance to public welfare. The 1981 study by the Water
Restoration and Preservation Section of the FDER includes a
complete and currently relevant recommendations section, which is
included in Appendix 7.
In brief summary, the recommendations of the FDER include the
following:
1. Conduct public awareness campaigns regarding the sources of
pollution. Workshops can be organized involving the City and
County Environmental Services Division and the residents of
Moorings Bay. An informed group of residents could have a
major impact on the future health of the Moorings Bay system.
Residents should be encouraged to avoid dumping lawn and
garden debris into the waterway, and instead, use the
material as mulch. Planting native vegetation would reduce
the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Planting native
shrubbery near the seawall and reducing the slope of the lawn
would reduce run-off of lawn chemicals into the bay.
II -304-
2. Decrease excess nutrients and other pollutants from entering
the bay. This can be accomplished by both resident
cooperation and enforcement and assistance by local
government.
3. Decrease the amount of stormwater entering the bay.
Diversion of stormwater runoff from roads and lawns before
discharge into natural waterbodies should be done in
accordance with SFWMD guidelines (F.A.C., Chapter 40). Some
practices include creating swales landward of shorelines to
divert fertilizer and pesticide run-off from lawns, creating
open swales along roadsides, and diversion of run-off into
retention or detention ponds for biological treatment before
discharge.
4. Return the depth of the bay system to a more natural level.
This activity would bring the substrate closer to the
euphotic zone, where algae and possibly seagrasses may take
hold. The placement of proper spoil material such as clean
sand or rubble would aid in the recovery of benthic habitat.
This practice may be particularly useful in the far reaches
of the bay system and at the far ends of dead-end canals,
where flushing is the poorest.
5. Maintain existing depths at Doctors Pass and at bridge
underpasses by periodic maintenance dredging.
other alternatives were considered but not recommended in the
FDER study. However, the County Natural Resources Department
further recommends riprapping vertical seawalls and planting
native shoreline vegetation. These activities serve to dissipate
wave energy from boat wakes and currents, increase surface area
and habitat space for various benthic organisms, and help to
improve water quality. Riprap and vegetation waterward of
existing seawalls also increases the life of the existing
seawall. These practices are recommended by the FDER, according
to 403.918(5), F.S.
II -305-
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Figure 7.7-1: Doctors Pass Location Map (from NOAA, 1990).
II -306-
1927 - 1952
,
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1962 - 1973
,
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DOCTORS PASS
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CD Submerged delta; approx. -3 It MSL
o Submerged delta; approx. -6 It MSL
. Erosion
~ Accretion
Figure 7.7-2: Doctors Pass: 1927 to 1981, Accretion and Erosion
Patterns (from Harvey et al., 1984 - Part 2).
II -307-
,. ~
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Figure 7.7-3:
Configuration of Doctors Bay: Pre- and Post-
development (cross-hatched areas indicate
pre-development conditions) (from FDER, 1981).
II -308-
7.8 GORDON PASS
7.8.1 SIGNIFICANCE TO NATURAL SYSTEMS
7.8.1.1 Introduction
Gordon Pass is a major inlet for Collier County, with regard to
size and use. It is located completely within, and at the
southwestern tip of the incorporated area of the City of Naples
(Figure 7.8-1). The pass is bound by the Naples Headland beach
segment to the north, and Keewaydin Island to the south (see
Sections 3.4 and 3.5). Its back bay system includes the Naples
Bay and Dollar Bay estuaries.
7.8.1.2 Biophvsical Features
The pass is presently approximately 500' wide, having increased
in size from 140' width in the 1940's (Figure 7.8-2).
Historically, the throat of Gordon Pass has shifted several
hundred feet to the south between 1927 and 1952. The construction
of a 1,400' jetty on the south side of the pass, channel dredging
activities in the 1950's, and pass alignment stabilization,
caused erosion and widening of the pass. Two small groins were
installed to the south of the south jetty. Four groins were
subsequently constructed on the beach north of the pass entrance
in an attempt to minimize erosion. six more groins were installed
along this beach between 1960 and 1980. These groins were low
profile, but the ones located close to the pass entrance act
similarly to a north jetty; some accretion occurred just to the
north of the pass due to the groins' effects on littoral drift.
The ebb tidal delta migrated further offshore and separated from
the longshore sandbar, which had previously connected it with the
north beach. Troughs formed along the seaward ends of the groins,
acting as conduits for littoral drift to the ebb tidal delta or
to the shoals within the pass. The property owners in this area
may have future plans to raise the profile of the groins, making
them less permeable and increasing the jetty effect (FDNR,
1988a) .
Other man-induced changes to pass configuration include the
effects of the extensive dredging in Naples Bay and the added
discharge of the Golden Gate canal system. These activities
caused an increase in the tidal prism, resulting in a natural
tendency for the pass to reach a new state of equilibrium by
increasing in size.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintenance dredging
practices for the maintenance of adequate navigational depths
also contribute to a tendency for the pass to widen. Since 1968,
II -309-
approximately 545,200 cubic yards of sand has been dredged from
the pass and entrance channel (FDNR, 1988a). Permits for
maintenance dredging were granted in 1979 to the City of Naples
to dredge the pass to -14' MLW (DER Permit 11-19518), with
appropriate beach quality spoil to be placed on the south beach
for renourishment. The original application called for more
extensive dredging, further into Naples Bay. However, the DER,
the Collier County Conservancy, and several other groups objected
to the proposed project on environmental grounds. In addition, a
DER site investigation revealed many species of mollusks in the
pass area (Table 7.8-1).
The northern 1000' of Keewaydin Island has been shown to have
moved seaward since 1885. This movement was stabilized initially
by construction of the south jetty. However, the beach later
eroded 380' between 1962 and 1973, as a result of the
disequilibrium created by artificial beach nourishment in 1960.
From that point to 1981, an additional 385' of beach eroded. This
erosion rate far exceeds normal erosion patterns on the Gulf
coast of Florida. In a letter to the Bureau of Coastal
Engineering and Regulation in 1982, Dr. Mark Benedict, Collier
County Environmentalist, stated that it was his opinion that,
"it was wave reflection and turbulence, as a result of
the jetty, that caused the dispersal of the beneficial
ebb tidal sandbar on the south side of the pass.
Destruction of the sandbar, in turn, caused increased
erosion on north Keewaydin Island."
Records show that beach erosion has occurred to a point landward
of the prenourishment alignment, as indicated by falling
Australian pines (FDNR, 1988a). The DER characterized the area as
a high energy beach where several Australian pines have been
undermined by wave action (Collins, 1979).
A two mile stretch of beach immediately south of the drift divide
(the area where localized reversals in the direction of sand
transport occurs) has undergone continual erosion since 1885.
Numerous tidal passes have opened and closed along this segment.
The most recent pass change in this area, at John's Pass, closed
by overwash and infilling of the throat during the 1930's. This
segment could again become a tidal pass site in the near future
if erosion continues at the present rate. Future predictions for
the Keewaydin Coastal Barrier Unit indicate that the trend of
erosion present along the north portion of the island will
probably spread southward in the near future. In addition, storm
breeching along the north, as well as the south central, portions
of the island is probable, with concomitant drastic fluctuations
in shorelines of adjacent beaches.
II -310-
7.8.1.3 Drainaqe Basin Characteristics
Drainaqe basins north of the pass:
Naples Bay
Gordon Pass drains the Naples Bay system to the north. Naples Bay
is bound by the U.S. 41 bridge to the north, where it connects to
the Gordon River, and Gordon Pass and Dollar Bay to the south.
The bay is classified by the state of Florida as Class II Waters,
not approved for shellfish harvesting. Historic shorelines of
Naples Bay and the Gordon River were dominated by mature mangrove
forests, while submerged seagrass beds and oyster bars were the
dominant benthic communities (Simpson, 1979). In the early
1960's, heavy development pressure in this area began, with
concurrent degradation of the natural systems. Dredging of the
Naples Bay Navigational Channel was initiated in 1963.
Extensive dredge and fill operations were undertaken to create a
greater amount of waterfront property out of open water and
wetland areas. within the City of Naples, surface water and storm
run-off discharges directly into Naples Bay. It has been shown
that stormwater coliform bacteria densities may be up to 3,600
times greater than mean densities found in nearby receiving
waters (the Conservancy, Inc., 1983). The number of septic tanks
and package sewer systems that are coming on-line to the city
sewer system is increasing; however, for several decades,
substantial amounts of raw sewage and partially treated effluent
had found their way into the waters of Naples Bay (Naples Area
Chamber of Commerce, 1988). Water samples taken in the vicinity
of the Naples sewage treatment plant on the Gordon River
indicated greater concentrations of pathogenic bacteria such as
Pseudomonas aeruainosa, salmonella, and Vibrio cholerae than in
surrounding waters (The Conservancy, Inc., 1983). As a result of
these development practices, Naples Bay has been subject to much
of the same degradation of water quality as that described for
the Doctors Bay (section 7.7.1) and Vanderbilt Bay (Section
7.5.1) systems. Improved sewage treatment methods have
contributed to reducing levels of bacterial contamination into
the bay in recent years. Water samples taken at Marker 24, just
south of Haldeman Creek, contained less than 3 to 75 MPN (most
probable number per 100 ml water) of fecal coliform bacteria,
with a mean of 15 MPN. Median levels for fecal coliform bacteria
must not exceed 14 MPN to meet standards for Class II Waters,
according to Florida Administrative Code Rule 17.3. Fecal
streptococci levels were found to be less than 3 to 280 MPN, with
a mean of 55 MPN. Fecal streptococci are indicator organisms for
sewage pollution, but there are currently no standard limits on
II -311-
this parameter. Six observations were taken over a three month
period, and monitoring is ongoing (Collier County Pollution
Control Department, unpublished data, 1990).
Both east and west shorelines of Naples Bay have been extensively
developed in the 1950's and 1960's. Artificial residential canal
systems in Naples Bay were created by extensive dredge and fill
operations, and include those of the Port Royal, Aqualane Shores,
Royal Harbor, Oyster Bay, and Golden Shores subdivisions. The .
canals exhibit excessive trough depths, where additional fill was
needed for adjacent upland development. Furthermore, the canal
systems typically have greater. depths closer to their dead-ends,
and shallower depths at their mouths, or entrances to the main
waterbody. These situations decrease flushing efficiency,
aggravate the severity of salinity stratification, and contribute
to severe oxygen stress in benthic organisms. The 1979 Naples Bay
Study (Simpson et al., 1979) found a significant decline in
benthic faunal concentrations and diversity in the canals, and
found that the main cause of the stressed conditions was the
unnatural depths of the excessively dredged canals. Table 7.8-2
lists aquatic species found in the bay (Simpson, 1979). One area
of the canal system that was found to support a moderate amount
of benthic organisms is the berm area. This area is found along
the landward margins of the canals, where sedimentation is
greatest and depths are shallowest.
"The berms are a small biologically productive area in a
predominantly stressed benthic habitat. In perspective, the berms
represent a small proportion of the total bottom area and are
overshadowed by the troughs which dominate the canal habitat. The
increased animal density and diversity observed on the berms
indicate that the benthic animal carrying capacity of the canals
would be improved if the excessive trough depths were corrected."
(Simpson et al., 1979).
Despite the fact that shallower depths would improve water
quality, the City of Naples applied for and received a permit
from the DER (1989d) to maintenance dredge the Royal Harbor and
Oyster Bay canal systems in 1989 (DER Permit No. 11567389). The
permit allows for the hydraulic dredging to a depth of -6.4'
NGVD, of up to 42,700 cubic yards of material from the canals.
These depths are not excessive, however, and many specific
conditions were placed on the work to insure that State water
quality standards would not be violated during dredging.
Only one area of approximately 180 acres, located at the
southeast shoreline of the bay, is a mangrove forest preserve
within the windstar PUD. Three spoil islands, infested
II -312-
predominantly with Australian pines and Brazilian pepper, existed
within the preserve area. These spoil mounds, totaling 15.4 acres
in area, had been created during the dredging of the Naples Bay
Channel. In 1982, as part of a mitigation plan to offset negative
impacts created by the filling of approximately 5.5 acres of
wetlands, the exotic vegetation was removed, and the islands were
scraped down to surrounding wetland grade and replanted with red
mangrove seedlings. In 1989, an extensive study was done to
determine if the mitigation project was successful (Proffitt and
Devlin, 1990). It was found that due to the uneven contours
created during the scrape-down, some areas became submerged
mudflats, while other areas had elevations too great to support
red mangroves. The high elevation areas have become salterns,
where sparse vegetation exists. The mudflats support widgeon
grass (Ruppia maritima), the green alga, Acetabularia sp.,
fiddler crabs, oysters (Crassostrea virainica), several species
of fish, gastropods, arid polychaetes. Raccoons, egrets, herons,
ospreys, and one bald eagle have also been observed using the
area. Approximately one-third of the mitigation area supports
healthy red, white, and black mangroves. The white and black
mangroves have colonized the site naturally. Minimal
re-infestation by exotic vegetation has occurred. The planted and
volunteer mangroves support a variety of species of arboreal
arthropods, as well as the mollusks Littorina anaulifera and
Melampus coffeus. Although the original intent of the project, to
return the spoil sites to a red mangrove forest, may not have
been realized, the mitigation obviously returned the spoil mounds
to a more natural condition and created habitat for several
important native species. In the sense that the existing
conditions are far superior to the previous situation, the
mitigation project should be considered successful to a degree.
However, the question remains as to whether the benefit of this
mitigation sUfficiently offsets the negative environmental impact
caused by the destruction of over 5 acres of mature black
mangrove forest. Continuing studies are being done to determine
overall success of this project.
The Windstar Marina, located to the south of the mitigation sites
described above, was constructed in 1987. Death of the fringing
mangroves occurred immediately following construction of the
marina. A DER report speculates that the mangrove mortality was
caused by;
"alteration of salinity regime; alteration of hydrologic
regime; impoundment during construction; metal salts/cationic
(CAT) clay formation during construction, or some other
unknown cause." (Fry et al., 1987).
II -313-
Despite development pressure and degradation of natural systems
within the bay, it was found to be a relatively healthy system
and an area of high benthic abundance and diversity. The lower
reaches of the bay are not subject to the widely fluctuating
salinity levels found in the Gordon River system, except during
the rainy season. During this time, it had been observed that the
excess runoff from the Golden Gate Canal had an adverse effect on
the midwater and fish plankton populations in Naples Bay, which
subsequently resulted in lower abundance of midwater fish
(Simpson et al., 1979).
The DER denied approval in response to a permit application by
the city of Naples in 1979 to do maintenance dredging in the
lower bay. They found a highly diverse and productive benthic
community inside of the pass, and concluded that further dredging
would adversely affect this system;
"The proposed construction will eliminate about 240,000
sq. ft. of highly productive benthic habitat. In turn
this will adversely interfere with the ability of a
Class II waterbody to support fish and marine organism
propagation and population." (Collins, 1979).
The Collier County Conservancy stated that the lower bay
closest to the inlet is;
"...the most biologically productive in the entire
system with the exception of Dollar Bay which is
immediately adjacent to the proposed dredge area...Heavy
pumping of this bottom will almost certainly bury or
remove this animal population to the detriment of
biological conditions in the entire system. Furthermore,
the remaining sediments may be disturbed such that
recolonization by new benthic organisms may be delayed
or prevented for an indeterminate time. The Gordon River
system, including the freshwater runoff from the Golden
Gate Canal, stresses this entire area, and to dredge the
most stable, productive area would be most destructive."
(Simpson, 1979).
The natural waterways emptying into Naples Bay have been altered
by dredging and filling activities, and include, from north to
south, the Gordon River, Rock Creek, and Haldeman Creek. Recent
water quality testing indicates that fecal coliform bacteria and
nutrient levels are high at all test sites in these waterbodies,
due to the influence of stormwater runoff and seepage of sewage
effluent (Walton et al., 1990). Testing done by the Conservancy,
Inc., in 1983 indicated that pathogenic bacterial concentrations
II -314-
are highest in the tributaries of Naples Bay, due to their
recepton of untreated stormwater runoff, effluent from treatment
plants, and septic tank leachate.
Gordon River
The Gordon River has been reduced to a system of drainage ditches
north of Golden Gate Parkway. South of the Parkway, the river
flows through relatively undisturbed mangrove wetlands. From the
mouth of the Golden Gate Canal, just north of the airport to the
U.S. 41 bridges, the west bank is generally developed and the
east bank is generally undisturbed, except for the two canals of
the Avion Park subdivision and one dry storage enters Naples Bay
in the vicinity of the intersection of Tamiami Trail and
Goodlette Road. The 1979 Naples Bay Study rated the Gordon River
as the poorest of all Naples Bay tributaries, with regard to the
average catch of animals and in the average occurrences of
recurrent benthic groups. These low values reflect stressed
hydrographic conditions. The study stated that;
"the excessive Golden Gate discharges effectively
eliminated the Gordon River as a contributing benthic
community in the Naples Bay system for five months
during the year...In summary, the effect of the heavy
Golden Gate discharges eliminated or displaced all or a
large part of the benthic, midwater and fish plankton
communities from the Gordon River for up to 40% of the
year. In this instance, the freshwater coming from the
Golden Gate Canal is of itself a pollutant in the
estuarine systems and is a severe biological impairment
for a major area in the Naples Bay system." (Simpson et
al., 1979).
Rock Creek
Rock Creek is located south of the Naples Airport, emptying into
the Gordon River from the east. Salinity varies from freshwater
levels to 65% seawater (24 parts per thousand). The creek drains
the airport, a trailer park, a small residential development, and
part of Airport-Pulling Road. Several small residential canals
have been dug from adjacent uplands on the south side of the
creek, and much of this area has vertical seawalls. The north
side of the creek, to the airport grounds, is primarily
undeveloped and vegetated by red and black mangroves, Brazilian
pepper, and oak trees. Benthic sampling of the water indicates a
stressed biological community with low diversity, with a major
source of stress caused by rapid changes in salinity due to
stormwater runoff (Walton et al., 1990).
II -315-
Haldeman Creek
Haldeman Creek flows from the Lakewood area in the east, where it
has been extensively altered by dredging and filling operations
to form single family residential canals. The natural
configuration of the creek and approximately 180 acres of
surrounding wetlands adjacent to the east shore of Naples Bay
have been preserved as part of the Windstar PUD's mitigation
plan.
Drainaae basins south of the pass:
Dollar Bay
Inside of Gordon Pass, to the south, is a relatively pristine
waterbody known as Dollar Bay. The waters of the bay are
classified by the state of Florida as Class II Waters (not
approved for shellfish harvesting) and partially within
outstanding Florida Waters boundaries. It forms the back bay area
between Keewaydin Island and South Naples, and runs southward to
Rookery Bay and Hurricane Pass. A marked navigational channel
runs the entire length of the bay, from Gordon Pass to Hurricane
Pass. The bay was recently designated a boater recreation area by
the county, with an allowable maximum boat speed of 30 mph. This
resolution was adopted by the Governor and Cabinet in Florida
Administrative Code Rule 16N-22.023. The bay is surrounded
primarily by extensive, presently undeveloped mangrove wetlands.
These mangrove forests aid in shoreline stability and contribute
substantially to the system's food web (Simpson et al., 1979).
In a DER report, it was noted that;
"Naples Bay...has been severely impacted previously by
wetland losses, canal development, untreated stormwater
discharges, intense marina development, and discharges
from the City of Naples Sewage Treatment Plant. In
contrast, Dollar Bay and Rookery Bay...are nearly
pristine in character. These waters are fringed with
healthy wetlands and documented to have highly
productive marine resources." (Fry et al., 1987)
Dollar Bay is isolated from the Naples Bay system by tidal flow
patterns; on the ebb tide, water from both bays flows out through
the pass, with little intermixing. For this reason, Dollar Bay is
protected from the drastic salinity and dissolved oxygen
fluctuations, excessive nutrient levels, and sewage pollution
that affects Naples Bay. A major characteristic of Dollar Bay is
its shallow depths. This condition allows sunlight to penetrate
II -316-
to the benthic communities, aiding in plant growth, and high
dissolved oxygen levels, and also promotes adequate flushing. One
important characteristic of the bay's benthic topography is the
gradually decreasing depths found closer to shore. This
configuration aids in flushing efficiency, whereas benthic
configurations in many man-made canal systems, namely the
presence of deep troughs and increasing depths closer to the
canal dead-ends, restrict flushing. The 1979 Naples Bay study
noted that Dollar Bay exhibits much more diverse and productive
benthic communities than any of those areas studied in the Naples
Bay system (Simpson et al., 1979). In the northern reaches of
Dollar Bay, there exist several seagrass bed areas, primarily
vegetated with CUban shoal grass (Halodule wriqhtii). The
grassbeds support an abundant and diverse faunal population of
mollusks, polychaetes, crustaceans, and fish (Fry et al. 1987).
The approximately 2,000 acre parcel of land adjacent to the
northeastern shoreline of Dollar Bay is the site of the
controversial Collier DRI, and includes the proposed Sabal Bay
Marina. The proposed development encompasses all of sections 24
and 25, and portions of sections 19, 36, 23, and 26. Its northern
boundary is within the southern limits of the city of Naples, and
its southern boundary abuts the Rookery Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve. This large expanse of land is presently
undeveloped and includes the following vegetative habitats:
Habitat tvpe:
pine flatwoods
Mangrove forest
cypress forest
Wetland prairie
xeric scrub
Freshwater lakes
Marine estuary
Mixed cypress, red maple, and pine forest
Cabbage palm hammock
Live oak hammock
Area:
922 acres
278 acres
227 acres
193 acres
142 acres
38 acres
35 acres
13 acres
10 acres
2 acres
The remainder of the property includes man-altered habitat,
including agricultural (75 acres), spoil islands invaded with
exotic vegetation (58 acres), canals (7 acres), and a powerline
corridor (6 acres) (Barnett, 1985). At least 14 species of flora
and 21 species of fauna are listed as endangered, threatened, or
species of special concern on the property, including at least
one active bald eagle nest (Fry et al., 1987). Protected wildlife
species occurring on or near the property are listed in Table
7.8-3.
II -317-
-r----
The proposed project would entail the alteration of approximately
110 acres of estuarine and freshwater wetlands via dredging and
filling operations (Ravan, 1987). Extensive development of upland
property would also take place, including dredging of uplands for
the alteration of the Lely Canal and for the construction of a
600 wet slip marina. other proposed development includes 4,000
residential units, several golf courses, two hotels, a conference
center, and several commercial and office areas. Proposed
excavation for the marina basin and channel would destroy 18.36
acres of well established marine and brackish water wetlands,
including mature mangrove forest, saltern, open water tidal
channel, and brackish water marsh communities (Fry et al., 1987).
Negative impacts of the project to environmental resources is
expected to be great.
"In excess of 77 acres of viable wetlands will be
directly eliminated or adversely affected by the
proposed construction. Water quality degradation is
expected as a result of the increased pollutant load
generated by a project of this nature and as a result of
the removal of native wetland vegetation which normally
serves in soil stabilization, in the production of
dissolved oxygen, and in the filtration and assimilation
of nutrients. Habitat degradation will occur directly
from loss of wetland acreage as well as indirectly from
loss of detrital production and from the alteration of
hydrologic and salinity regimes. In addition, adverse
impacts are expected to Rookery Bay, an Outstanding
Florida Water, and to sixteen species of animals and
fourteen species of plants which are known to occupy
wetlands of this nature and which are recognized as
endangered, threatened, or as species of special
concern." (M. Latch, 1987).
At present, the proposed project is still in litigation with
various environmental and government organizations.
Keewaydin Island is the barrier island located just south of
Gordon Pass, to the west of Dollar Bay. It has approximately
42,000' of shoreline, extending southward along the western
shores of Dollar and Rookery Bays, to Little Marco Pass. The
northern approximately 24,347' of shoreline of the island belongs
to Key Island, Inc., a group that is planning the Keewaydin Club
PD. Habitat types include pine flatwoods, coastal scrub and
palmetto, cabbage palm hammock, coastal dune, and wetlands.
Extensive areas have been infested with exotic vegetation,
primarily Australian pine and Brazilian pepper, especially along
the coastal strand.
II -318-
The PD encompasses 430 acres in the city. In addition, the
Keewaydin Club Colony J.V. has 2,270 acres in Collier County.
The approved PD is for 42 single family residences on
approximately 110 acres of upland. The remaining 320 acres is
zoned Conservation vital and is either the beach strand, seaward
of the CCSL (48 acres) or a preserve area consisting of 17 acres
of scrub and 225 acres of wetlands. Once all permits are
obtained, the 2,270 acres wil be voluntarily annexed into the
City and placed in a conservation and recreation easement, with
limited usage for boardwalks, nature trails, passive recreation,
and small boat and canoe launching facilities.
Protected fauna occurring on the property include the Atlantic
loggerhead turtle, which uses the beach for nesting activities,
gopher tortoise, Eastern indigo snake, osprey, and a variety of
wetland wading birds. Protected plant species occurring on the
property include the golden leather fern, common leather fern,
orchids, and bromeliads. A protection plan is incorporated into
the PD, addressing the protection of these species. An exotic
vegetation removal program, with concurrent replanting of native
dune vegetation, is also proposed. Other concessions addressing
environmental concerns include a commitment to using xeriscape
landscaping to reduce the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and
watering; limiting native vegetation removal and vehicular
traffic; and the implementation of a stormwater retention system
(Remington, 1988).
Lely Drainage Canal
The Lely Canal drains the Lely Canal basin, and meanders through
mangrove wetlands between Dollar and Rookery Bays. The canal has
caused overdrainage of adjacent cypress sloughs, resulting in
severe fires, a decrease in vegetative canopy, and heavy
infestation by exotic vegetation, notably downy rosemyrtle,
Brazilian pepper, meleleuca, and Australian pine (Wilson et al.,
1985b). The canal bisects the Collier DRI property and drains
5,200 acres of watershed upstream of the property and 1,550 acres
of land within the property boundaries. The intensive development
that has occurred within the Lely Canal basin has caused the size
of the basin to expand from historic conditions, resulting in
rapid outfalls of untreated stormwater discharging into Rookery
and Dollar Bays (Fry et al., 1987).
According to the South Florida Water Management District study of
District No.6, (Wilson et al., 1985) environmental impacts of
the channelizing of runoff from these canal systems into
estuaries include:
II -319-
- erratic salinity levels in the estuary caused by sudden
influxes of stormwater.
- deposition of silt, pollutants, and other debris into the
estuary.
- decreased water quality due to the lack of control
structures in the primary systems.
- overdrainage due to the uncontrolled release of water
during the dry season.
- migration of saline or brackish water into upland canals,
affecting the fresh water biological systems.
- unnecessary loss of fresh groundwater resources, and
intrusion or contamination by saline water.
7.8.2 PAST AND CURRENT MAINTENANCE
Gordon Pass is the primary access point to the Gulf of Mexico for
the Naples Bay system. Historically the pass was used as a haven
for boats plying the waters of southwestern Florida. The pass
was named for Roger Gordon who established a fishing camp there
in 1874 (Naples Daily News, July 25, 1973).
Prior to 1957 Gordon Pass was a natural inlet subjected to
natural forces. Gordon Pass was shallow, with a constantly
shifting channel (Tebeau, 1966). The pass shifted several
hundred feet to the south between 1927 and 1952 (FDNR, 1988a).
The width of the Gordon Pass inlet in 1940 was 140'. By 1970 the
width was 400', and by 1980, 500' (Hine and Jones, 1986).
Gordon Pass was dredged for the first time in 1946, only to have
the hurricane of that year fill it back up with sand (Tebeau,
1966). In 1957 the pass was dredged again and a 1,400' stone
jetty was constructed to help protect and stabilize the new
channel.
Previous to the stabilization of Gordon Pass the main approach to
Naples Bay was by way of the Inside Passage to Marco Island.
During the early 1930's the Crayton Group made the first
improvements to the Inside Passage by digging away the oyster
beds. In 1935 a dredging project was undertaken over the same
route to deepen the channel over the oyster bars and shallow
places (Tebeau, 1966).
In recent times Naples Bay and Gordon Pass have played a
significant role in the development of Naples. In the early
1950's, several dredge and fill building projects were initiated
to meet the growing demand for waterfront housing. Many finger
canals were dug and the fill was deposited behind vertical cement
seawalls creating the Aqualane Shores subdivision on the
northwest side of Naples Bay and the Royal Harbor subdivision on
the northeast.
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Hurricane Donna devastated the county in 1960 causing severe
damage to the coastal areas. Following this natural disaster,
the Naples area experienced a tremendous increase in growth. The
Collier County seat of government was moved from Everglades City
to its present location in east Naples. The demand for
waterfront housing continued to escalate, and the Port Royal
subdivision was carved out of a vast mangrove forest and wetland
area on the southwest shore of Naples Bay. At this same time the
mammoth Golden Gate drainage system, comprised of 183 miles of
canals in the central portion of the county, was connected to the
Gordon River which empties directly into Naples Bay. The
combination of the additional runoff and all the dredge and fill
activity deposited a tremendous amount of sediment into Naples
Bay.
The Naples Bay Navigational Channel was dredged, and marked, from
Gordon Pass to the head of the bay in 1963. A heavy limestone
base was encountered which limited the channel depth to about -8'
MLW. This effectively blocked Naples Bay from ever becoming a
commercial port, limiting access to shallow draft vessels, such
as pleasure craft, small fishing vessels, and sightseeing boats.
Maintenance dredging in the pass occurred again in 1968 and 1970.
In 1979 the City of Naples applied for a permit to increase the
dredged depth of the entrance channel and the lower reaches of
Naples Bay from -8' MLW to -14' MLW. Due to objections raised by
the Collier County Conservancy and other environmental groups,
this dredging was confined to the pass and entrance channel.
subsequent dredging was performed in 1986 and again in 1988.
Between 1968 and 1986 approximately 545,200 cubic yards of sand
was dredged from Gordon Pass (FDNR, 1988a). Based on these
figures, about 30,000 cubic yards of sand can be expected to be
trapped in the pass each year. This sand accumulation will
necessitate dredging every five years.
Maintenance dredging is also necessary in many of the finger
canals. According to the Naples Bay study (1979), "Not a single
canal in Naples Bay was built even close to nature's
requirements. As a result the Bay and canal systems are
gradually silting up, and dredging will be required in the
future, or navigation in certain canals will be blocked."
Maintenance was performed in Royal Harbor and Oyster Bay in 1989.
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,. ~'_.'----I-'-'
7.8.3 SIGNIFICANCE TO RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT
7.8.3.1 Beaches and Other Recreational Facilities
Gordon Pass is one of the most active passes on the southwestern
coast of Florida. It offers the major ingress and egress to the
Gulf of Mexico for residents and tourists of the City of Naples
and Collier County. Gordon Pass is bound to the north by the
"Headland" beach of the City of Naples and to the south by
Keewaydin Island (Key Island) (Figure 7.8-1).
Gordon Pass was named after Roger Gordon who had established a
fishing camp at the pass in 1874 (Tebeau, 1966). Since this time
Gordon Pass has served as a landmark for local boaters and
visitors, and as a rendezvous point for fishing trips and boating
excursions to south Key Island and the Ten Thousand Islands.
Gordon Pass itself has always been a favorite fishing spot in
Naples. The jetties provide a habitat and feeding area for many
species of commercial and sport fish.
On the northern headland beaches (see Section 3.0: Coastal
Barrier Unit #4. Naples Headland) recreational opportunities are
supported by 37 beach accesses, running north from 32nd Avenue
South to 7th Avenue North. Each beach access contains street-end
parking for residents (one-third of available parking) and
metered parking for those without a City of Naples "Beach
Sticker". The accesses are maintained by the City of Naples,
which furnishes garbage cans and public telephones. The City has
built dune walkovers, wheelchair accesses and overlooks, and
provided for dune revegetation and maintenance programs. City of
Naples surveys indicate that the weekday and weekend uses of the
beach accesses are in excess of 100% parking capacity. Overflow
parking consists of parking in the right-of-way to the east of
Gulfshore Blvd. as far as two and three blocks away. According
to the City Growth Management Plan, the increase in the use of
the beaches will require a controlled management plan to regulate
use, and give priority beach use to, City residents.
The City of Naples Municipal fishing pier is contained within the
Naples Headland barrier unit. The pier is located on the western
end of 12th Avenue South (the City Municipal Dock is on the
eastern end of the same street). The 1,000' pier is a major
landmark and recreational area in Naples. The original pier was
constructed in 1888, as a freight and passenger dock, and as a
fishing pier. In 1912, the pier was 100' longer, ending in a "V"
to accommodate a tram on iron rails, which carried passengers and
cargo to the Naples Hotel. It was in this location that cluster
housing was constructed, and Naples soon became a seasonal or
II -322-
yearly residence for many visitors of the hotel. The pier was
partially destroyed several.times by hurricanes and tropical
storms (1910, 1960 and 1982) and by fire in 1922 (City of Naples,
1989; Tebeau, 1966). Today the Naples pier is utilized as a
fishing and strolling area as well as a sunset look-out over the
Gulf of Mexico. Facilities provided at the pier include a
concession stand, restrooms, showers, fish cleaning tables, and a
bait and tackle house, which rents equipment and sells fresh and
frozen bait.
The barrier beaches to the south of Gordon Pass (see section 3.0:
Coastal Barrier unit #5: Keewaydin Island), are under private
ownership (see section 10.5.3.4). Access to this area is
exclusively by boat. A 4,000' section is legally available to
the public to provide beach access. This area is located 500'
south of the south Gordon Pass jetty. The adjacent three miles
of beaches, and submerged lands south of this point are in
private ownership, and public access is denied.
7.8.3.2 PUblic Boat Ramps
At present there are two County-owned public boat ramps and four
city-owned public boat ramps, which provide access to the Gulf of
Mexico via Gordon Pass. The County ramps are located at Bayview
Park and the city ramps at the Landings ("Naples Boat Ramp")
(Figure 7.8-3).
The Bayview Park boat ramps are located approximately one mile
east of Gordon Pass, on the east side of Naples Bay (terminal end
of Danford Ave.). The three acre park was conveyed to the county
by the City of Naples in 1978 and an additional one-half acre was
purchased from private land owners in 1981 by the County.
Because of its proximity to the pass and its aesthetic appeal,
the ramp and park facilities have become popular with residents
and visitors in Collier County. The park contains a large lighted
pavilion equipped with a double barbecue pit, restroom facilities
and a water fountain. Eleven individual picnic areas with tables
in chickee type shelters and barbecue grills are scattered
throughout the park. There are also six benches along the
perimeter walkway which encircles the Naples Bay side of the
park. A fenced-in playground (tot lot) for children provides
another asset to Bayview Park. The following deed restrictions
set forth by the City of Naples add to the appeal of Bayview Park
(Collier County O.R. Bk 949 Pg, 146 and Bk. 1015, Pg. 749):
II -323-
1. The land shall be used for pUblic park purposes only.
2. The park shall operate only during daylight hours.
3. No structure shall be erected on the property to a height of
greater that 30'.
4. No parking of vehicles shall be authorized within 50' of the
bay.
5. Vegetative screening shall be placed and maintained along the
entrance street and cul-de-sac in such a manner as to impede
the escape of light and noise.
6. No structure shall be constructed from the park into the bay
exceeding 10' in length, unless it is mutually agreed upon by
the Naples City Council and the Collier County Commission.
Bayview Park provides 49 parking spaces (16 car/trailer and 33
car) for boaters and visitors. Because of the popularity of the
area, there is a great need for ancillary parking facilities,
especially for boat trailers. On weekends the ramp parking is
filled to capacity, as well as the main road leading to the park
(Danford Ave.). There is no land presently owned by the County
to accommodate an expansion. Furthermore, the land adjacent to
the park is mangroves and not suitable or allowable for such
uses. Alternative parking outside the park should be considered
for future acquisition. Channel markers leading to and from the
ramp area are also in need of repair or replacement.
The Landings ("Naples") boat ramps are located approximately
three miles north of Gordon Pass, on the west side of Naples Bay
(at the east end of Broad Avenue South). The two and one-half
acre park site and boat ramp services a large population of
boaters from the City of Naples. The bayfront park contains
three small pavilions and restroom facilities. There are three
boat ramps, each with a loading dock. Additional docking areas
are located along the park. The "Old" Landings boat ramp is
located directly adjacent to the "New" Landings, containing one
boat ramp. There are 37 combination car-trailer parking spaces
and 11 car parking spaces available at the ramps.
The City of Naples is considering providing an additional boat
ramp at Charles Anthony Park, on the Gordon River. This facility
contains a children's playground, two racquetball courts, a
softball field, basketball court and restrooms. The facility is
located on the Gordon River, approximately five miles north of
Gordon Pass. Low bridges would severely restrict boat sizes,
should the ramps be constructed.
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According to the Collier Countv Boat Landina studY (Reynolds,
smith and Hill, 1988), there are three ramps currently in demand
in the Gordon Pass area (leaving a one ramp deficit), and an
additional two ramps will be required by 1996. The study does
not indicate or give reference to the four boat ramps in the City
of Naples, at the Landings. Therefore, at present there seems to
be sufficient ramps (although a grave deficit in parking seems
apparent) to support the local population for the next eight
years (Reynolds, smith and Hill, 1988). In addition to the
public ramps, there are also three boat ramps located at private
marinas that can be used by the public for a small fee.
7.8.3.3 Marinas
Naples Bay, Dollar Bay and the Gordon River provide water
oriented recreation and commercial opportunities to local
residents and tourists. These areas are not officially part of
the Intracoastal Waterway, although termed as such. They are
actually part of a local inland waterway, providing a protected
passage from Naples to Marco Island.
Gordon Pass serves as the the southern entrance to Naples Bay and
the northern entrance to Dollar Bay. The Naples channel is
marked from the Gordon River, (at U.s. 41 bridge) south to Marco
Island. There is increasing concern with the growing boat
traffic in this area. The number of boaters as determined by
local boat registrations has escalated 99.6% from 1978 to 1988.
The City of Naples Boat Traffic study (1989), determined the
present level of service (LOS) for Naples Bay and Dollar Bay;
both bays were placed in LOS category "C". Category "C" is
determined to be the range of stable flow, but marks the
beginning of the range of flow in which the operation of
individual boats becomes significantly affected by interactions
with other boats in the bay system. The selection of speed is
now affected by the presence of other hoats and maneuvering
requires substantial vigilance on the part of the boater. The
general level of comfort and convenience declines noticeably at
this level (Henigar and Ray Engineering Associates, Inc., 1989).
Having already arrived at this decline in the level of service in
the Gordon Pass area, continued allowance of marinas, both public
and private (i.e., condominiums), will continue to lower the
level of weekend and seasonal boating pleasure and safety. Boat
traffic in this area was estimated to be approximately 235 boat
trips/hour. This figure was calculated by the number of boats
capable of passing a certain point with a 100' headway between
boats and travel speed of five miles per hour, as determined by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the American Society of
civil Engineering.
II -325-
There are at least 12 marinas which service the Gordon Pass area
(Figure 7.8-3 and 7.8-4). Marinas over 10 slips contain greater
than 2,335 boats (City of Naples, 1989) in wet storage and
approximately 900 in dry storage. There are also many "self
storage" lots in the area with "open air" boat storage. There
are five private clubs containing over 200 boat slips and over 44
condominimums supporting over 950 slips. According to population
estimates, approximately one boat in a marina facility exists for
every seven people in the City. The wet storage facilities are
filled to capacity during the season; however, only 60% of the
dry storage is utilized (NRD survey, 1990).
The Naples Municipal Dock, located on Naples Bay (Figure 7.8-3)
at the end of 12th Avenue South. contains 73 boat slips available
for public rental and three transient slips, each providing
electrical power and water. The City dock also provides the
following facilities: restrooms, showers, vending machines, fuel,
ice, frozen bait, charter fishing, charter sailing, fish cleaning
tables, a head pump, and live shrimp. The City dock has a long
waiting list for boat slips, and vacant slips are filled on a
lottery basis.
7.8.3.4 Development And Land Use
Areas North of Gordon Pass:
Development north of Gordon Pass began as early as 1874 with the
establishment of the Gordon fish camp. At the same time, the
Naples Town Improvement Company brought in survey crews to plat
the future city. Original buyers for the area were recruited as
far north as Maine and Wisconsin, and as far west as Kansas.
within a few months, 1,500 lots were purchased. The Naples Bay
Company had purchased 8,900 acres by 1888, and acquired the
fastest steamship in the country to accommodate the nearly 100
residences (seasonal residents, tourists and those who never
left) of the newly growing town (Tebeau, 1966).
In the early 1900's, cottages sprang up around the Naples Hotel
and pier. By 1913, E.W. Crayton promoted the building of the
first railway line, influenced Allen Joslin to construct the
first golf course, financed the construction of five miles of
seawall to protect beachfront homes (thus allowing more land
available for dredging), and obtained funds to guarantee an
extension of Naples Bay to Marco Pass. After this, the Gordon
Pass area became a haven and refuge for the southwest Florida
coast. Florida Power and Light opened up the first electrical
II -326-
power plant in 1929, and the town took steps toward constructing
its first central water system. The small town was booming with
settlers who planted groves of oranges, palms, coconuts,
pineapples, mangoes, and tropical flora (Tebeau, 1966; Jamro and
Lanterman, 1985).
In 1940, John Glen Sample developed the the mUlti-million dollar
subdivision of Port Royal. Port Royal, located north of Gordon
Pass and south of the Aqualane Shores sUbdivision, became an
exclusive development of canals and beachfront estates.
Development in the Gordon pass/Naples Bay area has flourished
ever since. In 1947, this flourishing wealthy community started
on the most ambitious project in community development ever
perceived, "The Naples Plan". The community raised $300,000 for
new streets, playgrounds, a mosquito control program, and a groin
establishment/beach nourishment plan. The beach plans called for
the construction of four 700' creosote piling groins and suction
dredging and filling of the city beaches. The Naples Plan was so
successful that by 1952 the City raised another $108,000 to build
a hospital; this eventually became a $750,000 fully equipped and
accredited facility.
Today, the area along the western edge of Naples Bay to the Gulf
of Mexico, is known as "Olde Naples" (14th Ave. South to 5th Ave.
North). The area has a combination of shopping districts of the
Crayton Cove commercial area, Cambier Park, Naples Landings, City
Dock, city Pier, City Hall, churches and schools. Single family
and multifamily dwellings coexist in the neighborhood. Recently,
many of the old historic single family dwellings have been
demolished and replaced by new multifamily units. To preserve
the low scale residential nature of Olde Naples (1920'S to
1950'S), the city of Naples is presently looking into
establishing an historic district in the Federal Register.
Methods of establishing economic incentives are also being
researched to maintain the Olde Naples historic significance.
Low bridges along U.S. 41 at the .north end of Naples Bay allow
small boat access from the Gordon River and Rock Creek areas.
Developments include small residential areas concentrated around
manmade finger canals. On the northeastern portion of the Gordon
River are the two small subdivisions of Coconut River Estates and
River Reach. These single family (with the exception of one
multifamily complex in River Reach) developments were established
in the 1980'S, and are currently in the building process.
II -327-
-"-*"'.~_U'----'T-'--'-'~
The development south of River Reach is known as Avion Park,
located on the Gordon River, west of the Naples Airport. This
subdivision (mostly of stilt homes), is a development of the
1970's. Single family lots are still available on the man-made
canals. The northwestern developments include the Conservancy
Inc., which is in the Storter subdivision of single family homes
constructed in the 1970's. South of the Storter subdivision is
the River Park subdivision (1960's), which contains the active
riverfront park known as "Anthony Park".
Rock Creek (Rock Harbor and Rainbow Cove) was first settled in
the 1940's as single family residences were built along the
waterfront. Rock Creek joins the Gordon River just north of the
Brookside subdivision (1950's to 1960's). Brookside was
developed on man-made finger canals and contains a commercial
area where Brookside Marina is located.
South of the U.S. 41 bridges are water-dependent areas such as.
marinas and commercial fishing fish houses, as well as shops and
restaurants. The western shore of Naples Bay contains additional
subdivisions of single and multifamily residences, constructed
from the 1960's to the present, all of which were dredged and
filled to make waterfront properties on finger canals. These
subdivisions include Golden Shores, Oyster Bay and the exclusive
Royal Harbor.
Haldeman Creek developments were established as early as the
1950's. There are several manmade canals in this small area of
mixed uses which contain the following: single family and
multifamily residences, mobile home parks, marinas, boat repair
yards and commercial fish houses scattered along the Creek which
empties into Naples Bay.
South of Haldeman Creek, on Naples Bay, is a recently developed
PUD known as Windstar Country Club of Naples. This 320 acre PUD
is bound to the east by Kelly Road (now Bayshore Drive), and to
the south by Bayview Park. Windstar was constructed on uplands
and dredged and filled mature red mangrove forests. Mitigation
for the mangrove destruction consisted of exotic vegetation
removal (Australian pines) from spoil banks that were created
from the dredging of Naples Bay. The spoil banks were
subsequently scraped and replanted with mangrove seedlings. The
success of this mitigation is currently part of ongoing research
by the Center for Marine Conservation to determine the
productivity, viability and practicality of prescribed mitigation
efforts (Proffitt and Devlin, 1990). The mitigation area is
contained within a 180 acre preserve area in the southeast
portion of the development. Land use in Windstar is divided into
II -328-
four tracts. Three tracts contain medium density multifamily
residential units (totaling 116 acres). The maximum project
density for these tracts has been established at 749 multifamily
dwelling units. The fourth tract is the private golf course
which is located on a 204 acre parcel, containing lakes and other
flood-water drainage areas.
South of windstar is the Naples Bayview subdivision established
in the 1950's and 1960's. This area contains approximately 240
acres of sensitive mangrove habitat and spoil banks free of
wetland vegetation; some of the spoil banks have been invaded by
Australian pines. According to the city of Naples Comprehensiye
Plan (1989), there are approximately 60 to 70 acres of uplands
that are suitable for development; however, they are not
contiguous to dry land. A 12 acre parcel adjacent to Danford
Street and Bayview Park contains high ground and existing
improved access. This should be considered by the County for
acquisition as additional parking for the Bayview Park boat ramp.
other adjacent areas are tidal mangroves and are not suitable for
parking lot expansion or development.
Areas South of Gordon Pass:
South of Gordon Pass is Keewaydin Island (Key Island), a 7.9 mile
long unbridged barrier island. The Keewaydin Club is the only
development in the northern 4.5 miles of the island. The
Keewaydin Club was founded in 1934, as a winter home and school
for members of a canadian school camp for children. The parents
of children who attended the schools could bring them on vacation
to the island, where school rooms and tutors were provided. The
school then expanded to include the children whose parents were
wintering on the mainland at Naples. The popularity of the
school idea soon dwindled and the Club proceeded to concentrate
on an adult vacation resort. The Club had no public advertising
and reservations were by personal contact or letters to the
management from established guests.
In 1945, the Club was purchased by Lester and Dellora Norris, who
were guests of the Club. The rustic atmosphere of the lodge, 15
small guest cottages, 2 dining rooms, and a recreation room as
originally designed, was kept intact by the Norris family. Today
the Club is officially listed in the National Register of
Historic Places.
In 1987, the property was purchased from the Norris family by a
joint venture partnership headed by John Remington. The newly
acquired Remington property (the northern four miles of Keewaydin
Island) is currently in the permitting stages with plans for an
II -329-
exclusive year-round and seasonal club. The proposed development
is broken down into four parcels with associated acreages as
follows:
PARCEL A: This parcel is approximately 28 acres, and includes the
existing Keewaydin Club facilities which consists of
the Club Lodge and restaurant, a 44 unit transient
lodging facility housed in 13 cottages, a club office,
maintenance building, fire house and cart garage, and
several recreational amenities and structures,
including swimming pool, deck, outside dining area and
tennis courts.
PARCEL B: This parcel contains approximately 116 acres. The
tract will accommodate up to 37 single-family homes,
recreational amenities, water management lakes, a
vehicle and pedestrian pathway system, and natural
vegetation/open space areas.
PARCEL C: Approximately 52 acres of beaches and disturbed
vegetation areas seaward of the adopted 1989 Coastal
Construction Control Line south of Parcel A. The uses
planned for this parcel include recreation amenities
without hardened foundations, pathways and beach
related facilities, such as dunes, boardwalks, and
shelters. Residential structures and lots will be
prohibited in this parcel.
PARCEL D: This parcel is 234 acres and contains natural wetland
habitat and vegetation that will be retained for
environmental conservation. Residential structures and
lots will be prohibited in this parcel.
All exotics, including melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, and
Australian Pine, will be removed from the preservation area and
replaced with native species appropriate for that area (the
concept of xeriscaping will be used wherever possible). The
coastal dunes along the beaches will be restored along the entire
Remington property. All endangered species will also be
protected by protecting their habitat. Raccoons will be
live-trapped and relocated off the island in order to protect sea
turtle and gopher tortoise eggs, and to lessen the threat of
rabies. Additional information on this development can be
located in the "Keewaydin Club" Planned Development Regulations
and Commitments, (Remington, 1988 and 1991).
II -330-
South of Gordon Pass and Naples Bay is Dollar Bay. At present
there is no development contiguous to Dollar Bay. However, there
is a proposed 1,968 acre PUD currently in the permitting process.
Sabal Bay, a Collier Development, has been one of the most
controversial developments proposed in recent years. The
southern border of Sabal Bay is the Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve
which is protected from development. The following is the
proposed land usage and associated acreage requirements:
commercial buildings
Residential units (4000 units)
Private club
Hotels
village welcome center
Conference center
Roads and marina channel basins
Communication and utility center
Freshwater lakes
streams and canals
Recreational facilities (includes
golf courses)
Resort golf course (27 holes)
Private golf course (18 holes)
57 acres
541 acres
26 acres
20 acres
27 acres
13 acres
138 acres
30 acres
129 acres
55 acres
972 acres
138.4 acres
91.7 acres
Due to the many environmental conflicts, this project will be
delayed until an agreement is reached with the various regulatory
agencies. Conflicts and concerns from various federal, state and
local agencies, as well as other interest groups can be found in
Appendix 8.
The rapid expansion of the Gordon Pass/Naples Bay area continues
making this community one of the most rapidly growing areas in
the whole nation. If environmental concerns are not met and
development continues at such a rapid pace, Collier county will
lose the natural resources that brought people to Naples in the
first place.
7.8.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
7.8.4.1 Maintenance Recommendations
It is staff recommendation that Gordon Pass should be maintained
as the major navigational channel in Collier County. However,
there is no need to have a channel deeper than a maximum depth of
-8' MLW. There are almost no vessels that presently use the pass
(or are expected to use the pass in the future) that have draft
needs greater than this depth. surrounding waterbodies are
II -331-
-r--
naturally shallow and restrict access of greater draft vessels.
Vessels that draw greater than -7' are usually large ocean-going
or special-design sailboats, or large commercial vessels.
Maintenance dredging of the pass should continue to incorporate
beach renourishment activities with appropriate spoil material.
Maintenance dredging of the inland waters of Naples Bay and its
tributaries should be kept to a minimum, within the conditions of
already approved State and Federal permits. The southern reaches
of Naples Bay should be protected from any further dredging
outside of the navigational channel, to protect its biological
integrity. Dredging activities within the marked channel and
access channels should not exceed a depth of -8' MLW.
Due to the already overstressed condition of the Naples Bay
system, and the high ecological value of Dollar Bay, it ~s
recommended that no new marinas or major mUlti-slip boating
facilities be permitted in this area. No further development that
will negatively impact the wetlands or waters of this area, with
the exception of minor projects such as single family docks,
should be permitted.
New jetty and groin construction should not be permitted on the
beach zones to the north and south of Gordon Pass. The existing
south jetty may be maintained, as authorized by State and federal
regulations. However, an alternative design should be implemented
to reduce this structure's effect on beach erosion rates to the
south.
Development on the north end of Keewaydin Island, seaward of the
state CCCL, should be strongly discouraged due to narrow barrier
width and past tidal pass history. No stabilization structures
should be permitted on the shoreline.
7.8.4.2 Recommended Restoration Activities
Several projects, of varying scope, would improve the natural
systems of Gordon Pass and adjacent estuaries. These are as
follows:
1. Riprapping vertical seawalls and planting native shoreline
vegetation on Naples Bay and associated tributaries: These
activities serve to dissipate wave energy from boat wakes and
currents, increase surface area and habitat space for various
benthic organisms, and help to improve water quality. Riprap
and vegetation waterward of existing seawalls also increases
the life of the existing seawall. These practices are
recommended by the Florida Department of Environmental
Regulation, according to 403.918(5), Florida Statutes.
II -332-
2. Filling in deep troughs within the canal systems with clean
spoil material: This activity would bring the substrate
closer to the euphotic zone, where algae and possibly
seagrasses may take hold. The placement of proper spoil
material such as clean sand or rubble would aid in the
recovery of benthic habitat. This practice may be
particularly useful at the terminal ends of dead end canals,
where flushing is the poorest.
3. Diverting runoff material from entering natural waterbodies:
Diversion of stormwater runoff from roads and lawns before
discharge into natural waterbodies should be done in
accordance with South F~rida Water Management District
guidelines (Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 40). Some
practices include creating swales landward of shorelines to
divert fertilizer and pesticide run-off from lawns, creating
open swales along roadsides, and diversion of run-off into
retention or detention ponds for biological treatment before
discharge.
4. Removal of spoil banks and exotic vegetation: Spoil areas
from previous dredging activities interrupt sheet flow
essential to wetland viability, and encourage the growth of
exotic vegetation. Removal of spoil banks to original wetland
grade, with concurrent exotic vegetation removal, would
encourage reintroduction of more valuable native species.
Spoil islands have been created at several locations during
previous dredging activities. A series of such spoil islands
is located to the west of the narrow channel leading from
Dollar Bay to Rookery Bay, on Keewaydin Island, and along the
Lely Canal. The windstar mitigation project described earlier
in this report should be referenced.
5. Beach management plans should be encouraged that include the
planting and maintenance of native dune vegetation, the
removal of exotic vegetation, the establishment of dune
walkovers or narrow isolated foot trails to the beach, and
sea turtle nest monitoring programs.
6. Land acquisition: Much of the wetland property within the
Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve is owned by the State. Further
acquisition of privately owned land in the undeveloped areas
around Dollar Bay would insure future preservation of this
sensitive ecosystem.
7. Restructuring of the major drainage canals: This would be a
major project that would require close cooperation with the
South Florida Water Management District. The huge negative
environmental impacts created by the drainage canals may be
offset sometime in the future through restoration activities.
II -333-
.--- '-.--.,..------...--
8. Conduct pUblic awareness campaigns regarding sources of
pollution and the value of natural resources. Workshops can
be organized involving the City and County Environmental
services Division and the local residents. An informed group
of residents could have a major impact on the future health
of the Gordon Pass system. Residents should be encouraged to
avoid dumping lawn and garden debris into the waterway, and
instead, use the material as mulch. Planting native
vegetation would reduce the need for fertilizers and
pesticides. Planting native shrubbery near the seawall and
reducing the slope of the lawn would reduce run-off of lawn
chemicals into the bay. Manatee and sea turtle awareness
workshops should also be cond~ted.
II -334-
TABLE 7.8-1: MOLLUSCAN SPECIES LIST FROM GORDON PASS
Gastropods
Turnip whelk
Atlantic moon snail
Fargo's worm shell
Florida cerith
Lettered olive
shiny auger
Knorr's worm shell
Florida horse conch (juv.)
Eastern white slipper shell
Spotted slipper shell
Bivalves
Turkey wing
Florida coquina
Calico scallop
Prickly cockle
Atlantic strawberry cockle
Elegant dosinia
Florida spiny jewel box
Buttercup lucine
Eared ark
Broad-ribbed card ita
Cross-barred venus
Fragile Atlantic mactra
Rose-petal tellin
(adapted from Fry et al., 1987)
II -335-
TABLE 7.8-2: SPECIES LIST FOR LOWER NAPLES BAY
Crustacea
Amphipods (Gammarus sp.)
Emerita talooidea
Paqurus lonqicarous
Xanthidae
Polychaetes
Lumbrinereidae
Terebellidae
Glyceridae
Serpulidae
Mollusks
Nassarius sp.
Tellina sp.
Arca sp.
Turritella sp.
Crassostrea virqinicus
Fissurella sp.
Creoidula sp.
Marqinella sp.
Echinoderms
Oohiothrix sp.
Fish
Muqil sp.
Svqnathus sp.
Tunicates
(adapted from Simpson, 1979)
II -336-
TABLE 7.8-3: VERTEBRATE SPECIES LIST FOR COLLIER DRI PROPERTY
I. The following species have been observed on the Collier DRI
property by Collier environmentalists:
Fish:
Tarpon
*Snook
Mangrove snapper
Sheepshead
Silverside
Mosquito fish
Sailfin molly
Sheepshead minnow
Flagfish
Redear sunfish
Bluegill
Largemouth bass
Birds:
Florida red-tailed hawk
Red-shouldered hawk
Broad-winged hawk
Sharp-shinned hawk
*Osprey
Sparrow hawk
March hawk
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Bobwhite
American egret
Great blue heron
*Louisiana heron
*Little blue heron
Green heron
*Snowy egret
Cattle egret
Black-crowned night heron
*Wood stork
white ibis
*Roseate spoonbill
Clapper rail
American coot
Moorhen
Pied-billed grebe
*Brown pelican
Double-crested cormorant
Anhinga
II -337-
"' -..-.--------r~-~---.~-
Blue-winged teal
Mallard
Mottled duck
Red-breasted merganser
Killdeer
Laughing gull
Ring-billed gull
Herring gull
Common tern
Mangrove cuckoo
Mourning dove
Ground dove
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Barred owl
Screech owl
Chuck-will's-widow
Common nighthawk
Belted kingfisher
Red-bellied woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Blue jay
Common crow
Carolina wren
Mockingbird
Robin
Palm warbler
Red-winged blackbird
Boat-tailed grackle
Common grackle
Cardinal
Rufous-sided towhee
Savannah sparrow
Reptiles:
*American alligator
Snapping turtle
Florida box turtle
Diamondback terrapin
Green anole
*Gopher tortoise
Southeastern five-lined skink
Mangrove water snake
Southern black racer
Yellow rat snake
Eastern cottonmouth
Eastern diamondback
*Indigo snake
Southern toad
II -338-
Oak toad
Green tree frog
Squirrel tree frog
Southern leopard frog
Florida chorus frog
Mammals:
Opossum
Eastern mole**
Marsh rabbit
Eastern cottontail
Gray squirrel
Cotton mouse
Hispid cotton rat
Raccoon
Bobcat
White-tailed deer
Nine-banded armadillo**
Round-tailed muskrat
* Protected species
** Presence indicated only by tunnels or nests
II. The following protected species have a high probability of
using the area, according to the Florida Game and Fresh Water
Fish Commission (Barnett, 1985):
Amphibians:
Gopher frog
Reptiles:
Atlantic green turtle
Atlantic loggerhead turtle
Birds:
Peregrine falcon
Red cockaded woodpecker
Bald eagle
Southeastern kestrel
Southeastern snowy plover
Florida sandhill crane
Least tern
II -339-
... -'"'-"'-'-"-<"'"-~-T"""--'--'-"'
Limpkin
Reddish egret
American oyster catcher
Mammals:
West Indian manatee
Florida black bear
II -340-
::':.l_~_
,
i'h --
GORDON ~
. :!jJ
. ~ i
. !I.II ~
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,
, I 'f. . I
, hi,i
.
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.
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DOCTOR'S
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~:Ir
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~-.- ,
e"Q:,~ .~. ,
_ \...,,1-11
~ ..' J ~
,
.
.. . :::;
.
~ .;
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,
,
,
,
Figure 7.8-1: Gordon Pass Location Map (from NOAA, 1990).
II -341-
,'-~----
1927 -19 52
....--/
,
1973-1979
I
I
I
/
.-
I
I
r/
-~
19[2-1962
1962-1973
1979-1981
GORDON PASS
~ Vegetated
@ Developed
@ SparselY vegetated beach
@ Submerged delta; approx. -3 ft
o Submerged delta; approx. -6 ft
. Erosion
@ACcretion
~0
~
3000
I
o
1000
2000
FEET
Figure 7.8-2: Gordon Pass: 1927 to 1981, Accretion and Erosion
Patterns (from Harvey et al., 1984 - Part 2).
II -342-
WATER DEPENDENT AND WATER RtLATED USES
CITY Or NAP~ES PLANNING COMMUNITY
Colljer County. Florida
CULF 0< ~'!:lOCO
n
CVLF or MEXICO
"'AJ'\.!S POM;R8OAllot.oJllllO.
CTT 0> Iol""'1..!:S I"l(Jl
""""'......
H~"AllH!"''r.c.
t..TURl<<JI"SoOHSWiUtlN...
. "...rt.!SIlOAT.""
""'-
on- Of' "'1-Pl!S DOO<S
NI01C'...sWIoJaJoI!
toI.l1'1..[s TAOIT C1.IJ8
N
SOUTHPOINT YACHT ellJS
UC(,.,o
. ..ARlN'" S:T""..5
.... 80AT ItAlolP
o
SCAle
,,"-
,..
~~....~(:IlUWTT~~~ U'lO/U
fI.L: l,U-U:lDOC
Figure 7.8-3: Location Map of Boat Ramps and Marinas Servicing
the Gordon Pass Area (from CCME of GMP, 1989).
II -343-
v\'A TER DEPENDENT AND WATER RELATED USES
(AST NAPLES PLANNING COMl..lUNITY AR:;.A.
Cou;~ Counly. f!onco
I~
IA
U~
1
~
i
i
/BRQO;(SX "~,I.
D....s.."oQ.{S.Jl....,
.
1.....(....lR:.H,I.
1IJJ'l..!S \..A.OQ YAOtT "'AR~
SIIOW ....Y ""-"l:lH"1
,
. .
. .
U.ulOI'A "JJIeII",1
.
I
i
g
L!C~NO
. W,o,lPtA Sll'(S
"'Sc.l.1lVoUJ"
s<w:
F'lL!;lt)-11aOWC
~.~n(:;U)(Jt~~<<"u.trIof;)n~ 1/11'"
.
,...
Figure 7.8-4:
Location Map of East Naples Marinas
Gordon Pass Area (from CCME of GMP,
II -344-
U~
,...
Servicing the
1989) .