HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem P2BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: October 19, 2011 Division: Board of County Commission
Bulls Item: Yes No X Staff Contact Person/Phone 4: Mavor Heather Carruthers x3430
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Authorize Mayor to sign a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection's Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems to request further evaluation of beach erosion problems
along Long Beach and consider potential designation of Long Beach as a "critical erosion" area.
ITEM BACKGROUND: Mayor Heather Canrthers received letters from Last Stand and Long Beach
residents requesting the County create a resolution designating Long Beach on the Atlantic side of Big Pine a
critical erosion beach. This designation would make the beach eligible for potential grant funding, when
available.
The Florida Beach Erosion Control Program, established for the purpose of working in concert with local, state
and federal governmental entities to achieve the protection, preservation and restoration of the coastal sandy
beach resources of the state. Under the program, financial assistance in an amount up to 50 percent of project
costs is available to Florida's county and municipal governments, community development districts, or special
taxing districts for shore protection and preservation activities. Eligible activities include beach restoration and
nourishment activities, project design and engineering studies, environmental studies and monitoring, inlet
management planning, inlet sand transfer, dune restoration and protection activities, and other beach erosion
prevention related activities. The Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems' coastal engineering staff investigates
an area of concern and employs both qualitative assessments and quantitative data and analyses to recommend a
segment of shoreline as critically eroded. Currently, the following areas are identified as the Florida Key's
Erosion Areas:
y ONZ? CAE COUNTY TY
BEACH
crlticsl.
W=.lual
eaCiat Beach. Lower Matecurnbe .e�-V
Critical
0.7
Long Ke),
Critical
1.
Curry Hammocks, Little Crawl Key
Critical
0.1
Coco Plum Bach- east
Noncritical
0
0.6
Coco Plum Bach- west
Critical
0.3
Key Colony Beach
Critical
0.9
Key Colony B€ ach, west shoreline
Critic a1
0.-
Sombrero Beach. Vac Key
Critical
0.3
Little Duck Key
Critic gal
0.
Bahia Honda, Key
Critical
10
Long Beech- Big Pine Key
Noncritical
0
1.0
Boca C:hica .e�
Critical
1.
Key West
Critic gal
. g
imanton Beach
Critic a1
0.1
Ft. Zachary Taylor
Critical
0.3
0
1.?
1.6
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management.
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM 9
Monroe County
There are 13 critically eroded beach areas (10.2 miles) and two noncritically eroded beach areas
(1.6 miles) along the Florida Keys fronting on the Straits of Florida and Gulf of Mexico between
Key Largo and Key West. The distal sand keys west of Key West including Woman Key, Boca
Grande Key, the Marquesas Keys, and the Tortugas Keys, also have beach erosion conditions
that have not been adequately studied for inclusion in this report. Also not included at this time
are the mainland beaches of Key McLaughlin and Cape Sable that front on the Gulf of Mexico.
These beaches sustained severe erosion conditions due to Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
There are no identified erosion problem areas in the upper keys but there are eight in the middle
keys. A 0.7-mile segment of Lower Matecumbe Key (Islamorada) is critically eroded
threatening recreational interests and U.S. Highway 1 along Sea Oats Beach. A 1.0-mile
segment of Long Key is critically eroded threatening recreational interests at the Long Key State
Park. Another 0.1-mile segment on Little Crawl Key is critically eroded threatening recreation
interests at Curry Hammocks State Park. The Curry Hammocks segment is a beach restoration
proj ect.
The eastern 0.6-mile of Coco Plum Beach near Key Colony is noncritically eroded. This
segment is a City of Marathon public beach park. The western 0.3-mile of Coco Plum Beach is
critically eroded threatening private development. The 0.9-mile segment along the south
shoreline of Key Colony Beach is critically eroded threatening private development, and the 0.2-
mile segment along the west shoreline of Key Colony Beach is critically eroded threatening
public recreational interests at Sunset Beach. At Sombrero Beach on Vaca Key, a 0.3-mile
segment of beach at the City of Marathon's public park is critically eroded. This segment is a
beach restoration project.
The lower keys have significantly more erosion than the upper or middle keys as calcium
carbonate sand beaches become more frequent although still limited. Little Duck Key (0.2 mile)
is a critically eroded Monroe County park. The sandy island of Bahia Honda Key has three
erosion areas. Within Bahia Honda State Park, Calusa Beach (between the bridges), Loggerhead
Beach (a western segment) fronting on the Straits of Florida, and a stretch of Sandspur Beach at
the east end of Bahia Honda Key have 2.0 miles of critically eroded shoreline, threatening
recreational interests as well as the park road and park development. A terminal groin and
nourishment have been constructed at Calusa Beach, and a revetment has been constructed along
much of the threatened section of park road.
Long Beach on Big Pine Key is a 1.0-mile segment of noncritically eroded beach. Further west
is a 1.3-mile segment of critically eroded public beach on Boca Chica Key. Boca Chica Beach is
a Monroe County park where recreational beach and the park road were lost during Hurricanes
Rita and Wilma in 2005.
Nearly the entire south coast of the island of Key West is critically eroded extending for 2.8
miles. Erosion along the eastern portion of Key West completely eliminated the recreational
beach. A beach restoration project has been constructed at Smathers Beach and minor
nourishment projects have been constructed at other public and private beaches to the west
including Rest Beach, Higgs Beach, and South Beach. A seawall has been constructed along
most of South Roosevelt Boulevard and several walls and revetments are constructed adjacent
several private properties.
39
At the west end of Key West, the 0.3-mile beach along Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Park
is critically eroded threatening recreational interests. A terminal groin and breakwater project
has been constructed and periodic nourishment has been conducted at this site. On the south
shoreline of Key West fronting the Gulf of Mexico, the 0.1-mile segment of Simonton Beach, a
city park, was critically eroded by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, threatening recreational interests.
The distal sand keys west of Key West are blown to have erosion areas; however, insufficient
data is currently available. Particularly susceptible to erosion conditions are Woman Key, Boca
Grand Key, the Marquesas Keys, and the Tortugas Keys. Cape Sable and Key McLaughlin on
the mainland coast of Monroe County fronting the Gulf of Mexico were severely impacted by
Hurricane Wilma in 2005. These areas are now being monitored by aerial videography.
40
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UNTY So�MONROE
KEY WESTLORIDA 33040
(305)294-4641
October 19, 2011
Mr. Gene Chalecki; Interim Bureau Chief
Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Mail Station 300
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
Re: Critically Eroded Areas in the Florida Keys
Dear Mr. Chalecki,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Heather Carruthers, District 3
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice, District 4
Kim Wigington, District 1
George Neugent, District 2
Sylvia J. Murphy, District 5
Monroe County would like to request that the Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems' coastal
engineering staff further evaluate beach erosion problems along Long Beach on Big Pine Key (Lower
Keys) and consider the designation of Long Beach as a "critical erosion" area. This beach is a natural
habitat for sea turtles.
As noted in the June 2011 Critically Eroded Beaches in Florida Report, the Lower Keys have significantly
more erosion than the Upper or Middle Keys and the Florida Keys are an area prone to significant storms
and post -storm vulnerability. Currently, one (1) mile of Long Beach is listed as "noncritical" eroded
beach area. Long Beach is a loggerhead turtle nesting area and community members, including Last
Stand, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the environment, have requested the "critical erosion"
designation based upon natural and/or human activity caused erosion to the beach.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Mayor Heather Carruthers
Enclosure: Pages 41-43 of the June 2011 Critically Eroded Beaches in Florida Report
prN
wfflm-��
Mayor Heather Carruthers
Commissioner Kim Wigington
Commissioner David Rice
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
County of Monroe
1100 Simonton Street
Key West, FL 33040
AND
Long Beach is an approximately 2.5 mile natural coral beach on the southern, ocean side edge
Pine Key, The entire strip of Long Beach is historical nesting habitat for the loggerhead sea turtle, a
threatened species.
We ask the Commission to support and pass a Resolution to lobby Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, to have Long Beach designated
as a critical erosion beach, This would protect the integrity of the beach, protected sea turtles, and
their habitat.
Last Stand supports the Commission in passing such a Resolution, and we hope the Commission
takes action soon to protect sea turtle nesting habitat,
ZMZOEM�
Mark Songer, President
Last Stand
PO Box 146, Key West FL 33041-0146
w last starid or 305 296 3335
Harry Appel
Jennifer DeMaria
1997 Long Beach Drive
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
September 6, 2011
Mayor Heather Carruthers
Commissioner Kim Wigington
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner David Rice
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
For the County of Monroe — via email
RE: Long Beach as a Critical Erosion Beach
Dear Mayor Carruthers and the Commissioners of Monroe County:
The purpose of this letter is to formally request the County of Monroe pass a Resolution
to solicit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Beaches & Coastline
Division, to declare all beaches on Long Beach in Monroe County as critical erosion
beaches.
In order for DEP to have a beach designated as a critical erosion beach, the beach must
meet only 1 of the following 4 criteria:
Upland development is threatened or lost;
Recreational interests threatened or lost;
Wildlife habitat threatened or lost, and/or;
Important cultural resources threatened or lost.
As you all may recall through the many communications we have had with the County
Commission lately, for some reason Long Beach is one of only a handful of Florida Keys
beaches that do not currently have such a designation from DEP.
Through the years, there have been illegal sea walls that have been built on Long Beach
that have accelerated beach erosion, as opposed to if the landscape had been left in a
natural state. The accelerated beach erosion is causing vast loss of habitat for threatened
and endangered sea turtles that come upon the shores of Long Beach to nest.
Page 2
9/6/11 letter to Mayor and Commissioners of Monroe County
From: Harry Appel & Jennifer DeMaria
Long Beach/Critical Erosion Beach
Save a Turtle of the Florida Keys, in conjunction with State of Florida Fish and Wildlife
Services, has been surveying the beaches of Long Beach since 1980 regarding
endangered and threatened sea turtles. The data supports that this beach is a historical
nesting beach for endangered and threatened sea turtles.
The County of Monroe would absolutely benefit by having Long Beach designated a
critical erosion beach, as it would give the County more partners in curbing illegal
shoreline hardening, and also benefit the County by protecting wildlife habitat.
Save -A -Turtle of the Florida Keys, Last Stand, and Sea Turtle Conservancy of Florida all
support having Long Beach designated as a critical erosion beach. You have already
received a letter of support from Last Stand, and if you haven't already received the letter
of support from the Sea Turtle Conservancy of Florida, they will have it to you in the
very near future. We are mailing you the hard copy of the letter from Save -A -Turtle of
the Florida Keys indicating their support.
We will do whatever it takes to assist the County of Monroe, and any other party that
needs to become involved, to get this beach this designation. We are available any time
for questions, concerns, or assistance via telephone at (305) 872-2015 or email at our
business deerrunbbLwaol.com.
We appreciate the anticipated forward motion and work the Mayor and Commissioners
will be doing in this regard.
Very truly yours,
/s/Harry Appel
/s/Jennifer DeMaria
Harry Appel
Jennifer DeMaria
Via email: (sent via email to Mayor & Commissioners)
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