 |
LONGBOAT KEY – West Coast Florida Gulf passes are in jeopardy and will become dangerous to navigation if politicians play politics without regard to the facts.
Recent actions by governmental entities to request dredging Longboat Key Pass using the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) original channel alignment, are irresponsible.
This would waste limited federal dollars, create a danger to public safety and cause a navigational hazard.
The resolutions adopted by Manatee County, the City of Longboat Key and West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) requested the ACOE to dredge Longboat Key Pass using the shoaled in original alignment stating current users are ”experiencing uncertainty and danger, and potential property danger when navigating the pass.“
These resolutions, in my opinion, are a misrepresentation to the ACOE and demonstrate the questionable action of the government representatives. The current condition of Longboat Key Pass is safe for navigation and posess no danger. This channel has shifted southwest from the original ACOE alignment and has no less than 10 feet of water depth at-low tide, making it one of the safer inlets from the gulf. There is no documentation of the ”uncertainty and danger, and potential property danger“ that has been presented in these resolutions.
To ensure this Pass is safe for navigation, the United States Coast Guard has been doing a great job relocating markers.
For example, last year the Pass marker in the Gulf was moved approximately 200 yards south, and this year they moved a red marker on the east side of the bridge about 100 feet north to ensure boaters have a safe channel. These actions save the Federal Government millions in dredging avoidance dollars rather than returning to the original ACOE channel alignment. This is what should continue to be done.
Why then ask the ACOE to dredge back to the original alignment when the present navigational channel is safe?
It is all about sand, without regard to public safety.
The history of Longboat Key Pass, similar to New Pass, will prove the ACOE straight out channel shoals in quickly and shifts to the southwest. This is what has happened historically to both of these passes.
The last few times we spent millions of dollars to dredge these channels and while the channel is shifting to the Southwest, vessels ran aground and an unsafe condition was created. I personally sounded the Longboat Key Pass Channel and can verify that no less than 10 feet of water is available at Mean Low Water. (MLW)
It is also irresponsible not to use the best available data that exists.
WCIND invested over $200,000 to create a computer model that not only documents previous changes to these passes, but allows a computer to simulate future conditions.
The computer model and study revealed the previous removal of two million cubic yards of sand from Longboat Key Pass and placed on Longboat Key’s shore, created a situation that eroded the south end of Coquina Beach and the north end of Longboat Key.
The City of Longboat Key was responsible for the design and permit for the removal of this sand causing the erosion. Now, they want to claim the WCIND model may not be accurate.
What we really need is an inlet management plan, where the users are included, before we dredge Longboat Key Pass as well as other Gulf Passes.
I was the Manatee County representative for WCIND for over 14 years. Up until a year ago, the policy direction was to request the ACOE to change their alignment to conform to the natural channels to the southwest. This policy was based on facts that provided for the best interest of those navigating these passes and also saves millions of dollars.
The shift in policy to go back to the original straight out ACOE alignments will:
Waste limited federal dollars: Since we are deficit spending, any expense not needed creates the need to borrow money.
Create two channels where both channels suffer until the natural channel becomes dominate again. A basic principle of hydraulics is that water flows faster with one channel and helps maintain channel depths. Creating the second channel reduces flow and both channels suffer by reduced channel depths until what we call the natural channel becomes dominate.
Ignores the best available data recommending no removal of sand in this area of Longboat Key Pass.
Ignores the ACOE evaluation of the WCIND model which stated ”This channel alignment change could result in the best cost-benefit for inlet function.“
Longboat Key Pass, as it exists today, is safe and wide. It is time for us to avoid repeating the failed practices of our past. The navigation community must be included, since the pass is maintained for their safety in any decision.
I would suggest those interested in keeping this pass safe, contact the ACOE, FDEP and WCIND to voice their opinions and request an Inlet Pass Management Plan that includes all stakeholders before anymore dredging is authorized. The resolutions are not accurate and should be rescinded by the approving bodies.
The links to view current conditions of Longboat Pass and a Presentation by Mohamed A. Dabees and Nicholas C. Kraus on the Cumulative effects of channel and ebb shoal dredging on inlet evolution in Southwest Florida, USA are as follows:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Operations/Branches/HydroSurvey/survey/09-118.pdf
http://cirp.usace.army.mil/pubs/pdf/dabees-kraus-ICCE08.pdf
Contact information:
ACOE - Charles A. Schnepel, Chief, Tampa Section
Department of the Army
Jacksonville District Corps of Engineers
10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120
Tampa, Florida 33610-8300
Phone: 813-769-6065
Charles.A.Schnepel@usace.army.mil
FDEP - Martin Seeling
DEP Environmental Administrator
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 414-7728
martin.seeling@dep.state.fl.us
WCIND - Charles Listkowski
West Coast Inland Navigation District
200 E. Miami Avenue
Venice, 34285
Phone: (941) 485-9402
wcind200@aol.com
Joe McClash
Manatee County Commissioner
At-Large
Comments
No comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.