pinion Guest Op/Ed: Longboat Pass

As a County Commissioner, I consider one of our greatest challenges is protecting our Quality of Life, which is one of the primary reasons many of us call Manatee County home.

It has been a priority in the past to preserve our natural beauty.  Our beaches are some of this area’s greatest natural assets.  However, they are under constant threat to have man-made structures, such as groins and jetties, litter the islands.

The latest threat is at the panoramic view off Longboat Pass (Beer Can Island).  This pass is home to thousands of people who find their slice of nature here.  Most come by boat, some walk the beach.  However, the proposal to build a jetty and groins on the Longboat Key side of the pass will change the character of this natural island forever.  It concerns me that the users have not been included in the process.  The intrusion of not one but three man-made structures will forever change what we guard and enjoy; the natural experience of our island.

There is a valid concern of erosion in front of condos on the beach.  However several reasons have caused the loss of sand.  One of the reasons is the buildings were permitted and built too close to the Gulf.  Then, to protect the buildings a concrete wall was constructed.  However, these walls also change the wave energy in such a way that more sand is eroded from the beach in front of the buildings.

But the last action was the removal of the sand offshore near the mouth of the Pass.  By Longboat Key removing the sand, the wave energy on both Coquina and the north end of Longboat Key increased, resulting in more loss of the sandy beach.

The good news is the sand is returning offshore to form the protection to reduce the wave energy in the future.  However, Longboat Key wants to place man-made structures before we get a chance to let the pass heal.  We have about three more years for this having to occur, but Longboat Key is rushing to permit this project and they want Manatee County Commissioners to approve their plans giving the State the ability to permit this project under what is called ”The Longboat Key Pass Management Plan“

The cost of this plan is well over $6 million.  The proposal also includes dredging a channel through the middle of a shoal.  This has been done at New Pass, the southern end of Longboat Key, and in less than six months the navigation channel shoaled in completely. This plan for Longboat Key can create the same navigational hazard. Longboat Pass is relied upon by the Cortez Fishing fleet, U.S. Coast Guard and many others.  At the current time the navigational channel is stable and deep. Why jeopardize public safety?

The proposal is the result of a model that simulates sand movement. The proposal is based on this model.  These models are not 100 percent accurate. However, in the real world anyone who has seen the effects of a hurricane will know that boulders from man-made structures will be displaced and also the jetties can create more harm than good to the natural shoreline.

The City of Longboat Key has to find a viable solution, but why should we lose our natural recreational areas to protect two buildings because of several errors made in the past. My greatest concern is that this is an irreversible action that will change our shorelines forever.  If these jetties are allowed at Beer Can Island, will we be putting jetties up and down our natural shorelines in Anna Maria?

Once a precedent is established, it is almost impossible to stop allowing this in the future.

It is also important to respect that when the state granted title of Beer Can (Greer) Island to Manatee County, it was with a restriction preventing these jetties and to keep the island in a natural state unless it was something needed to protect the island.  The island is larger today than ever and the jetty is not needed to protect the island.

So, the decision is planned to be made by the Board of County Commissioners on March 13th.  As you can see by these comments, I will not be supporting the jetties and the other man-made structures proposed.

It is also interesting to note that out of all the photos chosen to showcase our County for its natural beauty on the cover of our official ”Anna Maria Island Longboat Key Visitors Guide,“ Longboat Pass was chosen.  Do you think ruining a natural amenity and paying over $6 million to protect two buildings is worth jeopardizing our tourism and our quality of life?

Joe McClash

Manatee County Commssioner

District 7, At-large