Although delayed and 20 years in the making, at last we’re seeing visible signs that the start of the long-term Lido Beach renourishment project is imminent. Earlier this week, the sand recycling equipment and barge U.S. Rockbridge arrived in Sarasota and can now be seen in Big Pass.
The contractor is finalizing preparations and plans to begin returning accreted sand from Big Pass to Lido Beach this weekend. As with previous beach restoration projects, once it starts, the operation will run 24/7 with the beach remaining open to the public except segments where sand is being returned.
The restoration will build up the shoreline and protect nearby infrastructure and wildlife habitats from pounding wave action, erosion and storms. While beach erosion typically is associated with tropical weather, just one rogue weather system stagnating over Sarasota at any time of the year can cause significant erosion.
The long-term agreement with the U.S. Army Corps allows for renourishment on an as-needed basis – most likely every few years – with the process streamlined to help safeguard community investments including the Lido Pavilion, public swimming pool, drinking water and wastewater systems.
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Editors note: It's good to see sand hitting Lido Key's south beach after an epic legal struggle with Siesta Key. As many of you know, LSPOA has waged its own battle for recognition, meeting several times with various city leaders, including City Manager Tom Barwin, as well as environmental engineers and our own experts.
We've certainly raised awareness about our dramatic beach loss on the north end, but South Lido Key, with its hotels, condos and business density is finally getting its due. And, thankfully for now, Mother Nature is starting to give back some of the sand that's been swept away due to emergency dredging of our off shore ebb shoal and storms the past two-years.
Below is a letter LSPOA received last month in response to member Elliott Himelfarb's inquiry about plans for future dredging off our shoreline. Elliott has been taking measurements and closely monitoring our beach and Pavilion. The reply below is from the state of Florida to LSPOA President Denis Bischoff.
~BT
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Dear Mr. Bischoff:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection acknowledges receipt of your June 25, 2020 correspondence, in which you expressed concern regarding the potential of future dredging activities that could affect beach conditions adjacent to land at 1001 Westway Drive, Sarasota Florida, which is owned by the Lido Shore Property Owners Association (LSPOA).
The Department staff are aware of the historical fluctuations of the shoreline position and is monitoring the most recent trend of beach and dune erosion occurring in this area. The area is designated as critically eroded beach in accordance with Sections 161.101 and 161.161, Florida Statutes, and Rule 62B-36.002(5), Florida Administrative Code.
The 2015 event, referenced in the letter, was constructed under JCP Permit No. 0270032-001-JC, which authorized the periodic nourishment of a 1.54 mile segment of Lido Key using beach-compatible material dredged from the New Pass exterior navigation channel and southern ebb tidal shoal. A diagram of the borrow areas authorized under this permit is attached for your reference (Attachment 1). Use of the ebb shoal borrow area under JCP Permit No. 0270032-001-JC has been completed and no further use of this borrow area is anticipated at this time.
Currently, the dredging of portions of the ebb shoal associated with the federally authorized navigation channel are authorized by JCP Permit No. 0039755-003-JC. This permit authorizes the periodic nourishment of the beaches at Longboat Key and Lido Key using beach-compatible material dredged from, within and adjacent to, the former alignment of the federally-authorized New Pass Navigation Channel. A diagram of the borrow areas authorized under this permit is attached for your reference (Attachment 2). This current authorization (No. 0039755-003-JC) will expire on July 2, 2030; however, variations of this maintenance dredging activity have been authorized under JCP Permit No. 0039755-001-JC since 2001.
For additional background on this and other pertinent permits, please see the CONSOLIDATED NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE JOINT COASTAL PERMIT AND AUTHORIZATION TO USE SOVEREIGN SUBMERGED LANDS for Permit No. 0039755- 003-JC at the following website:
Recently, the Department staff held a video conference with the City of Sarasota and their coastal engineering consultant. The City is planning to conduct an inlet management study of New Pass in conjunction with the Department, which will adopt an inlet management plan pursuant to Section 161.161, Florida Statutes. The study will evaluate the extent to which the inlet causes beach erosion and provide recommendations to mitigate the erosive impact of the inlet. For additional information, please contact Alexandrea Davis Shaw, 1565 1st Street-Annex Building, Sarasota, FL 34236 - Alexandrea.Davis-Shaw@sarasotaFL.gov
The Department remains committed to the development of comprehensive long-term approaches to address critical erosion along Florida’s beaches through robust scientific monitoring, information gathering and consultation with our local partners, to plan and design, cost effective and environmentally sound interventions. Please feel free to contact our office should you have any additional concerns.
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Dana Strickland
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Director’s Office
Government Operations Consultant III
Office: 850-245-2095
Cell: 850-294-2206
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