Beach Renourishment Update

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
January 22, 2016 4:15 p.m.

 

Erik Olsen, the city's consultant on beach erosion
Erik Olsen, the city’s consultant on beach erosion

Eric Olsen of Olsen Associates, Inc. provided the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) with an update on the status of dredging and beach renourishment at their January 19, 2016 Regular Meeting. He also presented the FBCC with what he termed a unique opportunity with respect to the civil works shore protection program, which would make it more cost effective and more reliable with respect to its maintenance.

Olsen recapped the history of beach erosion on the island and various attempts to protect the beach from continued erosion. The federal government, in recognition of its role in exacerbating beach erosion authorized the Nassau County Shore Protection Program (NCSPP) in 1971, but money did not become available until 2008, at which time 1,932 Mcy of sand were placed along 3.8 miles of shorefront. The authorized design beach under the program is 40 feet.

br2

“Normally counties are sponsors of federal shore protection projects,” Olsen explained. “But in this particular case, the county was unwilling to be the sponsor, so the city had to step up and execute the contract with the feds.”

The NCSPP has been aided by the U.S. Navy, which has been dumping sand from channel dredging on island beaches for several years. Due to the Navy’s efforts, the Corps of Engineers (COE) has not been required to bring in more sand every 5 years as originally envisioned under the project, extending the renourishment effort.

br3

The next potential window is 2017, which will require around $12M of federal funding, leaving about $3M as the non-federal share to be split between the state and local governments. Federal money that had been appropriated for this renourishment in years 2013-2015 was not needed and no longer available. There is currently no federal money in place for the next renourishment effort. It appears doubtful that money will be available for 2017.

Olsen said that the good news is that Navy efforts continue to place good quality sand on the beach. He presented an alternate renourishment plan under which the Navy would pay for the cost to dispose of the dredge sand at the north end of the island. Any additional cost to move the sand south along the beach would be split among the COE, the state and the local sponsor. “The Navy’s been your best friend,” Olsen said.

Olsen has requested that the COE develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as to how the agreement would work out. “In the net,” Olsen said, “the actual costs of renourishment should be reduced over the conventional renourishment. Another benefit is that you don’t have to go to Congress anymore to try to roll the dice to get your $10-15M.”

Under the alternate plan that Olsen presented, the average annual cost share estimate for the local sponsor would be $50-300K. Even in the out years when the beach is not being actively renourished, there are maintenance activities to be performed, including protection of turtles and tilling of the beach. Such activities represent relatively small costs, Olsen said. Because money has already been escrowed by the state under the original renourishment plan, Olsen said that the city must negotiate a new contract to keep from losing that money. Olsen also recommended that money that the COE is holding for renourishment not be rebated, but held by the COE to offset future cost share.

Olsen said, “Under the current renourishment program the good news is that [the city] will not have to put up a dime. The Navy has defrayed it all. But in the future there will be a cost share. But you are about to get between 300-400 cubic yards of sand placed in a strategic manner, and the Navy is going to pay for all of it.”

Erik Olsen
Erik Olsen responds to a question from Commissioner Len Kreger.

In response to a question from Commissioner Len Kreger, Olsen said that the state would prepare the contract and send it to the city, which must execute the contract. As the city’s consultant, Olsen said he would assist, adding that there will be little room for negotiation. The contract will return to the FBCC for formal approval.

Kreger asked at what point the city should approach the county about setting the rate for the newly created beach renourishment MSTU. Olsen suggested that the county begin escrowing money in that fund as soon as possible, only because there are unknowns in the future. Olsen said, “If this [alternate plan] doesn’t work out, if you have to return to conventional renourishment, you need to have that money available to you. If you have a hurricane or a major storm, you have got to have money available to you.”

JMMayor Johnny Miller asked, “Are the size of the sand grains going to be the same size as the grains now?”

Olsen said, “Well the sand that is there now was pumped from offshore, not the natural beach. The sand that comes out of the channel is coarser; it has a much higher shell content. It has that orange look. Some people like it, some people don’t. From a coastal engineering perspective it’s much more stable than the fine material than we took from the offshore site. It will provide you a more stable beach over time.”

Miller asked about the sand color. Olsen said that it has the biogenic orange look from coquina, in contrast to the south end of the island, which has relic sand.

Miller’s final question related to turbidity. Olsen responded that the COE’s contractor does the monitoring of turbidity. “Turbidity is not an issue with this material,” he said.

br4

 

 

 

 

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Dave Lott
Dave Lott(@dave-l)
8 years ago

Buddy Jacobs has successfully lobbied on behalf of the City for the federal money in the past. I am curious as to why Erik says that he is doubtful that money in 2017 won’t be available.