Review of ALDOT Draft Review of ALDOT Draft Concept Design ReportConcept Design Report

By: Dennis Hatfield, LLPS By: Dennis Hatfield, LLPS Board Board

OverviewOverview

• Bridge and pass draft design Bridge and pass draft design objectives objectives

• Pass sediment budget modelPass sediment budget model

• 6 possible designs 6 possible designs

• Barney and Dennis preferenceBarney and Dennis preference

• Closing CommentsClosing Comments

Draft ObjectivesDraft Objectives

• Reduction of average annual cost of $350,000Reduction of average annual cost of $350,000

• Maintain or improve existing water quality Maintain or improve existing water quality conditionsconditions

• Minimize coastal impacts on GOM shorelineMinimize coastal impacts on GOM shoreline

• Stabilize mouth of pass to existing shorelineStabilize mouth of pass to existing shoreline

• Widen pass south of Lee Callaway bridgeWiden pass south of Lee Callaway bridge

• Narrow the pass north of the bridge/include Narrow the pass north of the bridge/include sediment trapsediment trap

• Place material further down drift along GOM Place material further down drift along GOM shorelineshoreline

• New and improve dredging efficiency thru new New and improve dredging efficiency thru new contract specs contract specs

Sediment Budget Model Sediment Budget Model • Little Lagoon is a remarkable, prolifically productive, 8 mile Little Lagoon is a remarkable, prolifically productive, 8 mile

long (e-), ¾ mile wide (n-s), sand dominated, brackish long (e-), ¾ mile wide (n-s), sand dominated, brackish water coastal lake water coastal lake

• Because of national publicity, low interest loans, federal Because of national publicity, low interest loans, federal flood insurance, and a general desire to live on or near the flood insurance, and a general desire to live on or near the coast, dramatic development is ongoingcoast, dramatic development is ongoing

• Wetlands are being damaged and destroyed and water Wetlands are being damaged and destroyed and water quality is deterioratingquality is deteriorating

• Nutrients and Fecal coli form measurements are up over Nutrients and Fecal coli form measurements are up over the last 10-15 years and other pollutants are almost the last 10-15 years and other pollutants are almost certainly on the risecertainly on the rise

• Little Lagoon circulation and turnover are poor and Little Lagoon circulation and turnover are poor and pollutant resident times are lengthypollutant resident times are lengthy

• Nutrients accumulate and we are suspicious that conditions Nutrients accumulate and we are suspicious that conditions are ideal for phytoplankton “blooms” are ideal for phytoplankton “blooms”

Sediment Budget Model-2 Sediment Budget Model-2 • Little Lagoon is a remarkable, prolifically productive, 8 mile Little Lagoon is a remarkable, prolifically productive, 8 mile

long (e-), ¾ mile wide (n-s), sand dominated, brackish long (e-), ¾ mile wide (n-s), sand dominated, brackish water coastal lake water coastal lake

• Because of national publicity, low interest loans, federal Because of national publicity, low interest loans, federal flood insurance, and a general desire to live on or near the flood insurance, and a general desire to live on or near the coast, dramatic development is ongoingcoast, dramatic development is ongoing

• Wetlands are being damaged and destroyed and water Wetlands are being damaged and destroyed and water quality is deterioratingquality is deteriorating

• Nutrients and Fecal coli form measurements are up over Nutrients and Fecal coli form measurements are up over the last 10-15 years and other pollutants are almost the last 10-15 years and other pollutants are almost certainly on the risecertainly on the rise

• Little Lagoon circulation and turnover are poor and Little Lagoon circulation and turnover are poor and pollutant resident times are lengthypollutant resident times are lengthy

• Nutrients accumulate and we are suspicious that conditions Nutrients accumulate and we are suspicious that conditions are ideal for phytoplankton “blooms” are ideal for phytoplankton “blooms”

Alternate A Alternate A

Alternate B Alternate B

Alternate C Alternate C

Alternate D Alternate D

Alternate E Alternate E

Alternate F Alternate F

Barney and Dennis Barney and Dennis Preference-FPreference-F

• Expense problem with options A, B, C, D, concrete Expense problem with options A, B, C, D, concrete seawall, loss of public gatheringseawall, loss of public gathering

• ALT C, E, F increase tidal prism 11%, 13%, 56% ALT C, E, F increase tidal prism 11%, 13%, 56% respectively compared to baseline respectively compared to baseline

• ALT C, F decrease channel shoaling from ~29,000 yds ALT C, F decrease channel shoaling from ~29,000 yds to ~21,000 yds (C), and ~12,000 yds (F) to ~21,000 yds (C), and ~12,000 yds (F)

• ALT F model predicts more flood and ebb tidal delta ALT F model predicts more flood and ebb tidal delta shoalingshoaling

• ALT F has smallest predicted annualized cost over 50 ALT F has smallest predicted annualized cost over 50 years, less than ½ of baseline and ALT C, and ALT E years, less than ½ of baseline and ALT C, and ALT E

• Up front investment- ~$2MM (C), ~$130K (E), ~526K Up front investment- ~$2MM (C), ~$130K (E), ~526K (F)(F)

Closing Comments Closing Comments

• LLPS has stated intent to not object to modification of LLPS has stated intent to not object to modification of court order to move sand further down beachcourt order to move sand further down beach

• LLPS expresses no current objections to plans to redesign LLPS expresses no current objections to plans to redesign pass and utilize sands for repair west of pass, we like pass and utilize sands for repair west of pass, we like option F? option F?

• LLPS will work with ALDOT on additional court order LLPS will work with ALDOT on additional court order modifications-trigger language and process, shoal sand modifications-trigger language and process, shoal sand maintenance procedures, and depth requirements in maintenance procedures, and depth requirements in maintenance phase of court order maintenance phase of court order

• Currently ALDOT is awaiting city draft language for court Currently ALDOT is awaiting city draft language for court order which would allow dredge spoil placement further order which would allow dredge spoil placement further west of the pass than allowed by current court orderwest of the pass than allowed by current court order

• City has not yet obtained required permits from COE, City has not yet obtained required permits from COE, ADEM, FWS ADEM, FWS

GAPC Update GAPC Update

• At recent meeting with Barnett Lawley LLPS GAPC At recent meeting with Barnett Lawley LLPS GAPC application status was discussedapplication status was discussed

• Problem remains while ADCNR is prepared to Problem remains while ADCNR is prepared to recommend designation as GAPC, ADEM must rewrite recommend designation as GAPC, ADEM must rewrite regulations concurrently for the designation to have regulations concurrently for the designation to have meaning. meaning.

• Since the 2 agencies have been separated this has Since the 2 agencies have been separated this has been the holdup been the holdup

• Commissioner Lawley has promised to Commissioner Lawley has promised to pursue/facilitate? pursue/facilitate?

Red Clay Update Red Clay Update

• Current legislative effort is deadCurrent legislative effort is dead• Legislative priorities gambling, and schools, Legislative priorities gambling, and schools,

County Commission did not support again County Commission did not support again • Will now try a “bottom up” approach and try to get Will now try a “bottom up” approach and try to get

individual municipalities to adopt standardized individual municipalities to adopt standardized process and more comprehensive protection process and more comprehensive protection