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Midnight Pass Information
Pass application process slows to a crawl By Jack Gurney All the Midnight Pass restoration hoopla that once surrounded efforts to re-establish the coastal inlet between Siesta Key and Casey Key has died away, but the tedious application process for obtaining federal and state permits to dredge has not. More than 2 ½ years have elapsed since Sarasota County consultant Karyn Erickson began a dialogue with the government authorities and scientists who will decide whether permits are issued, and the question-and-response drills continue unabated. Next week, the coastal engineer will journey to Tallahassee again for another meeting with Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials, this time about sediment issues. She'll be accompanied by Spencer Anderson, a county project manager. Next month, Erickson will forward a fifth round of answers to what the state calls RAIs, the acronym for "Requests for Additional Information." The county initially hoped there would be only three rounds of RAIs, but now accepts it was overly optimistic. "We went through eight rounds of RAIs before receiving state permits for the South Siesta Key beach restoration project," Anderson said. "When the sediment issues are addressed we will turn to mitigation impacts and an inlet management plan." Timetables for an actual Midnight Pass restoration project are hazy, at best. If everything goes without a hitch, the state could announce its intention to issue permits early next year. Or it could declare the RAI phase complete and summarily reject them. "What could slow the process is legal challenges from project opponents if the state announces its intention to issue permits," Anderson said. "If there are no challenges, then we still have the Army Corps of Engineers to deal with. It is under no time constraints." In a perfect world, a contract could be awarded for work to begin sometime next year. But reality dictates the RAI process, project challenges and permit dialogue with the Army Corps will probably extend into 2009. And then, maybe, work could be scheduled in 2010. "We hope there won't be a lot more back-and-forth with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and it won't need any more information," Anderson said. "What we want is an announcement our permit application is complete, and a yes or no answer." The estimated price tag for restoring Midnight Pass now stands at about $40 million - $10 million to remove the sand plus $1 million a year over 30 years to monitor and maintain a channel cut from Little Sarasota Bay into the Gulf of Mexico. So far, there is no county funding plan for a restoration if permits are issued. A lengthy list of programs and infrastructure projects could proceed if voters approve a 15-year extension of the local option sales tax, but Midnight Pass isn't on it. The popular coastal inlet became unstable in the 1970s and was closed in 1983 after it migrated northward and threatened to undermine two Siesta Key beachfront homes. It is now a narrow stretch of beach that connects Siesta Key with Casey Key. In 1988, the county submitted a Midnight Pass restoration proposal that was denied by state authorities in 1991 after a permit process that went on for almost three years. A county appeal subsequently failed, but restoration advocates refused to quit. In November 2004, Erickson mailed off permit applications to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection that describe how a dredging project could work to remove sand from the former inlet area and place it on nearby beaches. Erickson was hired by Sarasota County after she successfully negotiated on behalf of New Hanover County, N.C., for federal and state permits to relocate and restore Mason Inlet without the use of seawalls, rocks or other hardened structures. Dear Open Midnight Pass Supporter: Karyn Erickson, the engineer employed by Sarasota County to secure the permits to finally re-open Midnight Pass, will be making a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners detailing the progress of the permit application to date and what we can anticipate in the coming months. This will be a critical up date for the County Board and having a strong show of public support is always desirable. Plan on setting aside an hour or so on Tuesday morning, October 10th, about 10 AM, to attend this meeting at the Sarasota County Administration building, 1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. Parking is at the rear of the building. we don't ask you to turn out often but this is one of those times. Bob Waechter 356-0039 I can email to you the Midnight Pass news letter that is being distributed. It is important that everyone do their part. email me @ patnok1@yahoo.com MIDNIGHT PASS, WILL IT BE OPENED? There was an 'in depth' Midnight Pass Presentation by Karyn Erickson, of Erickson Consulting Engineers at 6:30 PM the evening of Thursday, Feb 9 at St. Boniface Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd, Siesta Key. The presentation will include: An overview of the project including construction plans and mitigation areas A summary of the problems associated with the closing of midnight Pass Review of the anticipated benefits of restoring Midnight Pass The current status of the project and an anticipated timeline What you can do to help. Unfortunately, several state employees in Tallahassee have "closed their minds" with respect to the restoration of Midnight Pass and are concentrating their reviews on the impacts of the construction phase rather than the major environmental and other benefits of restoring this historical inlet. Also, there is a general feeling at the permitting agencies that our community does not really want or care about this issue. IF WE DO NOT CHANGE THESE MINDS AND LET THE FOLKS IN TALLAHASSEE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT MIDNIGHT PASS IS TO THIS COMMUNITY - WE WILL LOSE! This will be the most informative presentation on this important topic to date. You will learn much about the pass and Little Sarasota Bay. See what we will gain if Midnight Pass is restored. See what we have lost due to its closure. There will be a Q&A session following Ms. Erickson's presentation. This is your chance to stand up and be counted. If you want Midnight Pass restored, BE THERE. We need residents, and boaters and Captains and Realtors and fishermen and politicians and... well, you get the idea. - WE NEED YOU. Please pass this notice on to all in your E-mail base. Bob Waechter, Jim Herbert
Comments
Re: Midnight Pass Information
by
Patrick
on Wed 07 Dec 2005 12:12 PM EST | Profile | Permanent Link
Maxine and Arthur E Singleton
941 349-3552 9150 Blind Pass Rd. #402 Sarasota FL 34242 email c/o GArnold493@ao WHERE WILL MIDNIGHT PASS RE-APPEAR? Mother Nature has own ideas... We have been owners of our condo at Fisherman's Haven since 1977. At that time we enjoyed 200 feet of sandy beach but as the pass started to close in 1983 our beach went to zero and has remained that way with all the sand going to the south to Casey Key. During the past few years the pass has tried to open itself in several new locations: 1) Will it be across the road at Turtle Beach where our water line was cut by the Hurricane in July? 2) How about Point of Rocks, where the original Pass many years ago entered Hidden Lagoon at the time Sanderling Club was built? 3) Or maybe the Solomon-Burns-Stratton property, where the county has a lien on the land to collect demolition costs? 4) How about the midpoint Wallace property, where each storm brings water over the road and has created a sand bars in Blind Lagoon? 5) Turtle Beach is the location most vulnerable for new opening to replace Midnight Pass. Recent storms destroyed the water line to 140 homes to the south (forcing evacuation) and could have contaminated the bay and lagoon if it had cut through the sewer line. We have already lost 4 homes to the south of Turtle Beach area because the pass was allowed to close. They are the Colberts, the Fasseys, the Solomon-Burns-Stratton home and the Plodzein home. The 1983 closing was caused by the Corps of Engineers when they dredged the inland waterway and did nothing to dredge MNP to remove the overflow on spoil islands in the pass area. It was not fault of Carter and Solomon as they spent $100,000 to relocate and reopen the pass to try to save their homes. Thanks for listening to our plea to the state and federal government to expedite permits for a professionally engineered reopening of Midnight Pass, as favored by our Sarasota County Commission. We feel it is most important to give everyone including all the new home owners of Sarasota area a wide beach to enjoy and a breath of fresh water for Little Sarasota Bay, supplied at the logical 7 mile midpoint near Palmer Point to relieve the stagnant tidal null zone between Big Pass and Venice Jetties area. Respectfully submitted, (signed) Maxine & Arthur E. Singleton Re: Midnight Pass Information
by
Patrick
on Wed 25 Jan 2006 11:27 PM EST | Profile | Permanent Link
Key issue with mitigation is GAINS must exceed LOSSES -- in this case, opening of pass should have huge overriding POSITIVE impacts - long-term water quality, habitat functions, restoring what WAS is VERY important -- !!! Historical aspects and natural flows have huge values ! Construction effects are short-term and are reduced by pro-active construction methodology -- use floating turbidiy curtains to reduce silt/light availablity issues! Long-term goals should outweigh short-term impacts! Would love to be there, but no way I could handle a weeknite tha far north --need a 2-hour nap every nite just to stay even! Who is foot-dragging in Tally? DEP? FFWCC?? Lookat Everglades as an example-- HUGE short-term impacts for long-term benefit!! DUH!!!!! Re: Midnight Pass Information
THE CASE FOR RESTORATION OF MIDNIGHT PASS:
· The historic marine environment of Little Sarasota Bay will be restored. Hundreds of additional acres of turtle and manatee grasses. Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program. .Dr D. Tomasko A doubling of the number of species living in the area. CDM Report.. .Mote Marine Lab. Reopening the Gulf-to-Bay connection essential to the "critters of the sea." A cleansing of bay waters with each and every tide cycle. · It will promote the health, safety and welfare of area residents and visitors. Bay waters will be cleaner, healthier with regular exchange of water through Midnight Pass. Homes and property, including public lands, will be at reduced risk. The reduced flow will lessen the erosion pressures on the City of Venice beaches and will abate the continuing erosion of Snake Island inside the Venice Jetties. · Reduced boat traffic in the Intracoastal Waterway. More boats will access the Gulf, significantly reducing boat traffic in the bay. Manatees will be at reduced risk with fewer boats in the restrictive Intracoastal. Less wake activity in the bays will reduce problems for the shoreline and for bird nesting areas. · Beach erosion on south Siesta Key will be greatly lessened. The inlet naturally provided beach accretion/stabilization for south Siesta Key. No more homes will fall into the Gulf of Mexico. Turtle Beach (a County park) will be protected. · There will be no further need to armor south Siesta Key. In fact, the existing seawalls and revetments could be removed. Turtles will not be prevented from nesting on the beaches. · It will cost Sarasota County and Florida LESS to restore Midnight Pass. Pass restoration and maintenance over 30 years costs millions less than the cost of renourishing south Siesta Key every 8 to 10 years. Such renourishment would be required if Midnight Pass is left closed. Periodic pass maintenance will simultaneously address any erosion areas on either Siesta or Casey Keys. The planned deposition basin for the inlet is a source of valuable beach-quality sand. Federal funds could be requested for the pass project Beach renourishment costs must be borne by just county and state funds. Please add our voices to those requesting that midnight pass be opened. Vic and Debbie McMurry Re: Midnight Pass Information
by
minime
on Thu 09 Aug 2007 12:08 PM EDT | Profile | Permanent Link
here’s abundant evidence a pass existed in this area for hundreds of years… perhaps for as long as the barrier islands! Native American Indians made their home in the Spanish Point area as evidenced by the shell mounds, burial grounds and even a fish holding pond! They would surely have settled by an active inlet for easy access to and from the Gulf of Mexico. Same for the commercial fishing industry which was originally based in the Vamo area of Sarasota County. Then there’s the Bird Islands which were likely formed from the flood tidal delta of an active inlet… following hundreds of years of sand accumulation.
---- National Marine Engineers Beneficial Re: Midnight Pass Information
by
silver jewelry club
on Mon 21 Apr 2008 05:27 PM EDT | Permanent Link
Karyn Erickson has tried her best to make this thing happen but we all know that the only things that are done fast are the ones where the money come from. Nobody wants to invest into a non-profit action. Philanthropy is a word that will soon disappear from our vocabularies.
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