Beach restoration halted until Oct. 1, 2006

[Kurt]

Date: May 25, 2006



From: Brad Pickel

Director of Beach Management

Walton County TDC



Western Walton County Beach Restoration Project Timetable


On Sunday, May 21, the Liberty Island Dredge took a second loggerhead turtle resulting in the immediate shut-down of the project. On Monday, May 22, 2006, the US Army Corps of Engineers through consultation with other federal agencies determined that the project should not continue and an immediate suspension shall go into affect until October 1, 2006.


Over the following days, Walton County and the City of Destin worked to determine if there are any additional avenues for restarting the project before October 1. On May 25, 2006 it was determined that the project would not be allowed to restart prior to October 1. The reason for the suspension was that the project resulted in four turtle takes and the US Army Corps of Engineers has determined that given the abundance of sea turtles in the area of the borrow area, as well as the sea conditions and the location of and shape of the borrow area, it is not possible using a hopper dredge to continue without undue risk of turtle takes.



To date, we have completed approximately 19,750 feet (53 %) of the total project, and about 77% of the Walton County portion. There are 17,450 feet remain to complete the project. The project has currently placed approximately 1.45 million cubic yards of sand since the project began in February. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC has commenced demobilization. Additional meetings will be held between all parties involved to determine the next steps and information will be provided as it becomes available.

 

[Kurt]

This photo from the TDC shows where the project was halted at Frangista Beach.

 

[yippie]

Kurt - this still is not edged in stone. Jeff Miller's office and the City of Destin are still trying to work things out since it was a loggehead that was killed. We still have one more before we reach our limit on that type.

I just received an e-mail from the mayor and he said it is not certain quite yet.

 

[Kurt]

Thanks - I'm just passing along what I received, above.

Over the following days, Walton County and the City of Destin worked to determine if there are any additional avenues for restarting the project before October 1. On May 25, 2006

 

[yippie]

PLEASE cross your fingers. My home is in the area that hasn't been quite reached.

 

[Kurt]

I imagine the folks at Frangista and Costa Del Sol are in disbelief.

 

[Smiling JOe]

PLEASE cross your fingers. My home is in the area that hasn't been quite reached.

That must be very frustrating to be in that situation.

Brad Pickel was so enthusiastic about this dredging system because it would not kill the turtles - finally an answer to getting sand back onto the beaches. Does anyone know how the turtles which have been killed by this system were killed?

 

[Miss Kitty]

Good question SJ...I've wondered the same thing. When was this restoration originally planned to be completed?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Good question SJ...I've wondered the same thing. When was this restoration originally planned to be completed?

It was scheduled to be completed before the turtle season began. They had equipment failure - out for a week or more, and another week or so of inclimate weather which threw them way behind schedule.

 

[Unplugged]

That must be very frustrating to be in that situation.

Brad Pickel was so enthusiastic about this dredging system because it would not kill the turtles - finally an answer to getting sand back onto the beaches. Does anyone know how the turtles which have been killed by this system were killed?

I posted a very informative link [ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?p=106529#post106529"]HERE[/ame] but the site is down or has changed. There were specifics and sad photos of how the turtles were killed. The investigator's reports were amazingly detailed, almost like an autopsy.