HomeMy Public PortalAbout20060921BeachTaskForceMinutes.pdfTybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes
September 21, 2006
Members Present: Berta Adams, Amy Lanier, Henry Levy, Walter Parker,
Freda Rutherford, William Sprague, John Wylly, Lou Off
Ex-Officos Present: Jan Mackinnon, DNR, Bert Moore, Bill Bailey, Dan Parrott,
Lyle Maciejewski, ACOE, Paul Wolff, City Council, Diane Schleicher, City Manager
Members Absent: Cecil Delorme, Helen Downing, Dick Magune,
Mary McCracken (E), Wick Searcy (E)
Visitors: Kevin Haas, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Associate Professor Georgia Institute of
Technology, Savannah, Shane Gaither, DNR.
Lou called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Diane Schleicher and Monica Dodd are setting up a meeting between Tybee, COE, Erik, and DNR.
This meeting will start the study of the channel impact on Tybee using the information from the
ERDC (Engineering Research Development Center). Lou would like as many people from the BTF
attend as possible. This meeting will be set sometime in November.
Freda motioned to approve the minutes from the August meeting. Berta seconded the motion.
Dan Parrot had a change under the LRR. Minutes were approved as amended.
The WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) is now going to the Joint Committee. The COE
has to be given direction through a study resolution or through WRDA to study a project. The
COE already has the study OK for North Beach and the Channel Impact. In WRDA 2006 draft
there is a provision for the COE to look at North Beach again. This is not necessary so they are
taking it out of the WRDA to give it a simpler study resolution.
The Mayor went to Washington with Savannah Chamber of Commerce. The best part of his
presentation was that they will remember us next year. He had time with our representatives
while he was there.
Berta commented that she had heard good things from Jared Downs, aid to Senator Isakson,
that our Mayor had done a great job! She also stated that Jared stated that they will keep the
money in for this year and they will try for more, but the chances are looking better for the next
year.
Lou stated that we have an official request from the City to Commander Held at the COE
requesting that the COE under the Freedom Information Act furnish Tybee Island materials,
quantities including the amount of quality sand that needs to be placed on Tybee’s beach or near
shore under the requirements of HB 727 and the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
Projects
Lyle Maciejewski from the COE gave the HB 727 current status. First is to identity a principal
representative for cooperative RSM (Resident Sediment Management) efforts. Second is to
obtain, compile and collect survey data. Third, Identify the quantity and quality of beach material
suitable sediments dredged annually from federal navigation channels. Fourth, model existing
conditions. Fifth, formulate and evaluate alternative placement plans from engineering, economic
and environmental perspectives. Sixth, report results and seventh, enter into partnership
agreements for endeavors to accomplish specific work or research projects.
Lou asked Jan from the DNR if she had a report on the limits of the channel. Jan stated that
they have been discussing that internally. They do not have the exact parameters yet, but she
did find that the original intent was to include 0 – 24 (at the light station) or up to the Tallmadge
Bridge.
Harbor Maintenance Dredging
Lou asked about the administration of what Tybee will get his year from the channel dredging.
Lyle stated that there is nothing in the contract. Lou stated that we need to be compensated
some how next year. The COE knows what beach quality sand is according to the borings. They
keep track of the quantity removed. Lou asked what the procedure would be for Tybee to get
some compensation and from whom? This should be decided by all involved, COE, DNR, and
City of Tybee.
SEG Meeting
Bill Bailey from the COE gave a presentation on the Expansion Project. A handout was given to
all members containing information concerning the presentation. The location to place the
material that they remove from the entrance channel was charted. The COE would like to
beneficially use as much material as possible and they looked at how the Expansion Study got
started as well as the new CZM program change. The COE took different borings in the channel
to find out what the material consisted of and the quantities of the materials etc. From that the
engineers developed a least cost placement plan, and then they looked at that plan from an
environmental perspective. They had discussions with DNR and Erik Olsen. Issues that were
brought up during the discussion were grain sizes, appearance during construction and
afterwards (clay balls being apart of that), compliance with the CZM program, cost, depth of
submerged fields, and the width of the field. Using all those factors the COE came up with areas
for disposal. (See chart handout) None of the sand is white, but it does meet the 80% sand
criteria. There is a percent that does not meet the criteria and they need to determine what to
do with that. Different quality will be placed in different disposal locations within a 3 mile
maximum on the pumping distance.
The plan is to place material in a number of locations. (See chart handout) The COE is not sure
if deepening will occur and if it does what the depth will be. Berta asked if these spots were
holding areas for sand so that they can be retrieved during a re-nourishment. Bill stated that it is
possible. Freda asked if these spots were different than those proposed sites for the Widener
Project. Bill stated that the Widener was going to use that area. The quantities are included in
the report. It is unsure at the moment if the Widener will happen prior to the deepening, during
the deepening or not at all.
Placing the material in the near shore area will allow the waves to push it to the beach. Berta
asked why the location wasn’t moved further up toward the North Beach area. The research
team in Vicksburg who ran the model showed that the closer the material was placed to the
channel the more it gets swept back into the channel. The material will never get to the beach.
The current design is to place material in the inter-tidal zone. It will be visible at low tide but not
at high tide. Site 2 was is to keep sand moving and provide protection to the beach. One of the
trade offs is how high to place material. The higher it is the more the sand is going to move, but
also boaters could run aground. DNR approved a -5 elevation, but the COE is proposing a -4
elevation.
Bill talked about 2 other sites – MLW500 which run from the North Groin down to the 3 mile limit
that they can pump. They will deposit material at the low waterline and allow it to build up to a
mid-tide and it would extend out 500 ft. The other site – MLW200 will only be 200 ft wide. Freda
asked about the shrimpers. Lou brought this up at the COE meeting and it is being followed up
by the COE.
Henry Levy asked how it was going to be moved over the rock jetties and around to Estill point.
Bill stated that they would place it using a pipeline. Henry stated that he lives about ¼ mile from
North Beach. At low tide there are waves breaking on a sand bar directly out from his house and
wanted to know why wasn’t that sand coming onto the beach. Bill stated that it was too close to
the channel and everything gets swept back into the channel.
Berta asked when the Maintenance dredging is done and the sand needs to be disposed, will it
be placed in those near shore areas to keep it filled so that Tybee will benefit. Lou stated that is
what Lyle is working on. The hopper dredge cannot place it in those areas and that is what is
used during the maintenance dredging. Lou stated that we need to engage Bubba, our city
attorney, to draw up a contract for an IOU System. We have this year and next year and we
need to have that IOU before we allow the maintenance dredging.
According to Dan, the best estimated schedule for the channel deepening project will be in 2009.
The total cost estimate is $400 million dollars with 80/20 cost share.
Freda asked if we know where the ATM report is and when the Beach Committee of the SEG
needs to be. Dan stated that the ERDC report that was presented on Tuesday and will formally
presented to them is an update to the ATM report. The COE will follow the new report. An
actual hard copy will be available in approximately two weeks.
Freda asked for Mary (since she was absent) the effects the ship wakes were having on the
North Beach. Lou stated that at the SEG meeting that Alan Garrett had in his hand an unread
report for the ship wakes. The study report has come to the COE sometime in the last couple of
weeks. Bill stated that there ware facts on the different size ship wakes. The next step that the
geologist is doing now is making that wave change and seeing what effect that has on the
shoreline and this should be completed sometime in October.
Freda stated that the Beach Erosion Committee needed to meet since it has not met because
they have had nothing to review since the ATM report. Bill Farmer is still the committee chair of
that committee.
This ERDC report will be basis of the channel impact report for Tybee. Dan stated there is a draft
PMP and some of the studies that are in that plan have been completed by ERDC. The COE will
compare the overlaps and reduce out of the Channel Impacts.
Lou stated that Diane Schleicher is setting up a meeting in November. This meeting will be the
lead in to the Section 111 – Channel Impact.
Dan asked about the draft cost share agreement to Tybee several months ago. Once the PMP is
agreed upon then attach that with the cost share agreement. Lou stated that we are holding it
until the meeting in November. Dan wanted to know if the language was okay. Lou stated that
we are waiting on the cost. Dan stated if there were any changes in the language then it needed
to be sent back to Washington, DC. Lou said we would review it again to make sure the
language is acceptable.
Sand Relocation Procedure
Berta handed out the final copy for the members to review (See Sand Relocation Procedure). It
was agreed at the last meeting that a time period of 30 days was given for DNR to respond. Jan
needed to check to make sure that language could be added. There was a motion for Berta to
send this Proposal to the City Council with the revision as long as DNR approves that revision.
Bill motioned to do so and Amy seconded. The Sand Relocation Procedure was approved by the
members with that correction provided that DNR would accept that language. Jan is to let Janice
know if that language is acceptable and then Janice will send the proposal to the Council
members for review and ask that this be placed on the October 26th Council meeting agenda.
Beach Survey Cost
Cost comparison Handout Sheets were given out to all members with the costs from COE and the
Georgia Institute of Technology.
Burt sent the survey costs to Lou. The normal beach survey cost approximately $14,260.00 and
this does not include the fly over. Also Burt sent an estimate for North Beach Survey which was
$4,678.
The second price from Kevin Haas, Georgia Institute of Technology was very close to the COE’s
cost.
Between now and the time of a re-nourishment, Tybee does need to complete a monitoring of
the beaches. It has been Lou’s position not to do that monitoring until funding is approved for
re-nourishment. Freda stated that is not what the PCA states that we do. Dan stated that one of
the things that the COE looks at is how well you comply with the PCA. We have requested the
COE to confirm they will accept a beach survey from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dan
stated that it can be done by a private sector as long as the methodology is the same – i.e.
scope, surveys, etc. It was discussed that if the City Council approves the Sand Relocation
Procedure that we need a beach survey in order for us to move sand around. Lou asked Dan for
a letter that they will accept the Georgia Institute of Technology proposal for the beach survey.
It was agreed that beach monitoring should occur twice a year. Once the Sand Relocation
Procedure is signed, and the COE says that GA TECH can do it for us, we can make a
recommendation to the City Council and get Kevin started.
Burt stated that weather permitting on October 11th; a survey is scheduled for the Channel – 9 ft
tide.
GPA – Tybee Cooperative Draft Agreement
A draft was handed out to the members. GPA has it and is making a few minor modifications to
it and then they will send the draft with the corrections back to us. What we hope to do is to
have a working agreement signed by Tybee, GPA Board, and the Governor. What we are trying
to tie together is that Tybee is harmed while the revenue of many dollars worth of taxes goes to
the State. Not that the State hasn’t been giving us money, but there may come a day when we
do not have the leadership at the State to help us at each re-nourishment and it would be nice to
have a designated revenue source. We will talk more about this at the next meeting.
Old Business - None
New Business – None
Meeting Adjourned