Perdido Key Dune Restoration Project
The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council has selected Perdido Key to receive dune restoration funding due to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill negatively impacting the panhandle’s natural dune habitat. The Perdido Key Dune Restoration project will be approximately six miles long beginning near Perdido Pass and extending eastward to the edge of the Gulf Islands National Seashore property, restoring about 20 acres of degraded dune habitat. The process of dune restoration is very different than that of beach nourishment. It is where salt-tolerant native vegetation is planted in order to trap and stabilize wind-blown sand, enhancing the natural storm protection.
The dune restoration project will consist of planting appropriate dune vegetation such as sea oats, cord grasses, beach elder, panic grasses and sea purslane. Planting will occur immediately seaward of the existing vegetation, at approximately 10-40 feet in front of the dune to provide a buffer and enhance coastal resiliency. The expected time frame and construction of the project is the spring or fall shoulder season, for 60-90 days. Similar to the dune planting that occurred in 2006, the restoration won’t cause privately owned beaches to become public.
In order to restore the dunes and resiliency of the Perdido Key coast, the county needs the help of Perdido Key waterfront property owners in the project area. In July, Escambia County held a public meeting and started the process of requesting a right of entry agreement from the property owners, which is a document allowing the county to access private land.
If the county is allowed to plant dune vegetation, the extent of the planting is completely up to the owner. Modifications can be made to accommodate the property owner, as long as it doesn’t affect the restoration. The right of entry agreement is all about respecting private property rights. Therefore, owners may revoke their permission at any time, but the county would prefer to finish the restoration project before permission is revoked.
The bottom line with this project is that if owners do not participate and sign the right of entry agreements, the project will not move forward. For more information about dune restoration, please contact Tim Day at (850) 595-1144 or trday@myescambia.com or Craig Martin at (850) 453-4700 or craig@wetlandsciences.com.
Also, be sure to watch for the October Underhill video update coming soon for more information on beach nourishment and how it differs from dune restoration.
Balanced 2016/2017 Fiscal Year Budget Passed
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners passed a balanced budget of $434 million Tuesday, Aug. 20, but elected to only release the first quarter of funding for the economic development organization, FloridaWest.
FloridaWest is an organization tasked with bringing industry and jobs to Escambia County and is funded by public and private dollars. Although FloridaWest is now funded through the first quarter, they still need to provide detailed answers and analytics to the commissioners before the remaining fiscal year funding will be released.
Commissioner Underhill requested information regarding, “the difference between real jobs, accountable jobs and anticipated jobs.” Also discussed was the need for more job creation in the red areas on the Pockets of Poverty map, where the highest concentration of poverty and lowest median incomes in the county lie.
FloridaWest board member Lewis Bear will be meeting with Commissioner Underhill in order to address his questions and concerns. To watch this meeting and others, please visit myescambia.com/ectv.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection filed a petition and complaint against Ricky Faciane and Classic Homebuilders Inc. with the Escambia County Circuit Court on Dec. 3, 2015. The filing is an effort to seek an injunction, or a court order, requiring a person to cease doing a specific action and penalties for failing to properly maintain two dry retention ponds located at 5100 Terra Lake Circle.
The trial date has not been set. However, the case is currently in the discovery phase, which is an under oath pre-trial procedure where each party can obtain information from the other via request for answers, documents and evidence.
FDEP’s filing shadows a previous action in which an administrative law judge entered a final order, a judgment of the court that disposes of the rights of both parties, against Classic on Apr. 30, 2015. The current case states that Classic has failed to comply with the order. Therefore, the court is requesting that Faciane and Classic come into compliance with the previous order, original permit conditions and that certain penalties and cost are paid.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
BCC Regular Meeting
Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building
221 Palafox Place
Thursday, October 6, 2016
5:30 PM
Committee of the Whole
Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building
221 Palafox Place
Thursday, October 13, 2016
9:00 AM
Myrtle Grove Revitalization Group
Myrtle Grove United Methodist Church
1030 N 57th Ave, Pensacola
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
6:00 PM
myrtlegroverevitalizationgroup@gmail.com
BCC Regular Meeting
Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building
221 Palafox Place
Thursday, October 20, 2016
5:30 PM