|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Easements
1. What is meant by the construction of a "Berm" in the project area? A "Berm" is a design term referencing the flat part of the beach extending from the waterline to the Dune line or vegetation line at the upland property. The elevation of the berm is designed at 4.1 NGVD 29. For reference, this elevation is approximately where the native vegetation begins. Sand will not be placed significantly higher than this elevation. 2. What type of vegetation will be planted? No vegetation will be planted within the Estero Island project area. 3. What type of temporary structures will be erected as part of the project? The intent of erecting temporary structures, as referenced in the easement language, is to allow for the construction workers to erect small buildings to provide offices or sheltered workspaces. These buildings will be on a sled type apparatus that is pulled by a bulldozer or other type of heavy equipment. It is expected the size of the building(s) will be similar to a portable tool shed (Approximately 10 feet high and 15 feet long). A portable sanitary facility may also be included with these structures. 4. How long will the structures be on each individual parcel? It is expected the structures will move an average of 500 feet down the beach each day. There will be days where the work crews encounter delays due to mechanical difficulties or inclement weather. However, it is not expected that the equipment or structures will be on any single parcel longer than five (5) days. 5. What is the elevation of the Erosion Control Line (ECL)? The ECL or Mean High Water Line (MHWL) elevation for northern Estero Island project is 1.5'. This elevation references the National Geodetic Vertical Datum established in 1929 (NGVD 29) and is determined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency (FDEP). The designated elevation varies slightly along the Florida coastline. For example, the MHWL at the south end of Estero Island is 1.42' NGVD 29. The legal description of the ECL has been recorded in the public records of Lee County in Plat Book 70, pages 25 thru 39. 6. What is meant by the "Taking" of trees and vegetation? The intent of this provision is to allow for the removal of any trees, brush, shrubs or other vegetation that impedes the placement of fill material. No trees six (6") inches in diameter or greater will be removed from the project area. If property owners have trees or vegetation they do not want removed, this vegetation may be marked prior to construction (By County Staff) and care will be taken to avoid it. If harm does come to any marked vegetation, it shall be restored to pre-construction quality or replaced with like vegetation. Residents with trees or vegetation within the easement area that they wish not to be damaged or removed should contact Lee County Division of Natural Resources by phone at (239) 479-8109. 7. How will the sand placement affect seawalls? Generally speaking, sand will be placed up to and seaward of any exposed seawall. In the event the natural ground elevation on the seaward side of the seawall is higher than the 4.1 contour, sand will be placed up to the 4.1 contour. Sand will not be placed landward or behind any seawall. It is expected the contractor conducting the beach fill operations will place sand next to the seawalls with a small tractor or 'Bobcat'. Larger equipment may be used. County Staff will attempt to videotape the pre-construction condition of all known seawalls prior to construction. Any damage that occurs to the seawalls as a result of the construction activities, will be repaired to pre-construction condition at no expense to the owner. If residents are aware of any buried or covered seawall within the survey area, please contact Lee County Division of Natural Resources at (239) 479-8109. 8. What is the Construction Process? A cutterhead or hydraulic dredge will be positioned approximately 1.5 miles off the north end of Estero Island and 2 miles off Point Ybel on Sanibel Island in San Carlos Bay. The dredge will excavate beach fill material mixed with salt water and pump it to Ft. Myers Beach via a floating or submerged pipeline. (The pipeline will be clearly marked in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations or may be anchored to the Gulf floor at certain channel crossing locations.) Onshore, the material will be transported thru a pipeline to the discharge point. At the discharge point, the material will be travel thru an apparatus designed to separate the sand and water. This apparatus is known as a "spreader" and will direct the slurry mix in a rainbow pattern onto the fill area. A longitudinal dike may be erected to direct the flow of water down the beach, instead of into the Gulf of Mexico. This process enables the sand to settle out of the slurry mix and remain on the beach. Heavy construction equipment will then push the material to shape the design template. Aluminum grade stakes may be placed to mark the fill elevations. These stakes will be inventoried prior to placement to ensure they are removed promptly after construction. The construction area, approximately 500 feet from the discharge point down the beach, will be closed to the public. This area will be marked with caution tape or construction fencing. As the pipeline extends down the beach, pedestrian crossovers will be constructed across the pipe. The crossovers will consist of sand ramps approximately 12 feet wide, placed across the pipeline in intervals no greater than 500 feet. The pipeline may be 36" in diameter. It is expected construction will occur every day once started and continue 24 hours a day. As previously mentioned, the construction area is expected to move an average of 500 feet per day. 9. What are the maintenance and post-construction activities? Beach Profile Surveys: Immediately following construction and each spring / summer for three (3) consecutive years, the County will conduct beach profile surveys to monitor the erosion or accretion. Additionally, surveys will be conducted biannually after the third year post construction for 2 cycles. A total of 5 surveys will be conducted over a 7 year period. The surveys will be conducted on intervals of approximately 1 profile every 500 ft laterally down the beach. Compaction and Tilling: Immediately following construction and prior to April 15th for 3 subsequent years, County personnel will conduct compaction surveys to determine if tiling is required. If sand compaction is found to be unsuitable for marine turtle nesting, in accordance with standards prescribed by the FDEP, tilling shall be required. Compaction surveys consist of one or two persons traversing the beach and measuring sand compaction on 500-foot intervals. Any required tilling is expected to be conducted with at tractor or large front-end loader raking the beach to a depth of 24 inches. The tilling operations should not last longer than 1 day for any given easement and must be completed prior to April 15th each year. Escarpment Surveys and Leveling: Immediately following construction, prior to March 1st, and weekly from May 1 to October 31visual surveys for escarpments, o vertical formations of sand, will be conducted for 2 years after construction. If escarpments exceeding 18 inches in height and 100 feet in length are found, they shall be leveled by mechanical methods. It is expected that these mechanical methods will consist of a tractor with a box scrape or small bull dozer, however the FDEP shall prescribe the methods to be used. Lighting Survey: A visual survey to detect lights or light sources will be conduced monthly beginning in April and extending thru August for the first turtle-nesting season following construction. Marine Turtle Nesting Survey: Surveys will be conducted during construction and thru 3 nesting seasons following construction to document nesting activities. It is expected the survey swill consist of daily patrols along the project area, however, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) may stipulate additional activities to include the surveys. If additional activities are required, they will be included on this web page as determined. Nourishment Activities: Currently there is 1 nourishment scheduled for 8 years after the initial restoration. A nourishment is a second or additional placement of sand on the restored beach. It involves the same type of construction activities as the initial restoration, however, it does not require the establishment of an ECL. Post construction activities similar to those listed above will be required following the nourishment.
| ||||
