Our experience shines through with each project we undertake. We invite you to read more about some of our best work.

Beach & Dune Restoration

Venice Beach Shore Protection (Client: The City of Venice, FL) –

In early 1994, the City and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) were staged to proceed with construction of a Shore Protection Project entailing nourishment of 3.2 miles of beach within the City of Venice with 2.1 million cubic yards of fill from the Manasota Key borrow areas and Siesta Key borrow area. During the final review of the project, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) determined that the sand within the Siesta Key borrow area was too fine and the Siesta Key borrow area was rejected; the project was split into two phases. Phase I construction proceeded with the Manasota Key borrow area. Phase II construction was delayed until identification of a suitable borrow area.

Coastal Tech was retained by the City to conduct reconnaissance and plans & specification level offshore geotechnical investigations to locate a borrow area sufficient to complete the project. Coastal Tech identified “target areas” and subsequently provided: reconnaissance level jet probes to identify sediment quality and thickness; vibracores and compatibility analysis of potential borrow area sediments; bathymetric, magnetometer, side scan surveys and archeological resources surveys in the proposed borrow area. The geotechnical investigations located a suitable Phase II borrow source with 1.9 million cubic yards of sand within 4 months of authorization. Coastal Tech conducted both (a) “reconnaissance level” and (b) “plans & specs level” geotechnical investigations.

In 2000-2003, Coastal Tech worked with the City to provide Stormwater Outfall consultation, a Monitoring Report based on USACE monitoring surveys, a Feasibility Study Report based on 2001 and 2003 hydrographic monitoring survey information, and a Joint Coastal Permit for obtaining regulatory approval and easements for a 2005 maintenance project.

In 2005, Coastal Tech worked with the City and the USACE to complete the 2005 Shore Protection Project and is currently working with the City to provide Project Management Services, a Shore Protection Project Annual Report , an Artificial Mitigation Reef Design, and 5 years of Biological Monitoring for the recently completed USACE Shore Protection Project.

Navarre Beach Management Plan (Client: Santa Rosa County, FL) –

Coastal Tech formulated alternative designs and a long-term funding strategy to address the erosion and storm vulnerability along the 3.5 miles of Navarre Beach shoreline. The investigation conducted a Public Access Inventory, recommended the addition of 143 parking spaces to maximize public access and State of Florida cost sharing, documented the severity of erosion and vulnerability of uplands to storm damage, assessed alternative designs which resulted in the selection of a beach and dune project as the “locally-preferred” option to provide a greater level of storm protection and mitigate sand volume losses, prepared a Long-term Funding Plan and, identified potential borrow areas.

Coastal Tech completed a reconnaissance level geotechnical investigation which identified potential borrow areas to provide approximately 14 million cubic yards of sand suitable for the initial construction of a Navarre Beach restoration project and future re-nourishment projects. The investigation included bathymetric and seismic surveys, 33 vibracores, laboratory and compatibility analysis, and development of “plans and specification” level geotechnical data.

The proposed project qualified to receive State funds through the DEP administered Florida Beach Erosion Control Program. To assist Santa Rosa County in developing a funding source, Coastal Tech assessed economic benefits associated with alternative beach fill templates and prepared mechanisms to raise the 50% local match required by DEP. To implement the recommended project, Coastal Tech advanced the project fill design and applied for permits from the DEP and the USACE.

In 2005, Coastal Tech received the FDEP and USACE permits for the project was contracted by the County to perform construction administration and to finalize an MSBU. In addition, Coastal Tech will perform physical monitoring of the completed project to document project performance.

McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Dune Restoratio n (Client: Texas General Land Office) –

In coordination with the Texas GLO and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Coastal Tech prepared the conceptual, preliminary and final design and specifications for this highly successful dune restoration project in Jefferson County, Texas. Services included permitting and construction oversight, beach access planning, and acquisition of all dune plants for the project. The innovative, cost-saving design was selected through preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

As part of the EA, Coastal Tech performed a habitat assessments for federally-listed threatened and endangered species, delineated wetlands affected by the proposed project, coordinated with the Texas Historical Commission regarding potential impacts to cultural resources, and analyzed the cost-benefit ratio for four dune restoration alternatives. Coastal Tech collected more than 45,000 native dune plants within the McFaddin and Aransas National Wildlife Refuges and coordinated the propagation of these plants for installation within the project area. Coastal Tech also developed innovative methods to preserve and relocate 15,000 dune plants on site that would have otherwise been buried by reconstruction of the dune system. Coastal Tech provided construction phase services in May 2001 and again for a renourishment in April 2003.

In May 2005, four years after the initial project, the McFaddin Dune Project remains one of the most successful natural shoreline stabilization projects constructed on the Texas coast. The dune itself has restored important habitat in the refuge and reintroduced sea oats to this section of the Texas coast. In spite of being impacted by three tropical storms and one hurricane, the project remains robust and continues to protect the upland coastal wetlands and marshes in the refuge.

John's Island Dune Restoration and Maintenance (Client: CCSI John's Island, FL) –

In 1984, a severe “northeaster” occurred over the Thanksgiving weekend. This storm impacted beaches along Florida's east coast. Throughout Indian River County, dunes commonly eroded on the order of 15 feet landward during the “1984 Thanksgiving Day Storm”.

In 1986, CCSI retained Coastal Tech to restore over 6000 feet of dunes at John's Island roughly centered on the Beach Club. Restoration entailed the placement of beach compatible sand and native dune vegetation. In the winter of 1988-1989, a portion of the dunes, between the Beach Club and 500 Beach Road, were partially eroded; the dune in this area was “touched up” in 1989.

Subsequently, Coastal Tech has monitored the dune where the dune was restored and also where the dune was not restored at John's Island. Measurements and observations were made in 1997 and more recently, in the summer of 2004.

Monitoring and historical profile (1972, 1986, 1993, 2001, and 2004) comparisons indicated that, prior to the recent hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, at John's Island:

•  The dune most significantly eroded during the 1984 Thanksgiving Day Storm.

•  After the 1984 Thanksgiving Day Storm, the beach and dune partially recovered (accreted); except for where mechanically restored, the dune did not recover to 1972 conditions – even after 20 years.

Coastal Geology & Sediment Labs

Beachfill Material Guidelines (Client: Florida Department of
Environmental Protection) –

Beach restoration projects are not designed based solely on the engineering performance of the fill. Borrow sand must also meet the aesthetic expectations of the public and function in an environmentally sound manner. Coastal Tech has been retained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop guidelines that can be used statewide by design professionals and Department staff to help assure that these goals are met.

Our efforts will result in a procedural reference that standardizes sand search methodologies, borrow vs. native sand compatibility analyses, and data reporting formats. It will also address QA/QC issues during subsequent construction of a beach nourishment project.

These guidelines will recommend specifications for the content and format of geological and engineering information to be submitted to the Department and for documentation of the due diligence used by the design professional in conducting the investigation and design.

As part of the recommendations for compatibility analyses, Coastal Tech will produce guidelines for characterization of native beach sediments. This work includes the establishment of standards for the determination of a wide range of aesthetic and environmentally important native beach characteristics such as mineralogy, shape, color, grain size and size distribution descriptors.

Volusia County Offshore Sand Search (Client: Volusia County, FL) –

Coastal Tech is currently under contract with Volusia County and is performing a county-wide sand search to identify offshore borrow areas for initial restoration and future renourishment of Volusia County beaches. In concert with the sand search investigation, Coastal Tech has collected over 130 vibracores (a mixture of 10 foot and 20 foot cores).over an area of 750 square miles, extending a maximum distance of about 15 miles offshore. The investigation has located two distinct borrow areas reflecting the two types of native beach sediments that exist within the southern peninsula of Volusia.

SANDAG Regional Beach Sand Project Borrow Site Investigations (Client: San Diego Association of Governments) –

The San Diego Regional Beach Sand Project was constructed in the spring and summer of 2001. The Project entailed placement of about 2 million cubic yards of sand from multiple borrow areas including a “SS-1” site located “Offshore Imperial Beach” and a “SO-9” site near Oceanside.

During dredging of the “SS-1” site on May 23, 2001, Noble Consultants, Inc. noted the Contractor's dredge “encountered an excessive amount of cobble size rocks”. It was determined that “SS1 did not contain suitable sand.” which added borrow area MB1 at an increase in Contract Price. After initial dredging of the “SO-9" site, the Contractor, Natco Limited Partnership, provided a written “Notice of Differing Site Condition” , which identified that “the material is of significantly poorer quality than ... anticipated” that “does not build well on the beach” and “appears to erode the beach rather than build it up.” Subsequent documentation by Natco identified that the material (a) “is so fine and clayey that it does not retain on the beach”, and (b) contains a “significant amount of rocks”. These conditions prompted the Contractor to move the dredge to borrow area “SO-7".

In response to the above circumstances, SANDAG retained Coastal Tech to review the previous borrow site investigations and identify potential methods that might improve the results of future investigations. Coastal Tech provided a review of documents describing the previous investigations with an assessment of the methods and results based upon industry standards as set forth by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as commonly accepted by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, Coastal Tech identified potential measures that may be employed by SANDAG in conjunction with future borrow site investigations to result in acceptable materials within designated borrow sites.

Coastal Tech reviewed copies of SANDAG documents including: professional service contracts, relevant work products, construction Contract Documents , and documentation of actual sediment conditions encountered in the field. Relevant work products included:

•  seismic records,
•  characterization of the regional geology,
•  jet probe results,
•  core logs, and
•  results of gradation analysis for representative samples.

Coastal Zone Management

Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Task Force (Client: Brazoria County, TX) –

Coastal Tech acted as an advisory technical consultant to the Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Erosion Task Force.

In recognition of the regional nature of the erosion problem, local officials chose to join together to form the Shoreline Restoration Task Force, Brazoria County, Texas in September 2002. The initial Task Force members included all major political subdivisions with beachfront property or responsibility in the Planning Area:

•  Brazoria County,
•  Brazos River Harbor Navigation District,
•  Village of Surfside Beach,
•  Town of Quintana, and
•  Treasure Island Municipal Utility District

In January 2004, after annexing beachfront area, the City of Freeport also joined the Task Force. Coastal Tech was responsible for drafting the initial by-laws, goals, and projects objectives for the Task Force and continued to work with the group to implement selected projects.

Bolivar Peninsula Flood Mitigation Plan (Client: Galveston County, TX) –

Working under a grant obtained for Galveston County, Coastal Tech prepared the first Flood Mitigation Plan for a Texas coastal community to reduce the risk of storm damage on Bolivar Peninsula. As lead consistent to the effort, Coastal Tech created the local Flood Mitigation Planning Committee and developed direct and on-going liaison relationships with the Texas Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers - Galveston District, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Coastal Coordination Council and the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments. Coastal Tech analyzed flood risks on the peninsula, including the first-ever tabulation of repetitive loss structures in the area.

In cooperation with the Texas Natural Resources Information System (TNRIS) and the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), Coastal Tech produced the “Regional Risk Characterization Map”, which documented existing flood hazards in the planning area including risks to structures, businesses, and public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and parks. Finally, Coastal Tech worked closely with the local community to identify potential flood mitigation response measures and to evaluate and recommend specific mitigation measures to be undertaken over the short- and long-term. Both the County Commissioner's court, TWDB and FEMA, making the county eligible for significant federal mitigation funds, approved the Bolivar Peninsula Flood Mitigation Plan.

Inlet Management Projects

Knight Island/Stump Pass Erosion Control (Client: Sarasota and Charlotte Counties, FL)

Charlotte County completed its first major Erosion Control Project along three miles of critically eroding beaches adjacent to Stump Pass. This dual purpose Project included beach restoration and navigation components. The beach restoration component consisted of placing 560,000 cubic yards of sand on Knight and Don Pedro Islands' gulf-front shoreline to restored the recreational beach, created new habitat for nesting turtles and shore birds, and provided storm protection for the upland development; placing 170,000 cubic yards of sand along the northern shoreline of Knight Island to assist in the closure of the existing Stump Pass channel; and placing 100,000 cubic yards of sand on the inlet's updrift beach, Manasota Key, along the State Park beach to serve as advanced mitigation for potential inlet improvement impacts.

The navigation component involved dredging the Stump Pass 1980 channel. The primary borrow area was sited along the 1980 alignment corresponding to the most hydraulically efficient channel. Excavation of this area resulted in severing the southern end of the Manasota Key spit from the State Park beach. Permit requirements included the County taking over the management activities on the new island created by the Project such as debris removal, predator control and environmental monitoring. The comprehensive monitoring included sea turtle and shore bird nesting as well as implementing shore bird protection measures such as fencing off and creating buffer areas for documented nests.

In addition to the channel borrow area, a supplemental nearshore borrow area was used to provide the sand necessary to complete the Project. Other permit monitoring requirements included additional turbidity monitoring of the interior waterbody, Lemon Bay, which is an Aquatic Preserve; sea grass monitoring of the grass beds within the zone of influence of the Project; and hydraulic monitoring to record the changes in the tides and currents in the restored channel allowing for post-Project comparisons to the historical measurements and the predicted changes for the hydraulic parameters from channel restoration.

East Pass Re-Opening Experimental Project
(Client: Bay County, FL) -

Bay County authorized Coastal Tech to implement a monitoring program following the experimental re-opening of East Pass in 2001 in order to assist in evaluating the impact, performance and “success” of the project. The design basis for the proposed project was set forth in: “ Conceptual Design and Environmental…,” completed in December 1999.

The basic project included a 3,600 foot long channel connecting the approximate -10 foot (NGVD) contour on the St. Andrews Bay side of the 1998 closure spit with the similar contour on the Gulf side. Dredging and dune construction activities began in November 2001 following marine turtle nesting season and continued into mid-December 2001.

As part of the evolution of the project and its regulatory review, a number of specific goals for the monitoring were developed. Among these were to evaluate the response of the re-opened pass on the hydrodynamics of St. Andrews Bay Entrance (SABE). The University of Florida sub-consulting team concluded that the re-opened East Pass did not result in any discernible hydrodynamic trend at SABE. The analysis confirmed the design prediction that the experimental channel at East Pass was [intentionally] too small and would close fairly quickly because of its insufficient size.

St. Andrews Bay Resource Management Association found indications that the pass re-opening appeared to improve certain water quality parameters in the eastern arm of St. Andrews Bay Water which is an area of significant ecological importance. There were no definitive changes to the overall percent cover of the sea grass beds in the area during the actual opening and the grasses observed appeared to be very healthy.

The monitoring collected data on the size and status of beach mice populations in the project area. Investigators found that the East Pass dune and vegetation restoration offered significant protection to mouse habitat areas and the mouse population on West Crooked Island progressively expanded eastward during the monitoring period.

The East Pass Experimental Dredging Project may be considered successful in meeting the test plan objectives. While not all results were sufficient to draw definitive long-term conclusions, the results showed that some value resulted to St Andrews Bay from the East Pass opening with few if any negative impacts.

St. Andrews Bay Entrance Feasibility & Design Study
(Client: Florida Department of Environmental Protection) -

St. Andrews Bay Entrance was opened through a barrier island by the Federal government in 1934 and has since been maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Mobile District. Coastal Tech performed feasibility, conceptual and preliminary estimates to allow the Florida Parks Division to address erosion along St. Andrews Bay State Park which is located on both sides of the inlet.

The downdrift 17 miles of beaches were nourished in 1998-99 due to the adverse impacts of the inlet and will require renourishment every 7 to 9 years. The inlet interior shoreline has been continually eroding since the opening of the inlet in 1934. An environmentally sensitive fresh water lake located in the St. Andrews Bay State Park is vulnerable to shoreline erosion and the USACE has placed dredge spoil to mitigate the shoreline erosion.

Navigation - Downdrift Impact Assessment: Coastal Tech received authorization from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prepare an Inlet Management Plan and developed alternatives and an implementation strategy to reduce the beach nourishment volumes and shoreline erosion. The plan included conducting a wave refraction/diffraction analysis (REFDIF) of the entrance and adjacent beaches to refine the downdrift influence of the pass.

Design and Preliminary Restoration Plan (PRP): As the FDEP and Park Service Consultant, Coastal Tech finalized the project design consisting of a segmented breakwater with pre-placed beach restoration fill. The Mobile District evaluated the proposed design as a Section 1135 project, prepared a Preliminary Restoration Plan, received approval from USACE Division and is continuing to implement the recommended design alternative to reduce erosion along the Gator Lake shoreline.

Mitchell's Cut Investigation and Management Plan
(Client: Port of Bay City and Matagorda County TX) –

Coastal Tech undertook a two-phase plan for the Port of Bay City Authority, Matagorda County, and Matagorda County Drainage District No. 1 to evaluate alternatives for the improvement of Mitchell's Cut (a man-made cut on the southeastern end of East Matagorda Bay) and formulate a long-term Inlet Management Plan. The current inlet had widened and an ebb shoal had developed creating dangerous navigation conditions. The local community had also expressed concerns about deterioration of water quality, high turbidity, increased flooding and potential significant erosion of the barrier islands on the perimeter of the bay.

In “Phase I - Baseline Field Investigation”, Coastal Tech conducted public forums to identify community issues and concerns relative to Mitchell's Cut, compiled and evaluated existing studies and data within the study domain, and conducted field investigations to document existing bathymetric, geotechnical, hydrodynamic, and natural resource conditions in the Mitchell's Cut Study Domain. In “Phase II - Mitchell's Cut Improvement & Management Plan Formulation”, Coastal Tech developed a numerical hydrodynamic model and conceptual sediment budget for existing conditions, developed an alternatives assessment, a draft management plan, and an implementation funding plan for Mitchell's Cut.

Marinas & Marina Structures

Surfside Princess Mooring Pile Design (Client: Allen Engineering) –

The popularity of the casino ship sailings from Port Canaveral FL has led to the addition of the Surfside Princess to the Sun Cruz Casino fleet. This ship is significantly larger than the original ship for which the berth was designed. Coastal Tech designed a new mooring pile and a new breasting dolphin to enable the Ship to moor at the existing Cove Berth so as not to damage the quay. Additionally, an articulated concrete mat was designed to protect the bottom from scour due to the bow thrusters. Coastal Tech also prepared plan view and cross-section design drawings, as well as technical specifications.

For the design of the new breasting dolphin, a maximum ship impact load of 110 kips was assumed. The steel pipe was designed using the LRFD method which requires the live load to be increased by a load factor of 1.6 to calculate the maximum lateral force. The soil capacity was determined based upon ASCE 20-96 which requires the use of a factor of safety of 2.1 for open-ended pipe piles. The dolphins were designed for a minimum life of 50 years. For the design of the new mooring dolphin, a maximum mooring reaction of 57.4 kips was assumed. The steel pipe, the design life and soil capacity were designed using the same method as in the design of the Breasting Dolphin

For the bollard design, the maximum mooring load was expected to be 57.4 kips. The design load was calculated using the LRFD load factor of 1.6. The chosen bollard has a rating for 50 tons. The bollard will rest upon a steel plate (also designed using LRFD) embedded in the top 1" of the concrete fill. The steel plate and bollard will be attached to the dolphins by grouted bolts and nuts. This design will allow for ease of replacement of the bollard should it sustain any damage.

Additionally, an articulated 250' x 40' concrete-filled erosion protection mat was designed to protect the bottom from scour due to the bow thrusters. The new mat was designed to provide stability for the channel bottom under the bow thruster. The bow thruster has a maximum output of 750 hp. Therefore, a mat thickness of 8" was chosen to absorb the maximum power output.

Whitley Bay Marina (Client: Benko Construction) –

Coastal Tech prepared the design for the construction of this 66 slip docking facility in Cocoa Beach FL with wave break designed to resist waves associated with a 140 mph wind. The design included a 790 foot long concrete wave break and a wood boardwalk and docks. A rock revetment was designed along the boardwalk to stabilize a manatee corridor through the marina. The design also included provisions for turbidity controls during marina construction and the placement of temporary and permanent manatee signs. Services by Coastal Tech included the development of plans and specifications and construction phase services. Coastal Tech also assisted the owner with the transfer of existing submerged lands leases and FDEP/USACE permits.

Marbella Marina (Client: Trinity Investments) -

Coastal Tech performed conceptual, preliminary and final design services for this 58-slip marina in the Panhandle of Florida. Permitting constraints required elimination of the need for dredging and minimizing the environmental impacts to the existing oyster beds, thereby necessitating the innovative design for th e marina. Located in an upscale community, the marina will provide docking for vessels up to 72-feet in overall length. Coastal Tech designed the utility supply system, consisting of water supply distribution, electricity, telephone and cable. Coastal Tech also performed bidding and construction phase services.

Patrick Air Force Base Marina Entrance Shoreline Stabilization (Client: AMEC Earth & Environmental) –

One of the amenities offered to the officers and enlisted servicemen at Patrick Air Force Base is a marina facility for storage and rental of boats. Located in the Banana River, the entrance to the marina is through a dredged, manmade channel. Waves from storms and vessels traveling within the channel were causing erosion of the shoreline. Some of the sediment from this erosion was transported into the channel, decreasing the depth and causing a potential hazard to vessels traveling in the channel. Additional sediment was forming a spit at the eastern end of the channel, reducing the channel width. Coastal Tech designed a rock revetment to stabilize the shoreline that would eventually lead to the elimination of the spit formation at the eastern end. The design was based upon the results of hydraulic and hydrological analyses conducted to determine forces along the banks from a Category 3 Hurricane. Coastal Tech also coordinated with personnel from St. Johns River Water Management District to minimize impacts to wetland species and obtain the permits needed to proceed with construction within the time frame stipulated by the client.

Key Allegro Shoreline Stabilization (Client: Texas General Land Office) –

A section of Aransas Bay shoreline within the subdivision of Key Allegro in Aransas County, Texas had experienced severe erosion from wind and vessel generated waves. Riparian access to the shoreline and bay had been diminished and upland improvements were threatened by damage by erosion. The Key Allegro Canal and Property Owner ' s Association (KACPOA) applied for and received approval for a CEPRA project from the Texas General Land Office.

This project stabilized 0.5 miles of bay shoreline, and included the Alternatives Analysis, permitting, design and construction phases. A 224-foot bulkhead was constructed in July 2001, providing for the immediate protection of Bayshore Drive, the sole access road for the Key Allegro subdivision.

Modeling

Knight Island/Stump Pass Coastal Systems Assessment
(Client: Charlotte County, FL) –

The assessment was used to predict “post-dredging” behavior after the proposed relocation of the pass. REFDIF was used to predict the local wave climate change. Figure 1 shows modeled wave height contours for one of the wave conditions. Longshore transport rates were computed based on the wave modeling results. A sediment budget was constructed based on computational results and historical volume changes were estimated from survey data. The probable and potential impacts on adjacent shorelines for the “post” dredging conditions were evaluated. A hydrodynamic model was developed for the inlet (Stump Pass)- bay (Lemon Bay) system. The model was calibrated with measured water level and current data. The model was used to develop a closure curve (Figure 2) to study the hydraulic stability of the pass.

Mitchell's Cut Investigation and Management Plan (Client: Port of Bay City and Matagorda County TX) –

Coastal Tech undertook a two-phase plan for the Port of Bay City Authority, Matagorda County, and Matagorda County Drainage District No. 1 to evaluate alternatives for the improvement of Mitchell's Cut (a man-made cut on the southeastern end of East Matagorda Bay) and formulate a long-term Inlet Management Plan. The current inlet had widened and an ebb shoal had developed creating dangerous navigation conditions. The local community had also expressed concerns about deterioration of water quality, high turbidity, increased flooding and potential significant erosion of the barrier islands on the perimeter of the bay. In “Phase I - Baseline Field Investigation”, Coastal Tech performed field studies and numerical modeling to develop an inlet management plan which would address navigational problems, shoreline erosion and drainage issues associated with Mitchell's Cut. The field study included a hydrographic survey, tide and current measurements and sediment sampling. The modeling work included developing a hydrodynamic model and a sediment transport model which was used to evaluate different management options for Mitchell's Cut.

Piper's Landing Hydrographic Assessment (Client: Kimley-Horn & Associates) -

Piper's Landing is located on the west bank of South Fork of St. Lucie River or Okeechobee Waterway. A proposed dock renovation required a hydrographic study to be performed to assess the flushing capability in the renovated dock area The purpose was to estimate the flushing time required to reduce the concentration of a conservative pollutant to ten percent of its original concentration at the docking facility. . For docking facilities, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has generally accepted a flushing time of less than or equal to four days.

In this assessment, field measurements and numerical modeling were performed to determine if the hydraulic condition at the dock would adequately flush possible pollutants to 10 percent of the initial concentration within a 72-hour period therefore maintaining its present water quality condition. The field study included a dye study and measurement of tidal elevation and currents at the dock area and the results provided data for model calibration. The two-dimensional version of the three dimensional hydrodynamic model CH3D was used to estimate currents and pollutant transport.

Permitting

Phipps Ocean Park Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (Client: Town of Palm Beach) –

As part of the Phipps project Coastal Tech prepared the first SEIS ever completed by, or on behalf of, the Jacksonville District for a non-federal beach fill project in Florida. In January 2000, the Town made formal application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the USACE for a Joint Coastal Permit . In March 2001, FDEP issued their permit for the Project. In June 2001, the USACE advised the Town that the Jacksonville District had adopted a policy under which all beach nourishment projects - federal and non-federal - must undergo review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) via processing of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement prior to USACE permit issuance. For the Phipps Project, the USACE prescribed preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SIES) to supplement the “ Coast of Florida Erosion and Storm Effects Study, Region III EIS ” prepared by USACE in 1996. The SEIS was prepared by Coastal Tech, in cooperation with the Town of Palm Beach and the USACE.

VOA Barrier Island Ecosystem – Coastal Tech was contracted to perform a Storm Surge/Wave Load Analysis and, submit and process a FDEP Coastal Construction Control Line Permit for the Barrier Island Ecosystem Center (BIEC) in Melbourne Beach.  The BIEC was proposed and funded under the Brevard County EEL Program.  Following receipt of the FDEP Final Order and Notice to Proceed, Special Permit Conditions mandated a more landward location for the boardwalk connecting the BIEC site to Bonsteel Park and the deletion of the 11' by 11' ADA observation deck.  To address FDEP Special Permit Conditions, an aerial exhibit was prepared delineating the location of previously existing structures with the County's approved site plan superimposed. This exhibit was prepared to assist the architect and Brevard County in  concluding that the FDEP's revised boardwalk location was acceptable. Coastal Tech secured FDEP administrative approval to keep the proposed 11' by 11' ADA observation deck in the location proposed by the County.

Watersong Wave- Coastal Tech has recently been contracted to provide permitting services in conjunction with construction of approximately thirty single-family homes within the Watersong Wave Development in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Waterfront Parks

Environmental Learning Center - This project, located on Wabasso Island, entailed the restoration and development of a former spoil site into a complex for regional public environmental education.

Coastal Tech prepared the site plan and designed site infrastructure including a 51 acre stormwater management demonstration project. The stormwater management facilities included a network of grassed lined swales for pre-treatment and a wet detention lake. Coastal Tech also prepared a St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) SWIM grant application for the demonstration project; this grant was approved. Coastal Tech provided construction supervision services through completion of Phase 3 construction. In 1993, this project was awarded the “Project of the Year” by the Cape Canaveral Branch of ASCE.

A new phase of development was begun for the ELC in 2001. This new development includes the replacement design of a canoe launching facility. This launch site includes a teaching platform and a canoe storage area. Additionally, Coastal Tech is designing “George's Trail” – an elevated wooden nature trail through a mangrove forest. Coastal Tech prepared and is currently processing the SJRWMD and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) permits.

Indian Beach Shoreline Stabilization, Sarasota County FL - Indian Beach is located along Sarasota Bay within the City of Sarasota. Although the beach is not subjected to continual high-energy background erosion, a lack of sediment supply and the cumulative effects of episodic storm events had damaged the shoreline to the extent that a major access road in the area was vulnerable to further erosion. Local residents in the area opposed a previously proposed conventional rock revetment because it would have pre-empted any use of the remaining pocket beach and prevented recreational access to the water. Coastal Tech was contracted to formulate a plan that would address the desires of the local residents while meeting the City's overall goal of effective and cost efficient shoreline stabilization and restoration.

Because the area is a unique and well-used park-like enclave in an otherwise urban setting, the local residents wanted the design to provide an aesthetically pleasing informal neighborhood meeting area while maintaining its functionality as a kayak launching and wade-fishing site. Coastal Tech held a number of public and neighborhood meetings to encourage local resident input. The final design utilized an articulated concrete block mattress to provide the basic shoreline stabilization and storm protection. An extensive array of native plants was used to fill the openings of the matting both for additional stabilization and for appearance. Additionally, a handicap-accessible boardwalk/overlook was designed along with a wooden deck with seating areas. Timber planters were included in the landscape plan to preserve the existing trees and allow for planting other native vegetation. Coastal Tech prepared all necessary bidding documents and provided construction phase services.

Lake Washington Park, Brevard County FL - This parcel was one of several recreation sites included in the St. Johns River Upper Basin Project. Although the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) land management staff had hoped to bring these recreational projects in under the overall umbrella of the Upper Basin Project permitting, the SJRWMD technical engineering staff required each recreation project to undergo separate permitting. Once a popular fish camp, this property had been in a state of decline for some time. In cooperation with Brad Smith Associates, Inc., Coastal Tech designed and obtained permits from the SJRWMD and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for park development. Coastal Tech provided final design, technical specifications, and construction phase services for:

• stormwater management
• two lane boat ramp
• paving and grading improvements
• floating dock
• septic tank and water service
• air boat launch ramp
• walkways
• fishing pier