2005-042 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Comprehensive Plan ■ Zone 4 Coastal Management Element Zone 4 isnot favorable for siting or expanding boat facilities. Although seagrass coverage is sparse in the Jungle Trail Narrows section of the IRL, manatee abundance is significant. Large numbers of manatees have also been observed in the seagrass-covered coves of Johns Island, west of Pople Point and within McCullery Cove. Six (6) watercraft -related manatee mortalities were documented in or near the Indian River Narrows since 1996. The Jungle Trail Narrows has been identified by the FWC as one of eight "hot spots" in the state where manatee abundance, geophysical characteristics, and human activities create an area of high probability of negative effects on manatees. Other issues related to boat facility or boat ramp development include the presence of archeological and historic resources, including Jungle Trail, and shoreline erosion. There are no properties in Zone 4 with a commercial land use designation, thus recreational and commercial marinas are prohibited in Zone 4. The existing maximum 1:100 powerboat to shoreline density ratio should be retained and applied to any proposed siting of a new residential marina in Zone 4, outside of the Jungle Trail Narrows and the town of Indian River Shores. Because of the sensitive nature of the Jungle Trails Narrows, future boat facility and boat ramp development should be prohibited. Outside of the Jungle Trails Narrows, there is limited opportunity for boat facility and boat ramp development due to the upland zoning however, there are limiting factors related to geophysical and natural resources. Much of the IRL west of the ICW is very shallow, and there are significant areas of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Therefore, some level of restriction should be placed on the areas of this zone outside of the Jungle Trails Narrows. • Zone 5 The area along the western shoreline of Zone 5 exhibits moderate seagrass coverage, shallow water, and low manatee use. Zone 5 does not contain the ICW and as a travel -way is unsheltered from the wind. That, combined with the shallow water within this zone, results in a low volume of watercraft use and low impacts to manatees in the zone. Due to a lack of natural resource constraints, a maximum powerboat to shoreline density ratio should not be applied to Zone 5. ■ Zone 6 Three (3) watercraft -related manatee mortalities have occurred in this zone: in the vicinity of John's Island, in the vicinity of the Gifford Cut, and near the Vero Beach Municipal Marina. Seagrasses are very sparse in this zone, being generally limited to a narrow band in the shallow waters around the islands in the IRL and in the shallow waters of McCuller's Cove. Water depths are generally much greater than in other areas of the IRL. The average water depth in much of this zone is significantly Indian River County Coastal Management Element Page go Supplement # Ordiance #2005-_ Adopted 2005 Exhibit B Page $