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<br />harvest big ground!. art, on l v a I it t 1.• over l rr. i I c no, t li o f the pro} <�.tic•d
<br />marina s it.c, Iriv in, lu c n c •;tciitIvd < evvraI rii I.es gout Iiward 3 or 44 years
<br />ago. We hope the 3pprovei area cou1:1 event n,111 y he -:.xtendvd further
<br />soot Ii. The opening of sh�-I If i sh harvest Jnr; hr•tt,oun Round Island and
<br />Fish House Cove in Indian River ar.d St. i.ucie Counti^s this fall illustrates
<br />Lhat evaluation of Class II caters is an ons;o ing process.
<br />The 23 November 1991 lett.e.r from Dr. Ii. A. Christensen of the
<br />University of Florida to th•! apr?l.i.cant, .inr t Inc Iet ter of 4 December
<br />1.981. from the appl icant to .-ori, al lu•it? to i lac. idk,a that, with inclusion
<br />of certain mitigative mearurc�;, this inarini, ufl he ronstrurted to
<br />avo id pollution of the Indian River. hnforttltiatOINI, several serious
<br />design problems with the marina and the hydrological characteristics of
<br />the Indian River at the proposed location would combine to produce a
<br />system where water quality degradation is highly pr.obahle. The Wahasso
<br />Bridge vicinity has the lowest tidal amplitude of any point in the
<br />Indian River south of Sebastian Inlet. Both lunar and wind -driven tides
<br />produr-e a mean amplitude of only 0.4 feet in this area. Studies by
<br />Harbor Branch Foundation have shown no net. current, only a slight southerly
<br />drift of sediments, and negligible net exchange with ocean water at. the
<br />project site. The low tidal amplitude and lack of net flow preclude an
<br />effective tidal exchange between the river and the proposed marina. The
<br />other projects sited by Dr. Christensen have greater tidal amplitudes,
<br />and sonic have freshwater inflow to enhance flushing. Banyan Bay and the
<br />three Dade marina desi,ns have not been accepted to date because of
<br />concerns including water duality impacts.
<br />Locally induced wiiul circulation would also be negligible. In
<br />order to meet Dr. Chri::tenscit's requirem,�tnt that structures be removed a
<br />minimum of 25 times their htAght frcin the shore of Lhe basin to avoid a
<br />"shelter effect", all .l i foot -high bui.Ldings (or tre —) standing o^ +5
<br />foot elevation ground rm►rt he over 1.,()00 feet. from the basun. Obviously,
<br />buildin-s, mangroves aloe. the rLver, other trees and shrubs on the
<br />uplands, and the 5 foot droi� from thr.. basin edge to the water would
<br />greatly reduce the eff:(-t ivcri •tis o, locsl wind r-irculation. When ,,oil
<br />add 95 large boats, 1-'s) nr�� ren,; pi:.c:;:, and d,--)cks with approxiiratety 300
<br />dock piles to this syste111, the erfCCt: of lova.( wind circulation is
<br />eliminated.
<br />The very po.?r wind and t Lde c Lrculation of forded by the River Bond
<br />site exaggerates Lhe dos! ni problems of the proposed marina. A 40 Foot
<br />opening and 42 inch culvert would never` providr• ndequate exchange for a
<br />5 1/2 acre marina, especially since h(ith have• the sane orientation to
<br />wind and tide. Th;: 12 foot depth would eventually lead to chemical
<br />stratification due to poor flushing, an,)xic ;sediments accumulating
<br />Oil L112 bottom. The proposed11il ti.na fiint;e would only contribute to
<br />this problem, for most of its vegetative production would end up on the
<br />marina bottom. Thc• fueling and sewage pump -out facilities are inappropriate
<br />for Class 11 waters. The use of iutrctofore experimental hobble screens,
<br />proposed for L.his pr.0j0Ct, provi.cfeti a poor ans:aer to spill protection
<br />because of its relianct! on ±"•�:;sil-�uel. energv abed because dissolved
<br />pollutants would ;«•t h< :ri f tcrd.
<br />In summary, a marina in the• proposed lociltioll with the propos(.d
<br />design would hr in ot•r a prol-,al)l o c:ource of pollution to
<br />the CLiss II water,; ol• t5e Indinn Rtver. Tt may be possible to design a
<br />marina with adequate c• ircitlat ion iind;•r the exist trig tidal eonditioi'-
<br />But it would require a iii-li r;mallor acreage, Iaryer openings to the•
<br />Indian River, a shallor.• c!epili, and no fueling or sewage purrlp--ou.: fncil ft.i,,s.
<br />The mangrove planting proposal for the hank of the Indian fiver
<br />follows state-of-the-art. techniques, artd i_t FiiouLd be scccessiul.
<br />Please call me if we can be of further
<br />Sincerely,
<br />Brian S. 1:nrr.?tt
<br />South 'rlorfda Section Leader
<br />25
<br />JAN 2 7198��o� F, F73
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