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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA <br />BOARD MEMORANDUM <br />TO: <br />THROUGH: <br />FROM: <br />SUBJECT: <br />Joseph A. Baird, <br />County Administrator <br />Christopher R. Mora, P.E.civ.'/' <br />Public Works Director <br />James D. Gray, Jr. <br />Coastal Engineer <br />CONSENT AGENDA <br />Work Order No. 2 Morgan & Eklund, Inc. <br />Bathymetric and Sidescan Sonar Surveys of Potential Artificial Reef Sites <br />Proposed Location: Five Miles East of Sebastian Inlet <br />DATE: September 8, 2014 <br />BACKGROUND <br />Following the success of Indian River County's recently completed offshore artificial reefs <br />(constructed 12 miles east of Sebastian Inlet) this summer, staff received several requests by <br />boaters and local sportfisherman chapters (Sebastian Inlet Sportfisherman Association and <br />Florida Sport Fishing Association) to expand the County's artificial reef program by constructing <br />reefs closer to Sebastian Inlet. <br />Additionally, in 2013 the Sebastian Inlet District completed a Regional Economic Benefits of <br />Sebastian Inlet. A key element of this study involved conducting surveys and interviews with <br />local boaters and marine related businesses. Several survey questions focused on the demand <br />for offshore artificial reefs for fishing and other recreational uses. Relative to offshore artificial <br />reefs, 82 percent of the respondents stated that they desired reefs to be located closer to shore <br />(5 miles from Sebastian Inlet). <br />The purpose of this agenda item is to request Board approval to investigate new potential reef <br />sites within a 3,700 acre survey site offshore of Indian River County with depths ranging from 50- <br />55 feet. Site investigation and analysis is necessary in order for the County to submit requests <br />for future artificial reef site permitting to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A location figure <br />identifying the survey area is attached to this agenda item. <br />M:\Coastal Docs\agenda item -- WO No. 2-- Nearshore reef permitting survey.docx <br />24 <br />