See attachments below for the files from the SJRWMD website.

The bottom line: they are now requesting a permit determination for exemption to reconstruct the boat ramp and docks. They can make this request because the project now has less than 500 sq. ft. (444 sq. ft.) of proposed improvements over water, and is located in "privately owned" submerged lands that are not in the Aquatic Preserve (that is, they are not State-owned). The reconstructed boat ramp will be a total of 42 feet in length, and will have associated concrete bulkheads (40 feet in length) and docks (north dock 60 ft., south dock 40 ft.). The County states that the reconstruction is limited to same length, width and depth as the existing boat ramp.

As the cover letter states, the County requested a maintenance exemption to dredge material from the top of the existing boat ramp. They were hoping that the volume of this dredged material would not be counted toward the 25 cubic yard maximum required by the boat ramp exemption. Wisely, I believe, the regulatory staff at SJRWMD determined that the material over the ramp would count toward the 25 cubic yard total. This decision limits the amount of dredging the County can perform at the seaward (bottom) end of the ramp, where material will be removed (down to approximately - 4 ft. elevation, see Sheet 3 of 11 in drawings) to match the bottom of the new precast ramp. It appears that there will be a "hole" or basin at the seaward end of the ramp, and a "lip" over which vessels must pass to reach the shallow "channel" or ingress-egress route.

The Observation/Fishing Pier has been removed from the project, at last.

The 3 bollards remain in the plans. This is a nice improvement to assure exclusive access to small craft (e.g., canoes and kayaks) along this part of the shoreline.

The County proposes to use vertical sheet piling around the proposed boat ramp area to limit the excavation and dewatering to that required by the exemption. Details of the dewatering plan are shown in the drawings, with well points on both sides of the proposed ramp that will be pumped to a pair of upland settling ponds (primary and secondary). The water will eventually outfall into an area surrounded by double turbidity barriers. The dewatered excavated materials will be hauled to County owned sites and used as fill. The existing boat ramp and associated excavated debris will be hauled to the County landfill.

Karen Garrett-Kraus, SJRWMD, plans to be on-site at the start of excavation, and will establish compliance with applicable regulations and BMPs for protection of water quality.

David L. Cox, Ph.D.
David Cox Consulting, LLC
2044 14th Avenue, Suite 24
Vero Beach, FL 32960
772.564.0540 phone & fax
772.766.2074 mobile
http://www.davidcoxconsulting.com/

• PAC_114751_1 CoverLetter.pdf
• PAC_114751_1 Drawings.pdf

• PAC_114751_1 SecA.pdf
• PAC_114751_1 SecC.pdf