TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. §403) as described below:
APPLICANT: Stacy Boyles
City of Treasure Island
120 108th Avenue
Treasure Island, FL 33706
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States associated with Boca Ciega Bay (Pinellas County). The project site is located at 10315 Paradise Blvd., Treasure Island, FL 33706.
Directions to the site are as follows: From Treasure Island Causeway go South on Paradise Blvd for 0.3 miles. Enter site just south of Paradise Island Towers at Tennis Club.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES:
Latitude 27.766888
Longitude -82.756004
PROJECT PURPOSE: Basic: Public Recreation Improvements and Ecological Enhancements
Overall: The purposes of this project are improved storm resilience and ecological restoration, by constructing a living shoreline, as well as improved public access to a public park with the construction of a kayak launch and boardwalk.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: An existing seventeen (17) acres man-made golf course in Boca Ceiga Bay currently has approximately 2,333-ft of armored seawall shoreline. The onsite vegetation consists of terrestrial vegetation, predominately St. Augustine grass. The in-water area where the proposed work will occur consists of tidal waters containing areas of seagrass habitat, sandy unvegetated bottom, and artificially created concrete rubble that has been colonized by desirable marine organisms. In October 2020, Environmental Science Associates Inc. conducted a field survey and mapped the extent of seagrasses and concrete rubble. Seagrasses observed consisted of shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), and manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme). Existing concrete rubble was colonized by typical marine organisms such barnacles and oysters, as well as stony corals ranging up to 10 inches in diameter. Coral species observed were Ivory Brush Coral (Oculina diffusa) and Star Coral (Solenastrea hyades or S. boumoni). Several red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) were seen within the concrete rubble as well. The existing area surrounding the project area consists of open water in Boca Ciega Bay, residential multi-family homes and commercial facilities.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization to cut off part of the existing seawall to create a living shoreline, as well as add living shoreline features to portions of the shore where the seawall cannot be removed. The applicant will also construct a 2,434 square foot (sf) boardwalk and 5,668 SF kayak launch dock.
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Construction of an 8-ft by 150-ft (2,434 sf) boardwalk. Boardwalk will be cantilevered and secured to dead men behind the existing seawall.
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Installation of a 5,668 sf prefabricated American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant kayak launch dock. Floating dock will consist of a 28-ft by 5-ft gangway leading to a 16-ft by 30-ft floating dock with two (2) 11-ft by 5-ft cutouts for kayaks. Six (6) 12-inch wood pilings will be jetted into the substrate. Construction will require 1-2 days of in-water work via barge.
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West phase will consist of converting an existing vertical seawall to a living shoreline through a combination of living shoreline and seawall enhancements to include:
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Cutting off the top of the existing seawall
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Regrading to create a variable sloped shoreline where the existing seawall was (733 cubic yards (cy) below the Mean High-Water Line (MHWL)).
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Plantings of native marsh species over 45,911 sf. Ranging in 10-ft to 50-ft wide sections over 1,139-ft
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Supplemental riprap addition adjacent to existing riprap and the creation of a riprap sill for increased essential fish habitat (1,404 cy below MHWL)
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Addition of forty-eight (48) oyster domes totaling 2,375 sf (57 cy).
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East phase enhancements will consist of an existing vertical seawall to include living shoreline features:
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Plantings of native marsh species over 43,434 sf. Ranging in 10-ft to 15-ft wide sections over 1,010-ft
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Supplemental riprap addition adjacent to existing riprap (20 cy below MHWL).
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Upland activities include ecological improvement of two (2) existing man-made golf course ponds by sediment/muck removal and planting the pond margins and littoral zone with native plants. As well as improved recreation and access values through the construction of a 6.5-wide & 2,967 long concrete walkway, totaling 19,351 sf in area.
AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION INFORMATION – The applicant has provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment: The project as designed has avoided and minimized impacts to the extent possible and the project will increase wetland values and function including essential fish habitat. Existing seagrasses and concrete rubble that has been colonized by marine species has been avoided by designed project features
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COMPENSATORY MITIGATION – The applicant has provided the following explanation why compensatory mitigation should not be required: The placement of oyster domes, additional riprap, and restoration of the existing ponds will result in benefits to protected species and habitats. No mitigation is proposed.
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The Corps is evaluating the undertaking for effects to historic properties as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This public notice serves to inform the public of the proposed undertaking and invites comments including those from local, State, and Federal government Agencies with respect to historic resources. Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts may be subject to additional coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, those federally recognized tribes with concerns in Florida and the Permit Area, and other interested parties.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, not likely to adversely affect (MANLAA) the West Indian Manatee or its designated critical habitat. Use of the 2013 West Indian Manatee Key (A>B>C>G>N>O>P#5) resulted in a MANLAA. No further consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service is required pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH): This notice initiates consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico as the project has been designed to avoid all EFH habitats present. Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Navigation: The proposed activities are not located in the vicinity of a federal navigation channel.
SECTION 408: The applicant will require permission under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 USC 408) because the activity, in whole or in part, would alter, occupy, or use a Corps Civil Works project. A portion of the project is located in the Real Estate polygon in 4700E and the Intracoastal Waterway Cal-Anclt.
NOTE: This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the applicant. This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program. The jurisdictional line has not been verified by Corps personnel.
COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Tampa Permits Section, 701 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207 within 30 days from the date of this notice.
The decision whether to issue or deny this permit application will be based on the information received from this public notice and the evaluation of the probable impact to the associated wetlands. This is based on an analysis of the applicant's avoidance and minimization efforts for the project, as well as the compensatory mitigation proposed.
UESTIONS concerning this application should be directed to the project manager, Carissa Curlee, in writing at the Tampa Permits Section, 10117 Princess Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33610; by electronic mail at carissa.p.curlee@usace.army.mil; by telephone at (813) 769 7076.
IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: Coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Marine Fisheries Services, and other Federal, State, and local agencies, environmental groups, and concerned citizens generally yields pertinent environmental information that is instrumental in determining the impact the proposed action will have on the natural resources of the area.
EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, esthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food, and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
Evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will also include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, EPA, under authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act or the criteria established under authority of Section 102(a) of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other Interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: Water Quality Certification may be required from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The project is being reviewed under SWFWMD application no. 859429.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: In Florida, the State approval constitutes compliance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan. In Puerto Rico, a Coastal Zone Management Consistency Concurrence is required from the Puerto Rico Planning Board. In the Virgin Islands, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources permit constitutes compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING: Any person may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer within the designated comment period of the notice and must state the specific reasons for requesting the public hearing.