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<br />Tuesday, May 19 10:30 - II :45 AM Track 2 - Coastall - Moderator: Jim Kennedy
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<br />LUCAS VS. SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL COUNCIL, REVISITED
<br />Christopher p, Jones, P.E, and Debra Hernandez, P,E.
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<br />The State of South Carolina passed its Beachfront Management Act in 1988. Shortly thereafter, David Lucas filed suit against the South
<br />Carolina Coastal Council (now the SC Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management) over provisions of the Act that prohibited his
<br />constructing houses OIl two lots at the east end of the Isle of Palms. The Act was revised in 1990 to allow variances in such instances, but
<br />the suit went forward, and in 1992 the V.S, Supreme Cowt instructed the State Supreme Cowt to r,oconsider its earlier decision in favor
<br />of the SCCC, Ultimately, the State purchased Mr, Lucas' lots, which were subsequently resold to others, There have been two similar
<br />lawsuits Iiled in the past three years at the Isle of Palms -- both arising out of rapid and dramatic shoreline erosion resulting from the same
<br />process that placed the State's construction setback line landward ofMr, Lucas' property, In one case, Jerozal, et at vs. OCRM, one of
<br />properties in question is in fact one of the lots formerly owned by Mr, Lucas, In another nearby case, Heritage, et at vs, OCRM, three
<br />recently constructed homes and one condominiwn are threatened by erosion,
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<br />This paper will review the original foundation and rationale for the establishment of the State's constru,ction setback along the Isle ofPalins,
<br />sununarize shoreline and inlet changes over the past 10 years which have caused additional property and structures to be threatened by
<br />erosion, describe the two recent cballenges to the State's setback line and prohibition on bard erosion control devises, and provide teclmical
<br />and policy guidance regarding siting and construction in coastal areas adjacent to tidal inlets,
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<br />POST-HURRICANE OPAL ASSISTED DUNE AND BEACH RECOVE.RY PROJECT:
<br />ESCAMBIA, SANTA ROSA, OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES, FLORIDA
<br />Gary L. Anderson, P,G, and Bruce G, Myhre, Ph.D,
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<br />On October 5 of 1995, Hurricane Opal pounded the coast of the Panhandle of Florida leaving behind millions of dollars in property damage,
<br />and miles of eroded beaches and dunes. In the most severely impacted areas, large dune systems were flattened into overwash fans, and
<br />residential and commercial structures were destroyed or damaged, As part of the post-storm response effort. the Florida Department of
<br />Environmental Protection prepared a Strategic Management Plan which outlined measures which sh'~uld be undertaken to help the storm-
<br />affected coastline recover, A significant component of this plan was the implementation of the largest dune vegetation installation ever
<br />undertaken in Florida. The goal of the project is to assist the natural beach recovery processes restore protection for the developed portions
<br />of the Panhandle beaches, which is being achieved through the installation of over 3,000,000 sea oats ,1l0ng the beaches ofEscambia, Santa
<br />Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties, Florida. Monitoring of the planting effort indicates a 90% survival rate for the vegetation coupled
<br />with substantial root and plant stem growth and expansion. Plants installed in the spring of 1997 have demonstrated positive dune recovery
<br />growth throughout the installation area. To further assess the plant/dune response over time, a Panhandle GIS database has been created
<br />to track the performance of different plant production and installation methods. In addition, topographic and bathymetric surveys are being
<br />conducted with kinematic GPS controlled LIDAR, Laser Swath and traditional survey technology to docwnent the dynamics of the beach
<br />and dune recovery, The dune planting project, in conjunction with limited sand augmentation and sand fencing, have helped initiate and
<br />foster the IWOvery of over 35 miles of private beach. The revegetation program has proven to be a cost-effective approach to helping restore
<br />the natural protection of private property with a healthy dune system, To date, the State of Florida has invested $2,450,000 in sea oats
<br />installations, At a cost of approximately $70,000 per mile for assisted recovery with vegetation versus over $440,000 per mile for the
<br />installation of a 6 cubic yard/1inear foot berm, the assisted recovery approach has proven very cost effective,
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<br />MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY APPROACHES FOR STORM-DAMAGED SHORELINES
<br />WayneD, Lasch, PE and GaryL. Anderson, P.G,
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<br />Hurricane Opal caused severe erosion along more than 200 miles of coastline involving seven counties in the Florida Panhandle.
<br />Immediately following the storm, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) was faced with urgent requests by local
<br />conununities and property owners for recovery activities such as installing sand fences and scraping sand from the lower beach to help re-
<br />establish duneslbeaches for storm protection. At the same time, FEMA inspectors were reviewing shoreline conditions to determine whether
<br />federal participation in emergency protective measures was justified. The net result of both activities was a great deal of pressure on the
<br />FDEP and communities to authorize and undertake projects of sometimes questionable value, Based on a comprehensive review of the
<br />cost and effectiveness of post-Opal intervention and shoreline IWOvery activities, specific recommendations regarding appropriate responses
<br />to future storms will be discussed. Success or failure of these activities will be discussed in light of several factors, Guidelines for future
<br />post-storm recovery actions will be presented. This will focus on the use of pre-storm beach profile data and knowledge of shoreline
<br />conditions to predetermine a range of appropriate post-storm responses for a given reach of shoreline, Guidelines for Florida Panhandle
<br />beaches will be tied to typical shoreline types and conditions. Recommendations regarding scraping and berm/dune locations will be
<br />referenced to local profile characteristics, including beach elevation and width deemed necessary to result in a successful project Inferences
<br />regarding extension of the guidelines to other areas of Florida's coastline will be made.
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