New Directions in Beach Policy?

• Leadership changes • DEP Sand Memo• Legislature (Beach Bill)• Rule review and possible changes

– Sand– Armoring– Lighting

• Closing comments

Storm water

Wetlands

Division of Water Resource

Management (12 Programs)

8 Other Water Regulatory Programs

Bureau of Beaches andCoastal Systems(Danielle Fondren)

Changes in Leadership

Coastal Data & Analysis:Shoreline Surveying & Monitoring, Studies

Modeling, GIS

Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems

Comprehensive Beach

Management

Local Government Fiscal Assistance Program ($$)

Regulatory Programs

CCCL JCP

New Directions in Beach Policy?

(Sand)• DEP Sand Memo versus the existing

Sand Rule (F.A.C. 62B-41.0007) • Beach Bill

COBBLES

GRAVEL SAND SILT OR CLAY

Coarse

Fine Coarse

Medium Fine

Grain Size

% or size can’t exceed existing

Mineral CompositionGrain Size Distribution

90% of fill material 0.062 mm4.76 mm

Color

Florida Sand Rule (Ch. 62B-41.007, F.A.C.)

Munsell Comparison

< than 5%

DEP Sand Rule• (j) To protect the environmental functions of beaches only

beach compatible fill shall be used. Beach compatible fill is material that maintains the general character and functionality of the material on the beach. The fill material shall be predominately of carbonate, quartz or similar material, shall be similar in color and grain size distribution to the material on the beach and shall not contain:

• 1. Greater than 5 percent, by weight, silt, clay or colloids; • 2. Greater than 5 percent, by weight, fine gravel; • 3. Coarse gravel, cobbles in a percentage or size greater than

found on the native beach; • 4. Construction debris, toxic material or other foreign matter;

and • 5. Not result in cementation of the beach.

Beach Bill (S.B. 758)

• DEP staff cant require terms and conditions in the nourishment permit without relying on existing rules.

• Staff must cite applicable statutes and rules when making requests for more information.

• DEP must substantially streamline the permitting process for re-nourishment projects if there are no major changes in successive projects.

Intent is process oriented and it is not intended to compromise resource protection! Devil is in the details.

New Directions in Beach Policy

• Existing Sand Rule (F.A.C. 62B-41.0007) versus the DEP Sand Memo (4/15/2011)

• Beach Bill

More Changes Being Discussed• Lighting regulation changes• New policies on coastal armoring

Walton County- About 260 sea walls permitted since June 2005 along 26 miles of beach- this

is unprecedented in Florida.

Geotubes

New Directions in Beach Policy

• Existing Sand Rule (F.A.C. 62B-41.0007) versus the DEP Sand Memo (4/15/2011)

• Beach Bill

• Lighting regulation changes• New policies on coastal armoring• Executive Order 11-72 (Rule review)

E.O. 11-72

Keep Informed about Issues Impacting Sea Turtles in Florida, sign up for STC’s Free E-Newsletter: www.conserveturtles.org

I sure hope the beach hasn’t

changed too much when I return!

Thank You

DEP Sand Memo

Conservation of Fish and Wildlife and their Habitats: While we must consider the potential for adverse impacts to fish and wildlife and their habitats, we must keep the following fact clear in our minds: The restoration of a critically eroded beach increases habitat and has been determined by the legislature to be in the public interest.

Beach Bill (S.B. 758)• Permits can be issued before the USFWS

issues its BO and ITP. But work cant commence until issuance.

• DEP staff cant require terms and conditions in the renourishment permit without relying on existing rules.

• Staff must cite applicable statutes and rules when making requests for more information.

• DEP must substantially streamline the permitting process for re-nourishment projects if there are no major changes in successive projects.

Intent is process oriented and it is not intended to compromise resource protection! Devil is in the details.