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Dauphin Island in Crisis

Dauphin Island in Crisis. Problem Statement. The island is suffering from a severe sand deficit due to littoral drift interference by ship channel dredging. Shoreline on the East End is threatened.

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Dauphin Island in Crisis

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  1. Dauphin Island in Crisis

  2. Problem Statement • The island is suffering from a severe sand deficit due to littoral drift interference by ship channel dredging. • Shoreline on the East End is threatened. • The most rapid and serious erosion is happening on the West End, from Raphael Semmes Street westward. • Homeowners’ insurance policies are being cancelled. • Homes are in the water, some lots completely submerged • Overwash occurring frequently, threat of breach • Roads put out of service • Access to public beach (what’s left of it) inhibited

  3. Littoral Drift Interference

  4. Proposed Sand Deposition Location

  5. What’s Happening in the Crisis Areas • Estimated 200+ feet of shoreline depth lost since 2002 • Estimated 100+ feet lost since March 2009, less than a year ago • Some areas have lost 30-40 feet of shoreline depth and 4 feet of elevation just in the last 90 days • Loss increasing exponentially • Even minor storms result in overwash which: • Blocks the road and inhibits access to hundreds of homes • Threatens to create north-south breach

  6. Before & After March 2009 January 2010 150 feet of shoreline south of this First Tier home (app. 100 feet of that was PUBLIC BEACH) Only about 20 feet left between tideline and house No major hurricanes during this 9-month period. Erosion this rapid is unnatural. At this rate, there is a danger of full, north-south breaches in the island, even as far east as St. Stephens St.

  7. Before & After

  8. Before & After Most of the First Tier lots shown in this aerial photo are partially or completely submerged. The public beach south of those lots is also underwater.

  9. Why save the island (esp. the West End)? • Revenue! • In 2008-2009, 70-80% of the Town revenue generated from ad valoreum taxes, sales tax, lodging tax and building permits (over $800,000) came from the West End. • Homes! • Some of the homes are full-time residences • Many are part-time residences (not rentals) • Local Businesses • Restaurants • Shops • Protects • coastal mainland towns • coastal marsh • fishing industry in the Sound • App. 4 miles of PUBLIC BEACH

  10. The Long Term Plan • Dr. Scott Douglass (Univ. of South Alabama) working on the long term plan • Long Term Plan is for Shoreline Restoration • Dump or pump sand onto the beach to restore the shoreline • Possibly add groins or jetties to help trap sand • Get Corps of Engineers to change disposal location of channel-dredged sand • Plan could take several years to implement

  11. Why the Task Force? • Dr. Douglass’ plan is for a long-term solution, which will likely take several years to implement. • There is no plan for a near-term solution to address the rapidly accelerating erosion occurring on the West End, particularly west of Raphael Semmes. • We wish to see the erosion problems on the entire island addressed, but the critical areas on the West End must be mitigated now. • Task Force supporters include East Enders, West Enders and even non-island property owners.

  12. Interim Solution • Shoreline Restoration • Restore 4 feet of elevation • Use private funds to build back the private property • Corps settlement funds • GoMESA (gas royalty funds - NOT taxpayer dollars) • CIAP (gas royalty funds - NOT taxpayer dollars) • Use public funds to build back the public beach (Dr. Douglass’ long term plan) • State and/or federal funding • Designed to integrate with Dr. Douglass’ long-term plan • Task Force will work with Dr. Douglass on outreach program to inform the public of his plan’s progress

  13. Shoreline Restoration Restoration Part 1 (private funding) Restoration Part 2 (public funding) 2009 tideline 2004 tideline Feb 2010 tideline

  14. What about the East End? • East End shoreline study is in progress • Study led by Dr. Douglass • Study funded by a NOAA grant • Sand search has been conducted

  15. Wrap-up • What you can do to help • Go to website “help” page • Q&A session dauphinislandrestoration.org

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