Impacts of Development on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway: A Case Study in Alabama

1. Impacts of Development on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway: A Case Study in Alabama Dean Goodin, Ph.D. Eric Dohner Kristin Sutherlin Tetra Tech, Inc.

2. Introduction • Coastal Alabama was heavily impacted by Hurricane Ivan (2004) • Landfall at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach • Category 3 with 130 mph winds

3. Before After

4. Before After

5. Highway 182 (Perdido Beach Blvd)

6. Introduction • Coastal Alabama was also impacted by Hurricane Katrina (2005) • 67 mph sustained winds • Storm surge of 10 feet

7. Introduction • New development trend in northern Gulf Coast is construction along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) • Threat of tropical storms • Escalating prices of beachfront property • GIWW extends from Brownsville, TX to Apalachee Bay, FL • 520 miles – open bays or coastal sounds • 780 miles – man-made canals

8. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

9. Foley Land Cut • In coastal Alabama, the Foley Land Cut is poised for development • 10-mile stretch of GIWW in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach • Located approximately 2 miles inland • Authorized channel dimensions • 125 feet wide • 12 feet deep • Maintained by Corps of Engineers for commercial barge traffic operations

12. Foley Land Cut North Shore East Oyster Bay North Shore West

13. Foley Land Cut • Gulf Shores/Orange Beach region being developed and marketed as a tourist destination • From 1990 to 2000 permanent population increased • 50% Gulf Shores • 68% Orange Beach • Seasonal population expected to increase 30% by 2008

14. Foley Land Cut • Why FLC? • Sheltered from tropical storms • Available waterfront property • Provides waterway access to Gulf of Mexico via Bon Secour Bay and Wolf Bay • Existing development • Condominiums/single-family homes • Marinas • Restaurant • Commercial

16. Lulu’s Homeport Marina Sailboat Bay Marina Reynold’s Ready Mix The Wharf

18. Proposed Development • 15 proposed developments on FLC • 14 located on north shore of FLC • 1 located on south shore of Oyster Bay • 16,700 condo units • 3591 boat slips • 1849 wet slips • 1742 dry slips • Marinas • Retail shopping • Office space • Amenities (pools, greenspace, boardwalks)

20. Proposed Development

23. EIS • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) • Evaluate environmental and socioeconomic consequences of development • Address potential impacts to FLC and surrounding communities • Waterway Capacity Study • Hurricane Evacuation Study

24. EIS • Direct and indirect impacts • Short-term and long-term impacts • Cumulative impacts • Mitigation of impacts • Irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources • Alternatives to proposed actions

25. EIS • Cultural Resources • Threatened & Endangered Species • Wetlands • Fish & Wildlife Resources • Vegetative Communities • Water Quality • Soils & Geology • Land Use • Recreation Resources • Utilities • Air Quality • Noise • Light • Socioeconomic Resources • Traffic & Transportation • Hazardous & Toxic Materials

26. EIS • Issues Identified Throughout Scoping • Infrastructure impacts • Socioeconomic impacts • Waterway capacity • Biological and natural resources • Water quality • Environmental impacts • Hurricane evacuation

27. Waterway Capacity Study • Federally authorized use for commercial traffic • Recreational use must not impact present and future commercial operations • Safety and navigation concerns • Speeding • Uneducated boaters • Congestion in high use areas (Hwy 59 boat ramp, Lulu’s, bridges, etc.)

28. Lulu’s Homeport Marina Highway 59 Bridge Public Boat Ramp Bon Secour Village Marina The Wharf Marina

29. Hurricane Evacuation Study • Impacts of proposed developments • Increased population of permanent and seasonal residents • Increased number of vehicles • Infrastructure • Evacuation routes • Vessel evacuation and security plan • Shelters

31. Socioeconomic Analysis • Impacts of proposed developments • Housing • Employment • Schools • Evaluate • Labor force capacity • Availability of affordable housing • Public services • Existing educational facilities • Regional transportation

32. Biological & Natural Resources • Wildlife and fisheries • Habitat • Species population/diversity • Threatened and endangered species • Nesting sea turtles • Light pollution impacts • Wetlands

34. Other Resource Areas • Infrastructure • Utilities • Transportation network • Water quality • Fuel dispensing facilities • Stormwater runoff • Debris (recreational users, hurricanes) • Recreation • Public/private boat launches • Ecotourism

35. In Closing • EIS to provide an objective evaluation of impacts associated with the proposed actions • EIS will provide an example for future development along GIWW and Gulf Coast • Florida • St. Joe Land Company (Apalachicola Bay) • Texas • Port O’Connor (Dolphin Point Community)

36. Questions?