REPORT OF EXCESS TURBIDITY REQUEST FOR IN-WATER INVESTIGATION PHIPPS BEACH PROJECT 328802-003-BMA
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REPORT OF EXCESS TURBIDITY REQUEST FOR IN-WATER INVESTIGATION PHIPPS BEACH PROJECT 328802-003-BMA The purpose of this correspondence is to report elevated turbidity levels at the Phipps beach renourishment project and provide evidence of reef siltation likely associated with the project. On January 12, 2016, Reef Rescue volunteers collected water samples at the locations presented on Figure 1. Results of our turbidity analysis found two samples above the permit compliance requirement of 29 NTU above background. One sample, approximately 1,345 meters downcurrent of the beach discharge point, had a value of 31.5 NTU (30.3 NTU above background) and a second sample, 1,176 meters downcurrent, of 33.1 NTU (31.9 NTU above background). A background sample collected 960 meters upcurrent was 1.20 NTU. Figure 1 In addition to performing water quality analysis on January 12, we stood by offshore with Loggerhead Dive Charters while divers from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters videoed conditions on Horseshoe Reef at 56 feet below surface. The location, presented on Figure 2, was approximately 2,500 meters Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, January 14, 2016 1
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REPORT OF EXCESS TURBIDITY REQUEST FOR IN-WATER INVESTIGATIONPHIPPS BEACH PROJECT 328802-003-BMAThe purpose of this correspondence is to report elevated turbidity levels at the Phipps beach renourishment project and provide evidence of reef siltation likely associated with the project.
Transcript of REPORT OF EXCESS TURBIDITY REQUEST FOR IN-WATER INVESTIGATION PHIPPS BEACH PROJECT 328802-003-BMA
REPORT OF EXCESS TURBIDITY REQUEST FOR IN-WATER INVESTIGATION
PHIPPS BEACH PROJECT 328802-003-BMA
The purpose of this correspondence is to report elevated turbidity levels at the Phipps beach renourishment project and provide evidence of reef siltation likely associated with the project. On January 12, 2016, Reef Rescue volunteers collected water samples at the locations presented on Figure 1. Results of our turbidity analysis found two samples above the permit compliance requirement of 29 NTU above background. One sample, approximately 1,345 meters downcurrent of the beach discharge point, had a value of 31.5 NTU (30.3 NTU above background) and a second sample, 1,176 meters downcurrent, of 33.1 NTU (31.9 NTU above background). A background sample collected 960 meters upcurrent was 1.20 NTU.
Figure 1
In addition to performing water quality analysis on January 12, we stood by offshore with Loggerhead Dive Charters while divers from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters videoed conditions on Horseshoe Reef at 56 feet below surface. The location, presented on Figure 2, was approximately 2,500 meters southeast of the beach discharge point. The video documents conditions on the western, shoreward slope of the reef. The dredge Alaska had been actively dredging in the project area since January 8, only stopping briefly when relocating to new borrow areas. The diver’s video posted on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/470a-ayIHOs, begins with the divers on the bottom showing the nearly completely obscured reef surface and their depth gauge reading 56 feet. The video continues as they ascend toward the surface with reduced sediment in the water column above 40 feet.
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, January 14, 20161
Figure 2
This offshore reef as well of others in the area is a primary diving destination in Palm Beach County critically important to the health of the ecosystem and local economy. The photo below, taken before the project began, depicts a 4 foot diameter brain coral on Horseshoe Reef located only about 350 meters NNE of the videos location. It is imperative that these coral reef resources be protected.
Brain coral Horseshoe Reef, Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, January 14, 20162
