Blind Pass Inlet Management Study Progressing.
“The Blind Pass Inlet Management Study is well underway and progressing as planned. The study is being conducted to evaluate options and provide recommendations for the ongoing management of Blind Pass and the adjacent beaches within its area of influence and will consider the collective input of the
Blind Pass Map, Courtesy Of Blind Pass Inlet Management Study.
appropriate governmental agencies and local stakeholders. When complete, the study will be utilized collaboratively by Lee County, the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD), and the City of Sanibel, and will assist the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in adopting an Inlet Management Plan for Blind Pass.
State adoption of an Inlet Management Plan with support of all three local governmental entities is the primary goal of the study. In order to achieve this, the study is utilizing the DELFT-3D numerical model to simulate coastal processes, including waves, currents and tides, along with the resulting erosion and accretion patterns of various management options. The data collection phase was completed very successfully in winter 2015-2016. The information and data collected are being used as inputs to drive the model. In addition, the past and present erosion and accretion patterns in the vicinity of the inlet and neighboring shorelines have been analyzed to identify the trends in the inlet’s area of influence, and will be further evaluated in conjunction with the modeling effort.
Blind Pass, Sanibel, Prior To Dredging, File Photo By Florida Sea Grant, Via Creative Commons.
At the present time, the numerical model has been set-up and is being calibrated to match the measured data in order to simulate the local processes appropriately. In parallel with the model calibration effort, various management scenarios are being developed based on the information assembled to date, which includes feedback from the first stakeholder meeting held on April 21, 2016 as well as comments from the Technical Advisory Committee consisting of state and local coastal experts. Once the model calibration is complete, several management alternatives will be simulated and compared to the “no action” scenario to evaluate the potential effects on the inlet system. It is expected that the management alternatives will then be refined for further analysis based on the results of the initial simulations. The next stakeholder meeting will take place after results from the model are analyzed and alternative project scenarios are available for comparison.”
