April 21 Blind Pass Stakeholders Meeting A Success.
The Captiva Community Panel issued the following news release (Courtesy of the Bayous Preservation Association).
Blind Pass Pre-1950s, Courtesy Of Blind Pass Inlet Management Study.
“The first Blind Pass Inlet Management Study Stakeholders Meeting on April 21 on Sanibel was informative, interesting and heartening to all of us who support an open Blind Pass.
The study, predicated on maintaining Blind Pass in an open condition with the best possible science-based tools to manage the inlet, is still in its initial stage of collecting baseline information and data. So far:
- A timeline record based on maps and aerial photographs of Blind Pass has been put together, documenting when the pass has periodically opened and closed, what the contributing factors were, and how the pass has been configured throughout its history.
- A sediment budget (where sand is moving and coming from) has been developed for Blind Pass and the adjacent beaches within the inlet’s area of influence.
- Data has been collected on wave heights, water levels and currents.
- A model grid is being set up with regional flow and wave grids and a bathymetry grid (the depths and shapes of underwater terrain) input into the baseline model. Preliminary calibration results of predicted tides and measured waves are also being added.
3-29-15, Sanibel: Blind Pass Filling In 3, Nearly Closed To Navigation.
The next phase of the study will finalize sediment budget modeling, refine regional flow and wave calibrations using measured data, and develop alternative inlet management strategies. Each of these alternative models will be tested and compared to the baseline model (the Blind Pass inlet as it now functions) to see which, if any, scenario performs better from a technical and/or financial perspective and in achieving the study’s stated benefits:
- Maintaining Blind Pass in an open condition.
- Protecting the existing infrastructure.
- Maintaining existing levels of recreation access and use.
- Defining potential impacts to navigation.
Steve Boutelle from Lee County Dept. of Natural Resources did a great job of running the question-and-answer session after the presentation. He kept everything informal and welcoming, so people felt comfortable asking questions. And we did!
From observations about the north end of Wulfert Channel silting in and lacking enough depth for strong tidal flow between the Gulf and Pine Island Sound; to Sunset Bay, historically open to Blind Pass and delivering substantial flow to Dinkins and Clam bayous, now closed; to a groin on the Sanibel side of Blind Pass. These observations and more were on the table and open for discussion.
3-29-15, Sanibel: Blind Pass Filling in, Nearly Closed To Navigation.
What came out of this first stakeholders meeting — where more than 100 people attended! – was the spirit of partnership of the various entities – Lee County, the CEPD and the City of Sanibel – and their shared commitment to working together on how best to manage the Blind Pass inlet in the future, with solid, science-based tools.
We thank Lee County and the project partners for including all of us, the local community, as stakeholders in the Blind Pass Inland Management Study and for soliciting and valuing our input.
There will be a second stakeholders meeting sometime this summer. Lee County is working on the possibility of an online feed for this meeting since many of us won’t be in Florida and able to attend.
Lee County has established a new web page to pass along information regarding the Blind Pass Inlet Management Study; it has a link at the bottom to the meeting PowerPoint .”
