Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/119978
Sarasota News Leader April 5, 2013 SIESTA WORRIES Siesta Key Association Secretary Peter van Roekens has been trying to make sure Siesta residents and area boaters receive detailed information about the renourishment as soon as possible. During the Feb. 7 SKA meeting, van Roekens told members the groin proposal was "still on the horizon," adding that any mention of such structures "makes me nervous" because of the effects he has seen them have on the movement of sand. However, DavisShaw told the News Leader, "I think there's a lot of improvement in technology" regarding the design of groins, "so they are better able to address the needs" of the areas where they are placed. Page 45 the shoal in Big Pass "has grown hugely" over the past 15 years. "Part of the conversation [about] Big Pass is that it is being altered," she explained, because sand on the west coast of Florida drifts south. Although an effort to dredge Big Pass was halted years ago, Patterson noted, modern science has shown that removing sand "off the tail end" of the shoal would make Big Pass more navigable. As she had in a January presentation to the Siesta Key Condominium Association, Patterson added that the Corps of Engineers would make the final decision on whether the dredging should be allowed: The County Commission "can participate in the discussion, but the county is no longer in charge." Permeable adjustable groins on Longboat Key, for example, "have been working well," DavisDavisShaw told the News Leader the Corps Shaw pointed out. "I do think they have come has guidelines it must follow for any project, a long way …" but it is working with the city and the county She added that the Corps and city officials on the Lido renourishment. For example, she would not want to construct any structure said, Corps officials are utilizing the county's that would cause future problems. Inlet Management Plan in its modeling. Regarding the possible dredging of Big Pass, van Roekens said during the Feb. 7 SKA meeting, "I am extremely leery of that. … I am very concerned about Siesta Beach and also about navigation." SKA President Catherine Luckner pointed out that Big Pass was among the few on the Gulf Coast that never has been dredged. County Commissioner Nora Patterson, who was a guest at the meeting, pointed out that "They definitely are trying to do this in cooperation and conjunction" with the two local governments, she added. "They are trying to be very responsive and respectful." This week, van Roekens told the News Leader he is continuing to work on scheduling presentations about the project for an upcoming SKA meeting as well as for members of the Sarasota Yacht Club and the Boaters' Coalition. %