told the News Leader he will continue to
push for what he calls a "truly independent
peer review" of the Army Corps plans and
modeling.
Lido residents, however, say the project needs
to happen sooner rather than later to protect
their eroding beach.
"We are in water with a couple of buildings at
the end of the island," said Lido Key Residents
Association President Carl Shoffstall, refer-
ring to high tide lapping at those structures.
"Lido Beach cannot be a sacrificial lamb,"
Shoffstall added.
On July 22, the Army Corps representatives
and DavisShaw met with residents at the Lido
Resort. Eight floors below them, an exposed
rock groin and the thin shoreline were visible
evidence of the erosion problems at one of
the city's major tourist attractions.
Lido resident Laura Bryg said she is wor-
ried that opponents of the Army Corps plans
are seeking a consultant who will purposely
"poke holes" in the renourishment project
study the Army Corps of Engineers released
in June.
"Anyone who walks on Lido Key will barely
see a beach," said Elsie Souza, who walks the
shoreline daily.
ADDRESSING QUESTIONS
The Army Corps of Engineers has commit-
ted to funding 62 percent of the cost of the
dredging and renourishment and is proposing
a 50-year plan to keep sand on Lido.
The SRQ Media Room at City Hall, where the Army Corps of Engineers' afternoon meeting was held,
was packed.
Sarasota News Leader July 25, 2014 Page 33
