Pinellas News

Bayou shoreline restoration project back on track

Photos

Mark Schantz
Published: September 29, 2011

TARPON SPRINGS - An Army Corps of Engineers project to reduce erosion and protect the city's bayou shoreline is back on track.

Tuesday night, city commissioners agreed to the partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the county to stabilize roughly 2,800 feet of the eastern shoreline of Whitcomb Bayou and 1,700 feet of eastern and southern Kreamer Bayou shoreline.

The Army Corps of Engineers recently notified city officials that as soon as the final paperwork is received, by the end of this month, shoreline restoration could begin by next spring or summer, said Joseph DiPasqua, development services director.

DiPasqua said staff "is very excited" about being able to bring this project to the city commission. "We are cautiously optimistic that the project will be funded this time," he added.

"This is a very important and timely project that we had to get approved tonight," City Manager Mark LeCouris said.

Mayor David Archie thanked DiPasqua and staff for their endurance. "We hope and pray that the project will be funded," he added.

City officials have lobbied the Army Corps of Engineers for several years, asking for a shoreline stabilization project. Officials noted the low elevation makes the bayous particularly vulnerable to storm damage and erosion from tides and currents. Erosion caused by natural forces has continually worsened during the last 30 years, threatening the integrity of abutting roadways, causing erosion of large trees and shoreline vegetation, the city wrote in letters to the agency.

Even during heavy rain events, the Spring Bayou roadway experiences severe flooding that can prevent motorists from entering or leaving the west side of the city.

The shoreline restoration project is estimated to cost almost $3 million, with the city and county cost-sharing a $994,840 local match.

Last June, the Army Corps pulled funding for the project because of a Congressional mandate that funds were only to go to projects already in progress or those that were shovel ready and set to get under way by 2011.

At that time, the city was completing its application. LeCouris said he felt confident the project would be funded in the 2012 budget cycle because by then the city will have all its approvals in place.

The city and county both set aside its portion of the match believing the project would be included in the next funding cycle.

Mark Schantz can be reached at (727) 815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.