HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-80-0055Florida for said
"SUPPORTIVE
DOCUMENT.S
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State
RESOLUTION NO.
80 55
A RESOLUTION APPROVING ISSUANCE OF PERMIT, --:-
PURSUANT .'TO SECTION 253,124, FLORIDA STATUTES
FOR ' THE EXPANSION OF .THE PORT OF MIAMI; --A'
DEVELOPMENT OF. REGIONAL IMPACT, PROPOSED BY DADE
COUNTY SEAPORT DEPARTMENT FOR LITMUS AND
,SAW--S. ISLANDS AND BAY BOTTOM LOCATED ON
BISCAYNEBAY JUST SOUTH OF WATSON .ISLAND.
•
WHEREAS
of Florida
o construct the
Sam'
Metropolitan Dade County has applied t
Department'' of Environmental Reg
expansion to the Port of Miami,
the
ulation for a perrmit
n Lurimu s and•
Islands and Bay Bottom` loca•ted on Biscayne -Bay; and
WHEREAS, the City of. Miami has pr.evious1v approved'and
issued a Development Order.for the same project; and.
WHEREAS,before ar.nroval can be given by the State
be obtained from the. City.
permit,: approval must
of Miami "pursuant to. Section 253.124, Florida: Statutes; and
of
.WHEREAS, a Biological Survey Deport prepared bv`the"'
•
State of. Florida, Department of Environmental Regulation is
and made a part hereof , the contents of: which are
City.Comnission of the City of Miami;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED.. BY TEE COMMISSION OF THE
hereto
to the
CITY:
OF MIAMI,`FLORIDA:
Section
Project,
Seaport
located on
ATTEST:
Section 1.
attached
familiar
Approval is hereby granted ;pursuant; t
253.124, Florida Statutes, for the Port of
a ;development of regional impact, pronosec? by Dade
Department for Lummus and Sam's I•slands and bav hottom
•Biscayne Bay just South of Watson Island:
PASSED AND ADOPTED this
24 day
Miami
JANUARY
MAURICE:'A. FERRE
Exr_ansion
Rountv
1980.
CITE CLERK
P EPARE AA A nP VED BY:
MIC�IALL HAYGOOD
ASSISTANT CITY ATTO•Y
CIT
MAYOR:
"DOCUMENT INDEX
ITEM NO.
RM ANI) CORRECTNESS :
TR.
A. ORNFY
C11Y COMMISSION
MEETING OF
JAN 2 4 1980
RESOLUTION Nab 0 : 5 5
REMARKS:
eeeeeee
.23
Joseph R.Grassie; January 18, 1980
City. Manager
"Jim Reid, Director-``
Planning Department
'City Commission Meeting
January 24,•1980 Agenda Item --
Approval for Filling Land:
Port 0f Miami, Expansion
Section 253.124 Florida Statutes requires
local government to, approveany dredging
or 'filling to extend islands within munici-
pal -limits. 'It is recornrnended that the
Commission approve the dredging and filling
toextend certain islands,i.e. Dodge and,
Sam'.s Islands, as requested.. by the Dade
County''`Seaport Department for the Port`
of Miami,_` expansion, per the attached
resolution:
Section 253.124 Florida. Statutes requires ,the .sPeci,fic..approvaY of local
government of any "dredi ng or filling .,to extend i sl ands, wi;thi n muni ci pal
limits Further it is required that local government review a-bio
logical survey citing; the effects of the proposed dredging or filling
operations.
The Dade County Seaport Department has requested that the Commission
specifically approve the dredging and filling to expand Dodge and
Sam's :Islands in Biscayne Bay associated with the Port of Miami expansion
and have included 'a biological survey prepared by the,, Department of En
vironmental,Resource Management The. Commission,haspreviously issued
a DevelopmentOrder approving, with modifications, the Port. of Miami�
Development of Regional Impact. (Resolution 79-850;` December 5, 1979)
•
is recommended that. the ,Commission approve, the extension of -Dodge
and Sam' s.Islands,' per the attached resolution.
JR:JLJM:dr
Encs.
Resolution
;Biological Survey
`SUPPORTIVE
DCCU EI\i.rS
FOLLOW"
City of Miami Commission'
Post Office Box 330708
Miami, Florida 33133
Dear Sirs:
Re: File No. 13-19502, Dade County,
Metropolitan Dade County Seaport Department
The Department of Environmental Regulation staff has
performed a biological survey for the above project and
offers the following comments to be considered by the
Board of Commissioners as required by Subsection 253.124(3),
Florida Statutes.
This project involves the expansion of the Port of I1iarai
facility at Dodge Island in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Dade
County, Florida. The project includes the excavation
of 11,400,000 cubic yards below mean high water in order
to:
Widen the existing main channel from 400 to SS0 ft.:.,:
along approximately 6,000 linear ft. from the
existing turning basin west of Government Cut to
Dodge Channel and deepen the main channel to 536.0
ft. mean low water (M.L.W.) - (1,297,000 cubic yards).
. To provide a new channel south of Dodge, Lurnmus and
Sam's Island. This channel, approximately 12,600 ft.
long by S00 ft. wide, would be excavated along with
the existing slip on Dodge Island to a depth of
-36.0 ft. M.L.W. (6,180,000 cubic yards).
▪ To provide a turning basin with a diameter of
1,600 ft. near the center of the proposed south
main channel (2,042,000 cubic yards).
. To provide a new channel approximately 2,000 ft.
long by 900 ft. wide at the southwest corner of
Dodge Island from the inflection point to the
Intracoastal Waterway (1,881,000 cubic yards).
«S I? 3OE( 1'1t
OCU
(-)1 1 i ) 8,
City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Two
The project also includes the filling of 4,120,000 c.y.
below, and 900,000 c.y. above mean high water at the
following locations:
1. The southwest corner of Do4ge Island would be
expanded by filling approximately 11 acres of
submerged bottom (70,000 c.y.).
2. A 227 acre site east of the existing Port facilities
on Dodge Island would be expanded by filling 147
acres of submerged bottom and 80± acres of existing
uplands on Sam's and Lummus Islands (4,050,000 c.y.).
The spoil material not used as fill to expand the Port
(6,380,000 c.y.) would be deposited on upland spoil sites
on Virginia Key.
This dredging/filling activity would be completed within
a five (S) year period (1980-1984) during Phase I and
Phase IIA of the proposed Port development. Subsequent
development would include the construction of 13,870 linear
ft. of marginal wharf and the development of the upland
to service cruise passenger vessels and oceanborne general
cargo commerce. The construction of marginal wharfs would
occur in a phased development depending on funding and
needs. The proposed expansion indicates the construction
of 36.51 of the proposed wharfs (6000 linear ft.) during
1980-1984 (Phase I and IIA) with 63.5% (11,970 linear ft.)
being constructed from 1985-1999 (Phase IIB, III and IV).
This project is in Outstanding Florida Waters and is
within the boundaries of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve.
The existing Port and the proposed Port expansion are in
a section of North Biscayne Bay bordered on the north by
the McArthur Causeway and on the south by the Rickenbackor
Causeway. The City of Miami (mainland) is located on
the west side of the basin with several islands including
Manzi Beach, Fisher Island and Virginia Key situated to
the east. The basin flushes with the Atlantic Ocean
through Government Cut and Norris Cut on the east. The
major flow into the basin occurs from the Miami River,
immediately west of the proposed Port expansion, and
tho Intracoastal Waterway which extends through this
basin from south Biscayne Bay to the more northern basins
of the Bay.
efA
City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Three
The history of construction in this basin has been documented
in the applicant's Development of Regional Impact (D.R.I.).
The major impacts from dredging/filling occurred primarily
from the construction and maintenance of navigable channels
in this basin. The dredging of Fishermen's Channel (1890's)
and successive dredging of Government Cut (1920's to present)
has resulted in significant damage to seagrass beds which
dominated this area of the Bay. Additionally, direct
spoiling on adjacent beds, heavy siltation and turbidity,
and unconsolidated spoil has resulted in the loss of
additional valuable seagrass habitat. The last major
construction activity in this area of the Bay occured in
the early 1960's with the development of the existing Port.
Additional impacts on this basin have occurred from the
discharge of domestic sewage both into the Miami River
and directly into the Bay. The direct sewage disposal
was abated in 19SS with the construction of the City of
Miami Wastewater Treatment Plant on Virginia Key. During
this time, McNulty (1962, 1970) did extensive benthic
biological sampling of this area of the Bay.
Present impacts on this basin occur primarily from maintenance
dredging of the existing channels and problems associated
with recent urban growth. This increased growth has
resulted in increased pollutant loading; (heavy metals,
greases, oils) in discharges of stormwater, a natural
shoreline that is now nearly entirely bulkheaded, and a
rapid growth of private and commerc'ial Tsarinas.
The major marinas in this basin include the South Beach
Marina (402 wet slips) on Miami Beach and Marina Biscayne
(182 wet slips) on Virginia Key. A number of smaller
private marinas (existing, under construction or in permit
processing) are located along the :Miami shoreline associated
with high-rise condominiums on '3rickell Avenue. Additionally,
large marinas have been proposed in association with the
development of Fisher, Watson and Claughton Islands. The
proposed South Beach Redevelopment Project also includes
a proposed enlargement of the South Beach Marina and
additional dockage in the proposed 2.6 miles of upland
canals that would, if permitted, also be connected to
this basin.
Although the basin has undergone multiple impacts over
the last 90 years, the biological value of the basin
must still be considered high. While the seagrassos have
changed in both abundance and composition because of those
multiple impacts, much of the shallow bottom remains covered
with initial and secondary seagrass growth. Within the
"SUPPORTIVE
DOCUMENTS
FOLLOW"
City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Four
SO4 acre study area (D.R.I.), 165.7 acres (331) were vegetated
with seagrasses. This seagrass coverage may be low as
compared with the entire basin as it reflects a study
area that includes Fishermen's Channel, Port of Miami
South Channel and a portion of Dodge Channel and the
Intracoastal Waterway. These areas are generally considered
to be too deep to sustain seagrass growth even if other
conditions are optimal.
Since the D.R.I. provides the first comprehensive mapping
of the vegetation in this area of the Bay, it is difficult
to evaluate any changes in the existing seagrass beds
over tho last 20 years since major new dredging operations
have declined and sewage input has been abated. A
comparison of the marine vegetation map (D.R.I.) with a
vegetation map determined by benthic grabs in 1960
(McNulty, 1961) indicates:
1. Areas north of Lummus Island once dominated by
Ilalonhila baillonis and red algal assemblages
ire ire now"'dominato t iiy Halodule wrightii.
2. Areas adjacent to Sam's Island previously dominated
by Halodule now have a large (3.4 acres) bed of
Thalassia testudinuri.
3. Areas south of Channel marker,#13 that were dominated
by Halodule and _Halophila are now dominated by
Tharassia.
It appears from these observations that this area may,
over the last 20 years, have been undergoing succession
towards the climax Thalassia community which prevailed
before the area was SE5i1Trimpacted by major dredging/
filling operations, sewage wastes, etc. While the density
of the grassbeds may be reduced as compared with pristine
areas in South Biscayne Bay, these grasses appear to be
healthy and productive.
This basin, in addition to providing valuable marine
habitat, is used for recreational boating (as evidenced
by the large number of marinas) and commercial and sport
fishing.
The specific project site includes Dodge Island, submerged`
lands south and east of Dodge Island, Lummus Island, Sam's
Island and submerged lands adjacent and between those
islands.
t
City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Paso 'five
Dodge Island is the site of the existing 284 acre Port
of Miami facility. The northwest portion of Dodge Island
has been developed to service cruise passenger vessels
while the eastern portion is used primarily for oceanborne
general cargo commerce. The south and southwest portions
of the island have been recently cleared and are presently
used for the storage of containerized freight.
The island is primarily bulkheaded with marginal wharfs.
This application includes the construction of S,S3S linear
ft. of marginal wharfs on the remaining undeveloped shoreline.
The proposed development of these wharfs on Dodge Island
accounts for 29% of the total marginal wharfs proposed
in the expansion project.
Lummus and Sam's Islands, constructed from spoil material
in the 1920's, remain undeveloped. The dominant vegetation
on both islands is Australian Pine with a variable margin
of mangroves. The eastern side of Lummus Island has the
largest tract of mangroves (5.2 acres) within the project
limits. This mangrove forest is considered to be a
productive and valuable habitat.
Since manpower, time and resources were extremely limited
for a comprehensive survey of the submerged lands by this
Department, the major emphasis was placed on the evaluation
of the data supplied by the applicajnt. The applicant's
Sublittoral Marine Environmental Survey (S.M.E.S.) and
portions of the DevoTopmont o'f-egiona Impact (D.R.I.)
dealing with the natural resources (QuFi ion 18) were
carefully reviewed and are discussed below.
Marino Vegetation
The marine vegetation was mapped by the applicant -
(Appendix A) using twenty (20) underwater transacts,
additional spot checks and aerial photography. The
use of these techniques would be expected to provide
a reasonably accurate map of the marine vegetation
within the project limits. Therefore. no attempt was
made by this staff to map the marine vegetation.
The benthic vegetation within the project limits was
found to be dominated by seagrasses. The dominant
species included Nalodule wri htii and SyYringodium
filiforme (52 acres; 63.81 offtotal), fialophila baillonis
(24.1 acres; 29.6% of the total) and Thalassia testu nuci
(5.4 acres; 6.6% of the total). The tots seagrass
cover was 81.S acres.
"SUPPORTIVE
DOCUMENTS
9
City of Miami Commission
January 17 1980
Page Six
In terns of seagrass cover, tho most valuable areas
appeared to be north of Lummus Island and around Sam's
Island. This area contained all of the Thalassia
(5.4 acres) and 53.8% of the Halodule and Syringodium
(28 acres) within the project limits. Seagrass density
(mean blade density) was also greatest in these areas.
These seagrasses are generally considered to be more
productive and provide more valuable habitat than
Nalophila, also found within the project limits.
Neither the D.R.I. nor the applicant's S.4.B.S. make
any attempt to provide comparable quantitative leaf
density data for other impacted areas of North Biscayne
Bay or pristine areas in South Biscayne Bay. Qualitative
comments are occasionally provided which indicate
patches of sparse, moderate and dense seagrass cover.
Without comparable quantitative data, it is difficult
to draw any valid conclusions as to the relative
health/density/value of these seagrasses as compared
with other areas outside the project limits. The
seagrasses observed in the field appeared to be of
mixed density yet apparently quite healthy and productive.
Uacroinvertebrate Community
The macroinvertebrates surveyed by the applicant were
collected by trawl and grab samples. The trawl samples,
although not quantitative, were used to collect and
compare the epifauna while grabs were used to compare
the infauna. While this staff has some concerns about
the use of the Shannon Index to evaluate taxa containing
such few individuals, the total numbers of individuals
and taxa collected can validly be used in comparisons
of locations within the project limits.
Those areas north of Lummus Island and around Sam's
Island appeared to have the highest diversity and
density compared to other areas within the Port survey.
Station #13, located north of Lummus Island, had the
greatest number of individuals collected by trawl
samples and the highest community diversity of any
station.
The applicant's comparison included two stations outside
of the project limits below Channel darker 13 which
were vegetated by dense Thalassia (station 16) and
mixed Thalassia/Halodule ff bifaL (station 17). The
grab sarap es i idicatod chat station 12, located northwest
of Lummus Island, and station 8, located northwest of
Sam's Island, had the highest abundance of major taxa..
• City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Eight
From this data it appears that the seagrass beds at
those three locations within the Port expansion area
are as diverse (11') as other areas in south Biscayne
Bay and are slightly more diverse than areas in the
more northern sections of the Bay. Species richness
and density are generally lower than in those areas
sampled in south Biscayne Bay. However, this may
simply be an indication of differences in dominant
seagrass species. Thalassia apparently supports a
community of greater densfty and species richness than
any of the mixed grass samples collected within the
• Port expansion area. It is also apparent that the
samples on the sandy channel edge have a community
with lower diversity, species richness and density
than do the samples collected within seagrass vegetated
areas.
This project is expected to have a significant long and
short tern adverse impact on the water quality and biological
resources of this section of North Biscayne Bay. The following
is a list of the impacts which would be expected to occur:
1. The loss by dredging/filling 81.5 acres of productive
seagrasses. This includes 5.4 acres of Thalassia;
52.0 acres of Halodulo and Syringodium; and 24.1
acres of Halop1ira7—The role of soagrasses in the
marine system has been well 4ocurtontod in the scientific
literature.
i) Seagrasses serve as the base for an extensive
detrital food chain. The macroinvortebrates
collected in this study aro for the most part
directly dependent on the decaying grass and
• its microbes for food.
b) Seagrasses serve as a refuge or sanctuary from
predators and serve as a nursery ground for
many marine invertebrates, and juvenile sport
• and commercial fish species.
nutrients from surrounding waters and reducing
Seagrasses can improve water quality by removing
turbidity. Turbidity decreases as the seagrass
blades effectively reduce the current velocity
which results in the settling of finer suspended
• particles.
A ' " •
2 •
fart:LIVILlij
LLOVV
City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Seven
While the macroinvertebrate data submitted by the
applicant is useful for comparing sites within the
limits of the project, little comparable data collected
in an identical manner is available for sites outside
the project limits. Therefore, it is difficult to
compare the data generated by this study with other
areas of Biscayne Bay and evaluate the relative value
of the habitat. In an attempt to make such comparisons,,
this staff collected benthic samples from five stations
on 3 July 1979. It should be noted that this staff
does not feel that five stations or fourteen (as in
the D.R.I.) are sufficient to provide a statistically
valid description of the animal community within the
SO4 acre study site. However, the number of samples
collected by this Department was strictly limited by
available sampling and analysis time.
The samples were collected by means of a petite ponar
grab which quantitatively samples both the poifaunal
and infaunal communities but will not provide an
adequate sample of the larger more motile invertebrates
or the fish. The samples were preserved, sorted and
analyzed by standard methods. The samples were dominated
by polychaotcs, molluscs and peracarideans (amphipods,
isopods, tanaidacens and cumaceans).
The stations sampled in thisustudy were compared with
stations sampled by the Departient in other areas
of Biscayne Bay. Comparisons are justified as all
samples were collected with identical sampling gear
and techniques from similar shallow seagrass areas
and were analyzed by the same personnel using identical
procedures and indices.
Species diversity is an important parameter of community
structure and is considered to be highly influenced
by environmental stability, (Sanders, 1965). Two
indices are used to indicate diversity in this study.
The Shannon -Weaver diversity index ,(H') is a standard,
accepted index used by the State of Florida and numerous
private and academic studies for analysis of benthic
;am?les. It is sensitive to species richness and
equitability yet is relatively sample size independent
except for very small samples. Diversity (species
richness) is also indicated simply by the number of
species collected in identical sample sizes (grabs))
a. •
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City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Nino
Seagrasses stabilize benthic substrates and=
serve as a natural inexpensive and effective
means of erosion control.
As the submerged area within the project
limits would either be filled above the
mean high water line or excavated to -36
ft. mean low water, seagrasses would not
bo expected to come back in this area.
The project will result in the loss of S.6 acres
of productive mangroves, The value of mangroves
in the detrital based food chain, as a nursery and
habitat, as a stabilizer of natural shorelines and
in improving water quality has also been well documented.
The project would eliminate, by filling, 155= acres
of submerged lands and adversely impact the resource
value of an additional 264s acres of submerged land
that would be excavated to -36 ft. mean low water.
This depth would be limiting for the establishment
of seagrasses and the establishment of the diverse
seagrass animal community.
The adverse impact on the ntacroinvertebrato community
would be expected to be severe. The density of the
macroinvertebrates collected in three benthic samples
within the proposed expansion' area indicated a mean
density of 5120 individuals/M2. While three samples
can not be used to extrapolate densities over large
areas with any confidenco, they can be used to give
an indication of potential impact. An extrapolation
of the macroinvertebrates within a single acre of
seagrass yields:
S129 ind/M2 x 4047 M3/acres • 20.8 million
individuals/acre
Further extrapolation
seagrass destroyed by this project yields:
20.8 million/acre x 81.5 acres • 1.7 billion
individuals.
to cover the 81.5 acres o
This figure only reflects`the potential impact ,on
the macroinvertebrates in the 81.5 acres of seagrass
and does not even consider the impact on the 337t
acres of non -vegetation submerged bottom.
‘ gg�
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n l5 l a
V
1
/"\
City of Miami Commission
January 17 •
1980
Page Ton
The area north of Lunraus Island and around Sam's
Island has the highest density and diversity of
macroinvertebrates and the most valuable seagrasses
within the Port expansion area. The Sublittoral
Marine Environmental Survey, prepared for the applicant,
recommended that portions of this area be preserved.
As this application proposes the dredging/filling
of this entire area, the adverse impact in this
area would be expected to bo more severe than other
areas within the Port expansion site.
• Fisheries resources were not adequately assessed
in the D.R.I. as all data was generated from benthic
trawls which have an extremely poor sampling efficiency.
The value of seagrasses as habitat for juvenile
commercial and sport fishes is well known. The
loss of this habitat and the associated macroinvertebrates
(which in part serve as fish food) is expected to
result in a significant adverse impact on the fisheries
resources.
• Water quality degradation would be expected to occur
as a result of the construction and operation of
the expanded Port facility. Water quality criteria
of concern include Turbidity, J.O., Greases 4 Oils,
Heavy metals, PCBs, DOD's, and conform. Additionally,
increased activity in this basin would increase the
potential for spillage of oil, toxic substances or
other wastes that could further impact on the remaining
resources.
▪ Numerical model depicting the existing circulation
pattern of Biscayne Bay along with various alternatives
reveal flushing in the vicinity of the Port and
this portion of Biscayne Bay is likely to increase
due to a greater potential for increased tidal flows.
Filling of the channel between Dodge and Lummus Island
will divert the flow but will not be a significant
impact. All the runoff will be retained in the
uplands. Hence, while destruction of certain acreage
of the submerged bottom is involved the hydraulics
-of the Bay area near the Port is likely to improve.
Pursuant to the requirements of Subsection 253.124(3),
Florida Statutes, the preceding comments should be duly
considered and read into the minutes of tho meeting at
which time a determination of local approval is made.
To assist in evaluating the project a copy of the application
and a set of project drawings aro enclosed (Attachment I, II).
•
City of Miami Commission
January 17, 1980
Page Eleven
A sample resolution (Attachment III) prepared by the
Department's legal staff is also enclosed. This document
is provided to assist the Board of Commissioners in preparing
a resolution that will meet the requirements of Subsection
253.124(3), Florida Statutes. The Board of Commissioners
is not obligated to use this format so long as the Department
is made aware that the requirements of the statute have
been fulfilled.
SDH/hh
Attachru nts
cc: Luis Ajamil
Warren Strahri'
Sincerely,
Stephen D. Hart
Environmental Specialist
Standard Permitting Section