Posted on May 10, 2016
The town of Palm Beach just landed an estimated $3 million worth of free beach sand, underscoring the positive possibilities of Port of Palm Beach dredging. That latest routine maintenance dredging project, eliminating natural sand buildup, and enhancing harbor navigation by keeping the Lake Worth Inlet at its authorized 33-foot depth, suggests that doing the same in and around the Peanut Island sandbar may not necessarily prove an environmental disaster.
Meanwhile, the whale in the water — the proposed harbor-channel widening and deepening project — has been stuck for lack of consensus on the key environmental concerns. That could prove a game-changer for all, from boaters to divers to Palm Beachers to the port. It’s also why resolution of that floundering matter needs movement.
Safety is the appropriate watchword among those championing and opposing the various dredging proposals. It’s hard to argue with their logic in the case of the Peanut Island sandbar. The Post’s photos, which accompaniedJennifer Sorentrue’s recent story, highlight the obvious danger of boats traversing the increasingly constricted Intracoastal Waterway channel between the popular sandbar and the Sailfish Marina to the east.
Thus, the plan floated by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County during last week’s meeting at Phil Foster Park. The nonprofit group proposes easing boat traffic in the area by 1. dredging the sandbar’s perimeter, to improve navigation around the Blue Heron Bridge and on the east, and 2. deepening a historical channel through the sandbar, creating more spots for boaters to beach their vessels.
It’s an intriguing proposal that, leaving aside the “if you build it, even more will come” questions, carries other issues. Those raised at the meeting ranged from cost, to whether using the sand to extend the beach at Phil Foster Park is a good idea, to other potential impacts on diving and snorkeling.
Similar environmental issues also have been raised, of course, in deep-sixing plans to dredge the port’s inner channel to 39 feet, and widen it from 300 feet to 450 feet. Safety motivations have been cited there too – by harbor pilots, for example, noting ships’ increasing difficulty to maneuver the port’s turning basin. “We have been using these same parameters here for decades and ships just keep getting bigger,” said port pilot Capt. Reid Hansen.
One result is a loud hint that those ships dock elsewhere, such as Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Jacksonville. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel has lobbied against $88 million in federal funding for that dredging until there’s consensus on a plan, however, while port officials correctly note that the funding hold has helped remove incentive for agreement.
No one can support simply tearing up the environment. Yet it’s obvious that the port won’t be taken seriously, going forward, unless something constructive is done. Similarly, while the sandbar dredging sounds good, a piecemeal approach, subject to unintended consequences, only raises more questions on the overall, comprehensive waterfront.
The proposed harbor-channel widening and deeping project – has been stuck at port for lack of consensus on the key environmental concerns.
Source: myPalmBeachPost
