List of Figures, Tables, and Risk Maps   xi

Preface   xvii

1 From Fort Clinch to Fort Taylor: East Floridas Dynamic Coast   1

Coastal Images   3

Geology: The Basis of Environment   4

Coastal Landforms   14

Coastal Processes and the Importance of Sand   14

Climate: A Fundamental Component of Environment   16

Prehistoric Life: Early Humans   18

Access: The Key to Development   19

Lighthouse Lessons   21

Population Explosion in the Coastal Zone   24

Prospects of the Future   27

2 The Vulnerable Coast: Living With Storms   28

Hurricanes   33

Hurricane Probability   35

Ranking Hurricane Intensities   38

Hurricane History: A Stormy Past   39

Early Hurricanes   40

Recent Hurricanes   41

Winter Storms   43

Other Storm Related Hazards   44

Coastal Storm Processes   44

Natural Processes: Energy in Motion   45

Wind   45

Storm Waves   45

Currents   45

Storm Surge   45

Storm-Surge Ebb   47

Human Coastal Modifications: Altering the Response to Natural Processes   47

3 The Variable Coast: Beaches, Barrier Islands, and Coastal Processes   49

The Significance of Barrier Islands in Hazard Evaluation   51

Barrier Island Evolution   53

Stationary or Grounded Barrier Islands   55

Rolling Sandbars: How Islands Migrate   56

The Role of Shoreface in Barrier Island Evolution   59

Geologic Framework of the Coast: Know Your Shoreface   59

Beaches: Natures Shock Absorbers   61

How Does the Beach Responds to a Storm?   61

How Does the Beach Widen?   62

Where Does Beach Sand Come From?   65

Why Are Our Shorelines Retreating?   65

If Most Shorelines Are Eroding, What is the Long-Range Future of Beach Development?   65

4 The Fortified Coast: Living With Coastal Engineering   67

Shoreline Armoring: Engineering Structures   68

Shore-Parallel Structures on Land: The Seawall Family   69

Impacts of Seawalls   73

Passive Beach Loss   73

Active Beach Loss   73

Placement Beach Loss   73

Seawalls, Sediment Loss, and Narrowing Beaches   73

Shore-Parallel Structures Offshore: Breakwaters   76

Shore-Perpindicular Structures: Groins and Jetties   77

Impacts on Groins   77

Engineering Structures: A Final Word   80

Coastal Armoring Policy   81

Alternative Devices   83

Redistributing Sediment: Dredging/Filing, Trucking, Scraping, and Bypassing   86

Beach Dredge-and-Fill Projects   86

Trucking Sand   92

Beach Scraping   92

Sand Transfer Plants   95

Dune Building   95

Plugging Dune Gaps   95

Principles of Sand Fencing and Artificial Plantings   96

Relocation: Managed Retreat   97

Are Variances Eroding Beach Protection Efforts?   98

Truths of the Shoreline   98

5 Environmental Effects of Beach Management   100

The Shelf Settling   100

How Marine Animals Can Be Affected by Engineering Projects   102

Beach Engineering Methods and Environmental Effects   104

Large Dredge-and-Fill Projects   105

Engineering Methods   105

Historical Perspectives on Beach Dredge and Fill   106

Environmental Effects   107

Mid-Shelf Areas (35-60 Feet)   107

Intermediate Shelf Areas (12-35 Feet)   108

Nearshore and Onshore Areas (0-12 Feet)   109

Inlet Channel Maintenance   110

Nearshore Berms   110

Importing Aragonite Sand   111

Sand Transfer Plants   112

Comparative Environmental Effects of Beach Engineering Methods   113

The Chronic Absence of Cumulative Impact Assessments   114

Natural Stressors   114

Historical Reef Burials   115

Mitigation and Artificial Reefs   116

Just The Facts   117

The Scale of Past and Future Dredge-and-Fill Projects   118

Current Understanding of Faunas and Impacts of Beach Engineering   118

6 The Rules of the Coast: Assessing Hazards   120

The Flexible Coast   121

Selecting Your Coastal Site   124

Stability Indicators: Reading Natures Record at the Coast   127

Terrain and Elevation   127

Vegetation   127

Seashells   130

Soil Profiles   130

Coastal Environments: Your Site in the Bigger Coastal Picture   131

Primary Dunes   131

Dune Fields   132

Overwash Fans   133

Grasslands   133

Inlets   134

The Infrastructure Coast: Water Resources, Services, and Utilities   134

Finger Canals   135

Site Evaluation Checklist: Vulnerability and Risk Potential Escape Routes: Have an Emergency Plan   138

Know the Escape Route Ahead of Time   138

Use the Route Early   139

7 The Nitty-Gritty Coast: Evaluating Your Coastal Site   140

Nassau County   142

Duval County   147

St. Johns County   153

Flagler County   164

Volusia County   169

Brevard County   177

Indian River County   189

St. Lucie County   193

Martin County   199

Palm Beach County   205

Broward County   215

Dade County   222

Miami Beach: The Endpoint   232

Monroe County/Florida Keys   232

The Environment   235

Look What Theyve Done to Our Keys!   237

The Storm Threat   241

The Next Step   247

8 The Built Coast: Construction Guidelines   249

Can We Learn from Past Experience?   249

Coastal Realty versus Coastal Reality   249

The Structure: Concept of Balanced Risk   250

Can We Rely on Building Codes?   251

Coastal Forces: Desing Requirements   251

Lessons from Previous Storms   253

The National Flood Insurance Program   255

Construction Type   255

House Selection   255

Strengthening the Exterior Envelope   256

Doors   257

Windows   257

Structural Integrity   257

Building Shape   257

Roofs   258

Connectivity, High-Wind Straps, and Tie-Downs   262

Keeping Dry: Pole or Stilt Houses   263

Piling Embedment   265

Connection of Piling to the Floor and Roof   267

Breakaway Walls below Elevated Buildings   267

Concrete Slabs below Elevated Buildings   267

Utility Systems   267

Dry Flood-Proofing   268

An Existing House: What to Look for, Where to Improve   268

Location   268

How Well Built Is the House?   268

What Can be Done to Improve an Existing House?   271

Mobile Homes: Limiting Their Mobility   274

High-Rise and Medium-Rise Buildings: The Urban Shore   275

Modular Unit Construction: Prefabricating the Urban Shore   276

What Should Be Done to Protect Property along the East Florida Coast?   276

9 The Managed Coast: Living with Coastal Regulations   278

National Flood Insurance Program   279

Coastal Barrier Resources Act   282

Rivers and Harbors Act of 1889   284

Coastal Zone Management Act   284

Florida Beach and Shore Preservation Act   284

Coastal Construction Control Line and Coastal Building zone   287

National Environmental Policy Act   288

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act   289

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act   289

Endangered Species Act   290

Clean Water Act   290

Critical Eroding Areas   291

Prediction: Coastal Regulation Will Increase   293

Appendixes  

A. Hazard Safety Checklist   295

B. Guide to Local, State, and Federal Agencies Involved in Coastal Development   302

C. 101 Useful Coastal References   314

Index   000

"[E]xcellent and thorough, and as up-to-date as such a volume can be. . . . Everyone living on Florida's Atlantic beaches should own, read, and digest the wisdom contained in this book. At some future time, this knowledge likely will make a difference for the integrity of their shore properties and the safety of their families. Essential."—P.R. Pinet, CHOICE

"This book provides a comprehensive overview of coastal realities, including ecological and hydrological dynamics; assessment and evaluation of risk; related socio-cultural events and perspectives; coastal engineering; and managing the built environment. The authors advocate living with the shoreline and coastal processes in Florida, rather than struggling against them."—Natural Hazards Observer

"Aimed at homeowners and policy makers alike, this encyclopedic guidebook provides a clear road map of what is involved in building a house close to a Florida beach -- from assessing the hazards of hurricanes and rising sea levels to considering the environmental impacts and legal issues, including a county-by-county primer."—Environmental Defense

“Despite the risks, ocean lovers still flock to Florida’s coast. This book can better prepare one for living at the mercy of the Atlantic Ocean.”—Ryder W. Miller, Electronic Green Journal

"[E]xcellent and thorough, and as up-to-date as such a volume can be. . . . Everyone living on Florida's Atlantic beaches should own, read, and digest the wisdom contained in this book. At some future time, this knowledge likely will make a difference for the integrity of their shore properties and the safety of their families. Essential."—P.R. Pinet, CHOICE

"This book provides a comprehensive overview of coastal realities, including ecological and hydrological dynamics; assessment and evaluation of risk; related socio-cultural events and perspectives; coastal engineering; and managing the built environment. The authors advocate living with the shoreline and coastal processes in Florida, rather than struggling against them."—Natural Hazards Observer

"Aimed at homeowners and policy makers alike, this encyclopedic guidebook provides a clear road map of what is involved in building a house close to a Florida beach -- from assessing the hazards of hurricanes and rising sea levels to considering the environmental impacts and legal issues, including a county-by-county primer."—Environmental Defense

“Despite the risks, ocean lovers still flock to Florida’s coast. This book can better prepare one for living at the mercy of the Atlantic Ocean.”—Ryder W. Miller, Electronic Green Journal

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