Interim Project Explained

Why is an interim shoreline project being recommended?

The Town's efforts are focused on obtaining a long-term beach renourishment project. Unfortunately, this is a long process, and there is no funding in place to actually do any large project, which could cost $30 million or more. It is very likely that it will be at least 4 years before any sand would be placed upon the beach under any plan the Town is considering. Clearly, the West End does not have 4 years to wait.

In the interim, the weakened West End will continue to remain vulnerable to storms, which since Hurricane Ida, are increasingly accelerating erosion of the Gulf shoreline and are threatening to create additional breaches in the island.  The effects of a tropical storm and hurricane during this period could be catastrophic for the Island’s West End.

Scope of Interim Measure.

During this vulnerable period, an interim plan is being proposed to provide a protective dune system for the most critical area currently experiencing greatly accelerated erosion- Island’s West End, from approximately Raphael Semmes Ct to the west end of Bienville Blvd.

The protective Dune Structure would be a structure that would be intended to absorb the effects of weaker storms that have a statistical probability of occurring once every 5 years (i.e., a 20% chance of occurring each year).  As observed with prior efforts, a such a structure would not stand up to a major hurricane event and could be compromised by the waves of large storm systems that make landfall large distances from Dauphin Island as was the case with Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, but the intent of this structure is to buy time for the Town’s future long term recommendations can be put into place.

This interim protective measure will be designed to be consistent with, and to compliment the long-term solution being developed by the Town.  If the dune system is able to withstand storm forces until the Town’s long-term solution can be constructed, it is possible it may contribute to reducing the eventual total quantity of sand required to nourish DauphinIsland’s West End shoreline. The conceptual design for the dune will be provided to the Town so that it can be evaluated by the coastal engineers it has hired to evaluate its value before a major push is pursued to compile the above solution.

Implementing an Interim Protective Measure

While some will question the necessity of any type of solution, the situation is so critical now that we must all work together to mitigate the immediate risk to the crisis areas.

How can concerned property owners help? Please visit our petition site and express your support. It only takes a couple of minutes at the most:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/710372213