Artificial Reef - Mustang Island

Check out this proposed Artificial Surf Reef for Coco Beach Florida.

The Reef would be placed in 20 foot deep water. For us approximated 500 yards off the beach. Quite a paddle. BUT even a three foot swell would produce some excellent belly high waves. Both lefts and rights. A nice peak for easy take offs and a deeper area in the middle in case someone eats it on the take off. The wave would peel approximately 100' yards and then diminish. Then all you have do is paddle around and back into position or the line up.

The materials are eco-friendly being constructed of sand bags filled a combination of sand and shell. A slurry unit would be pulled to the site atop a barge and sand bags would be filled up and put in place to form the reef. Over time the sand bags would be covered with sea grass.

Below is the link.


http://research.fit.edu/wavedata/artificial_reefs/FIT-FSBPA%20Newsletter.pdf

This also could bring a boost to the local economy in Port A. As surfers come to our area to surf the reef, and spend money in restaurants, hotels, shops etc. This generates Tax revenues for the County. They LIKE that. A commitee would need to be formed to approach the county for subsidies( funding). Anyone interesed, or with experience with economic development please send me a message.

Coastal ben

i have talked to may local surfers that want for that to happen. i think it would be a great addition to our ecosystem, and would be really cool fore the surfing, spearfishing community.

Coastal Ben wrote:

Check out this proposed Artificial Surf Reef for Coco Beach Florida.

Anyone interesed, or with experience with economic development please send me a message.

Coastal ben

I wonder if the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation would get involved in something like that?

I will begin by trying to find out how to contact the guys in Florida and obtain information on how they put together the proposal and the process for submittal and post it up.

Anyone that wants to get involved and help me send me a message.

Yeah good idea on the surf riders org...I'll contact them and see if they have ever done a feasibility study on such a project. Or tried to propose this in the past....


Coastal Ben

If I were on the Port A city council this would be a no-brainer. However, if you go after county funds, Nueces County may not be so receptive. Not to say that you shouldn't try but be forewarned, the beach is a sensitive issue right now with Corpus Christi going through the beach access issue and development near Bob Hall pier. If the surfers are for one type of development and not another may put us all as surfers in a bind.

That's a long way to say "be careful how you present this issue". I believe we can all achieve open beach access AND beach break development to the benefit of all who enjoy the beach if this issue is presented in the right way.

Thanks Rusty,

I think the best advice I have received is to surround yourself with the best experts in this field and have them do the talking. I would relegate the presentation to them. I am a good organizer, I am not an expert on artifical reefs or how to develop a strategy from concept to completion. BUT, I know how to research who IS experienced with projects such at this.

I have contacted the Ocean Engineer on the project for Coco Beach Florida Reef, I have requested he advise the elements of the project and next I will identify respective professionals in our area. I have also reached out to some Aransas county officials requesting advice.

I shall keep everyone posted on my incremental progress..!

In put is greatly appreciated. Let's figure out how to get this done!

" Hope is not a strategy" Warren Buffet

Coastal Ben

Here is what was said by the Ocean Reef Enginer for the Coco Beach Project.

Check the link...Excellent video

Ben

My first piece of advice is to check out
www.spacecoastreef.com. It contains all the
pertinent information about the Cocoa Beach
project as well as a lot of links to other info
you might find valuable.

The next step is to get in touch with your local
government and try to get the idea before the
public. I have made numerous presentations to the
local councils and business leaders. If you can
get them excited about the idea it will make
things go much smoother. We are stressing the
coastal protection and economic benefits. Some
projects are stressing the surfing enhancement.
It all depends on what will resonate with your
community.

I have also attached the proposal we recently
submitted to our County Council.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be
of further help.

John[/color]

Well folks. I fished with someone this weekend that is well connected to some folks in local government. He advised me the way to get funding for the reef is through a proposition that would re-generate real estate developmers interest in the beach front.

As we all know a proposed billion dollar developer pulled out after the no drive beach referendum was voted down. Which cost Nueces County
untold of millions of dollars in property taxes.

If we want a reef, paid for by Nueces County we must consider some concessions.

Basically, we give up a section of beach for a state of the art surf break !

Now I ask you. Would you rather surf a hollow peeling wave with consistent form. Incredible form in offshore conditions OR keep a small section of beach? The location of the reef could be placed at an area that has beach access.

I need some feed back.

Coastal Ben

I'm not sure how anyone would address this. The beach access has become a huge issue in Galveston where construction on or near the beach has crowded out access points. But, in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas are the access points to the beach a similar issue? How long before we have to walk in between houses/buildings like they do in Malibu? Is this problem someone else's and we've overlaid the issue onto ourselves kind of like all the folks running from Houston for fear of a Katrina-like hurricane situation where the conditions between Houston and New Orleans are nowhere near the same?

I don't think the development in and around Corpus Christi beaches are anywhere near the status of Galveston. However, I will say that if we give a little now we'll have to be extra diligent down the road before we end up in the same boat.

That is a very good point ,, thanks Rusty

I lived in Los Angeles for five years. It IS hard to find parking near the breaks. I know of one of the best breaks in Santa Monica. It is called Latigo Bay. A hollow fast right. No one can surf it because its a private beach.

I do not think that is what Nueces County would want that. Just a no drive area in front of the development. I am to speak to the engineer tonight and will post up tomorrow..

Coastal Ben

If I remember correctly, the beach access in the local development only became an "issue" because the developer wasn't willing to give up the "private beach" idea. Our city council backed him all the way, dismissing any possibility for a drive up and park system, such as what is available in Port Aransas. I think it would be a huge mistake to even suggest that we are willing to "close a section of our beach" to vehicular access. After all, isn't that what we fought so hard to protect? I understand the give and take concept, but do we really want to go down that road again?

Thanks New Wave Rider. That too is a good point.

The thing is, the city was offering us NOTHING in return for giving up a section of no drive beach.

I have surfed all of our coasts , west ,east and gulf. And several out of the states surf breaks. A beach break is no comparison to a reef break. It is 100 percent better to have a defined break, at which one can depend on where the peak will form and how the wave will peel. The reef can increase the size of the wave and punch. The reef in Cocoa has a ride of 40 seconds. Most waves here might be 15. Unless your on a longboard and riding mush to the beach.

We could have better contests, it would be good for the local business owners. AND familys could have a safe place where they could let their kids run around without worry that someone driving down the beach, maybe even drunk, possibly running them over.

I think it is a small price to pay ...

Coastal Ben

I definitely agree. The only trade-off would be a place to park where we can walk up to the reef break. I can't tell you how many times surfers have been run off from condo parking lots just because they don't want anyone using their parking lot..... other than residents/condo owners. As users of the beach it's nice to be able to drive right up, jump right out and head for the water, kids and all. I don't mind walking a little way to get near the water, but I still need a place to put my vehicle. If each developer kicks us off their property then what have we gained. It'll be Latigo Bay all over again.

I hear ya Rusty...

My understanding is that the no drive beach DID offer beach access and parking, just no vehicles on the beach area.

I was suppose to talk to the Engineer on the Cocoa beach project last night but he emailed his phone number with a typo- He emailed the correct number this morning and I am to speak to him tonight.

What we have going for us is, we have the county WANTING a development for the property taxes. Those taxes will dwarft the cost of the reef.

AND I think the developer and the county do not care where it is located. So we could have the reef on an area where there is vehicles allowed.

The developer would probably prefer the reef to be in a different location to reduce the amount of people on that area and less dangers for swimmers, as most surfers would opt for the reef as a place to surf verses the no drive beach area.

Coastal Ben

Coastal Ben,

Good luck when you talk to the Engineer. Ask him if they face the same development issues there in Florida that we have here. I'd be willing to bet that Floridians don't drive on their beaches, especially the one's that have development nearby.

Also ask him about beach access around his area in general and around the area where they plan on building the reef. I'd be interested in finding out some of the issues that they are facing. With that taken into consideration it may give you a good idea of where you think a reef should go on our coast.

Rusty,

Here is what John said.

Ben,

I grew up in Daytona Beach so I understand
the concept of driving on the beach very well.
I thought everbody drove on the beach when I was a
kid! Now certain sections of Daytona are
vehicle free and I must admit that they are much nicer
than the traffic sections. I represent ASR Ltd in America and we
would be very interested in working on your
project. ASR is already looking into a proposed project
in Galveston and I am sure we could come out to
meet with you and your reef supporters when the time
is right. Typically an artificial reef
presentation at a public meeting is a good way to
get started.

Please let me know how I can be of further
assistance.

John

OUTSTANDING!!!

Coastal Ben:

I was wondering if you had seen this web page on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site under Fish Texas:


[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/

New wave rider,

No I had no seen that web site...Thanks

We need to find funding, that is going to be Nueces County or the City of Corpus. Probably Nueces county. I have now three PhD's , and a Ocean Engineer involved. I have a copy of the proposal submitted to Cocoa Beach.

Next we need to determine if we have the support of the coastal community. I am concerned the Wave Riders Org. might not be very receptive to the idea if they maintain the same position as they did during the refurendum on the no drive beach. I am going to contact all the surf shops. Ask the shop owners to place a sign up sheet. Most of the shops have surf teams and I want their opinion.

If we have a significant amount of support, then we next approach the county and developer.

If they are receptive we will need to have an attorney compose a contract that stipulates a reef will be in place prior to a no drive beach being created. And that the county will pay for the reef.

Then we have to have an attorney file a motion to initiate a vote.

If the project is passed we go to TPWD and get their endorsements.

That being said, I am working on it.

All assistance is appreciated..!


Coastal Ben

It's sounds like a good idea but let me play "devil's advocate"

Are you assuming that the beach access vote was highly influenced by the surfing community? There were alot of political forces that influenced the vote. The surfer vote was just one of many.

Maybe I am wrong but it's just something to consider

superjtrdr, thanks for your point.

I really thought it was pushed by the surf rider org and those who joined in with them. I can understand why they would take that position, considering no alternatives were offered up.

Please advise what other political forces I might encounter.

Thx Superjtrdr...

Coastal Ben

The biggest force is retirees and in general terms senior citizens and not all of them fish. They always care about the issues and always vote. When you consider the voter turnout at many of these elections you can’t help but wonder if they are calling all the shots. The surfers brought a lot of attention to the issue but I don’t their vote was the deciding factor. Some of these retirees are afraid that more development means higher property taxes.

1. The reef idea sounds good, but if it is a good idea it can stand on its own.
2. Why any surfer would want to negotiate for no-drive beaches and do the same kind of thing the developers tried is beyond me.
3. Surfrider members and other organizations formed the Beach Access Coalition and continue to function. I cannot speak for the group but can bring this up. I am very confident the response will not be no, but Hell No!
4. What part of "Don't Mess with Texas Beaches" do you guys not get?

JCC,

On the first point that you make I'd like to say that you're right. The reef idea is a great idea and will stand on its own. However, I feel that you may have confused the issues. What is being addressed here is preparation for a dual fight. There will always be an individual out there who will try to attach his/her cause to whatever action that will take place. It happens every time because they want to draw attention to their issue and take away the focus of the original issue. In this case the reef. Say, for instance, that we push throught the efforts to have a reef built. The first thing that I foresee happening is the developers who were fighting the Beach Access Coalition would jump into the fray and cry foul. Now you have two fights on your hands. One against the developers and the beach access issue and the other with trying to get the reef built. Which one do you devote more time to? In either case you have had your focus diverted. This is definitely going to become a political issue and all politics require compromise. We're just discussing the issue to prepare for that compromise.

JCC,

Thanks for your input.

What I do not want is to be involved in a reef project that will screw anyone over ! My only desire is to get a great surf spot for our area.

Nueces County wants property tax revenues from development.

Developers want no a drive section of the beach in front of their complexes.

We want a reef.

No drive sections of the beach ARE imminent. Maybe not this year or next , but eventually.

I know lots of people will fight it to the bloody end, but someday MONEY will win ! Sad but true.

Coastal goers could end up with nothing. While we have some negotiating power, should we try to get a reef ?

A reef that would provide for waves many times better than the beach break waves we have now.

Keep the points coming !

I am working on another angle, beach errosion. The state might participate in a reef project if the reef was placed in an area that the state is concerned over beach errosion...However working through the state will take a long time..

Thx

Coastal ben