The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s third public outreach meeting on the Captiva Bayside Adaptation Plan focused on prioritizing needs and potential approaches, plus collecting more input.

The CEPD and APTIM, the firm selected for the project, hosted the virtual event on Aug. 15.

APTIM Climate and Urban Resilience Specialist Bridget Huston started the meeting by reporting on the launch of a Captiva Resident Story Map, where the public can find informative and interactive information. Some of featured sections are Strategy Options, Shoreline Types and Resilient Captiva.

Opening up the presentation, Outreach Coordinator and Resilience Expert Samantha Danchuk discussed priority needs and the first two identified by the team and addressed in the plan:

– Prevent tidal flooding of properties

Strategy: Increase shoreline elevation

Considerations: Requires new rainfall drainage system; need uniform elevation before sea level rises above lowest shoreline; sea level in 2040/2050 predicted as less than 3 feet NAVD; and floods 30 days by 2040 and 120 days by 2050

– Reduce road flooding

Strategy: Increase shoreline elevation and add drainage infrastructure

Considerations: County-led drainage study will not include higher elevation shorelines; and drainage infrastructure will need to prevent backflow

“These are the two needs that we really prioritized in the adaptation plan in the short term,” she said.

As a major component in the process for formulating the plan is public feedback, Danchuk asked for attendees to share whether they are able to increase their shoreline elevation and add drainage.

She also provided some data on the local water levels as a result of Tropical Storm Debby.

Next, Danchuk discussed secondary needs that the team identified, including:

– Surge protection

Strategy: Increase shoreline elevation and elevate buildings

Considerations: Surge varies from 3.5 to 7 feet NAVD for 10- to 100-year storm; and wastewater treatment plant, emergency response and commerce at risk during storms

– Wave protection

Strategy: Add mangroves and seagrass to control erosion

Considerations: May have maintenance requirement; and federal/state permit and state easement

She asked attendees if surge is a primary concern of theirs and if protection should be a primary focus. They were also asked if their structure is elevated and if they have seen bayside erosion by waves.

Then, Danchuk discussed future needs and the following identified by the team:

– Long-term strategy

Strategy: Increase elevation of island, elevate infrastructure and build forced drainage system to pump water

Considerations: Sea level at 3-5 feet NAVD by 2070-2100 or 9-11 feet NAVD with 100-year surge; high tide reaches buildings by 2060; major road seepage by 2070 and adaptation pace uncertain

In terms of what projects owners can do on their property, she provided a graphic based on footage from the Mean High Water line for when a state easement or federal permit would be required.

With the team having identified the shoreline types on the bayside, Danchuk discussed ground truth approach for owners based on the dominate type on their property: beach, seawall or mangroves.

Using beach as an example, she cited planting adaption strategies like salt marsh restoration, upland adaptive landscaping and mangrove plantings. Adaptation strategies may include oyster reef balls, filling above the Mean High Water line, automated flood barriers, shoreline renourishment and more.

Danchuk continued that the team identified a few areas for possible concepts:

– South Seas Plantation Road

– Central Captiva

– Kayak launch

Concluding the presentation, Huston offered draft language of what an easement allowance from a property owner might look like for those interested in partnering on a project with the CEPD.

Wrapping up the meeting, the CEPD and APTIM reminded the public about the Resident Engagement Survey available on the project’s website and encouraged the community to continue to fill it out.

“We really do appreciate any input or comments that you have,” Huston said.

The final public outreach meeting will be held in-person and virtually on Oct. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m.

To view the presentation, click on CEPD PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING.

To access the story map, visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6a223a8e57f14a84a4b3c080b7213152.

For more information about the project or to participate in the survey, visit https://mycepd.specialdistrict.org/bayside-adaptation.