CEPD fills seat, hears post-storm beach report
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s commission filled a vacancy on the board at its recent meeting, as well as heard an update on the post-storm status of the beach and beach project impact.
On Jan. 13, Deputy Director John Riegert reported that the district received two applications for the four-year appointment to Seat 5 on the commission. Appointed in September to finish out the remaining term, former Commissioner Michael Lanigan reapplied. Timothy McGowan also applied.
In a ballot vote, McGowan won the seat with three votes over one vote for Lanigan.
McGowan was sworn into office and took up the seat on the board.
A real estate investor and restauranteur, he is the owner of the Captiva Hospitality Land Group. According to his application, McGowan has 10 years as a certified insurance counselor specializing in property and casualty insurance, with an additional 30-plus years as chief executive officer of a real estate development, property management, general contracting, and commercial and residential leasing company. He has a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from the University of Montevallo.
“I am a commercial and private land owner on Captiva Island interested in helping to provide input into policy and thoughts within the community where I live,” McGowan wrote about his desire to serve.
Also, the board voted unanimously 5-0 for Secretary Linda Laird to serve as the new treasurer.
Also during the meeting, consultant and APTIM Coastal Market Lead Nicole Sharp provided the commission with the final “Storm Damage Report: Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.”
She reported that 273,857 cubic yards of sand were lost above the mean high water as a result of the storms, of which 247,590 cubic yards were lost above the depth of closure for a “complete loss.”
“This indicates a significant loss of sand from the intended design template, especially with respect to the dry portion of the profile,” Sharp noted in the report.
On average, the shoreline retreated approximately 27 feet in the project area.
“Both the dune vegetation and the dune substrate along Captiva Island is in need of rehabilitation due to impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” she wrote. “The average loss of vegetated dune area was 964,888 square feet, which would require approximately 643,259 dune plants to restore to district and state standards.”
Currently, losses for the planned construction template are 381,409 cubic yards. Using the recent bid received by contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock for the spring-summer project at a unit cost of $33.34, the total additional costs due to impacts from the hurricanes are estimated at $12,716,199.90.
“Hurricanes Helene and Milton severely impacted Captiva Island causing shoreline retreat, beach deflation, and loss of dune along the northern portion of the island,” Sharp summarized in the report. “Due to the previous impacts from Hurricane Ian and the back-to-back impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the beach remains in an exacerbated eroded condition.”
To view the final report, click on STORM DAMAGE REPORT.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Riegert provided an update on the reopening of the Alison Hagerup Beach Park parking lot. He explained that survey work, grading and retaining wall work is needed after the recent storms.
The commission voted 5-0 to approve up to $50,000 to fix and reopen the lot by Feb. 1.
– Chairman John Wade announced that Paul Tritaik has been brought on to serve as interim director. Additionally, former CEPD consultant Evan Cutler has returned to serve as a part-time consultant.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email