CEPD workshop focuses on beach entrance designs
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s (CEPD) commission reviewed vegetative design and planting concepts for some of the island’s public beach entrances during a recent workshop.
On May 7, consultant and Coastal Vista Design founder Leigh Gevelinger presented to staff and Commissioner Rene Miville. The other four CEPD commissioners were not in attendance.
She provided an overview of the extent of their work — the public access points — with the focus areas being Alison Hagerup Beach Park, Laika Lane, Wightman Lane and Andy Rosse Lane.
Gevelinger showed the framework for the restoration of the dune system, which would entail three layers: frontal dune vegetation, central coastal strand/scrub, and back coastal hammock or developed.
She continued that the back vegetation could be seagrape or Jamaican caper, with sea lavender or sea oxeye daisy planted in the center zone, and then railroad vine or beach morning glory in the front.
“These are different options that could be planted,” Gevelinger said.
She presented the access concepts for Alison Hagerup and Laika, adding that the approach could be replicated for the other two. They also considered beach views when coming up with the designs.
Gevelinger provided matrixes for the fore and mid dune planting mixes, which would work with the existing sea oats systems. They would keep the surviving vegetation and plant in the empty areas.
She showed photo examples, plus a back dune planting fortification.
In terms of cost, Coastal Vista Design provided an opinion of cost for the dune enhancements. It estimated that the Alison proposal would be $67,410 and the Laika would be about $31,983.
Gevelinger added that what they are proposing is more stabilization and vegetation.
“We know a healthy dune system is a diverse dune system,” she said.
Asked by Miville, CEPD General Manager Brighton Heard explained that $25,000 paid to the consultant was for the design of the enhancements from the S curve to Alison Hagerup.
Gevelinger added that they are not complete at this point.
“We focused on the public areas first,” she said, explaining that they will be easier to access, plant and stabilize, plus they wanted to get feedback from the commission before getting ahead in the designs.
Miville asked about the optimal plants for dune protection, which Gevelinger said is sea oats.
He also raised concern about the costs of the vegetation.
“These prices are nuts, sorry,” Miville said.
Gevelinger explained that wholesale versus retail and such could be worked into the contract.
Heard reported that the goal of the workshop was to get input from the commission on how to proceed.
“This was to ask questions, to get feedback,” Gevelinger added. “This is a process. This is not a final destination.”
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