Need Homeowners Feedback- How do you remember Deadman’s Island?
Dear Homeowners:
Your support and opinions are needed for the success of this community based restoration project. We would like a brief letter of support from all the residents in the DeadMan’s Island Area. Please email your informal letter to Hreed@ecoconsultingservices.com
Please include your Name and Address, how long you have lived in the area and whether you are in support of this project. You may include any comments you desire. In addition, it would be most helpful to share your story of how you remember the fishing, the vegetation, the habitat of the area that is currently eroding.
Further information of this project can be viewed on the above buttons (Permit Info) and (Powerpoint).
April 7th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Greetings,
I’ve read with much enthusiasm reports on the City of Gulf Breeze’s web site regarding the restoration of Deadman’s Island. I’ve met many citizens of not only Gulf Breeze but the surrounding area who enjoy visiting the island for its natural beauty and wildlife. It is very encouraging to see that you are requesting input from the Neighbors regarding its history and future.
Deadman’s Island is one of the primary reasons my family paid a premium to purchase our home directly across from it in the summer of 2004. Since that time, we have seen the northern end deteriorate and the entrance channel to the bayou begin to fill with sand. Many of the original residents who were around when the bay bridge and the jetty attaching it to the shore were built are no longer here. However, there remain a few that can provide a wealth of knowledge regarding the island’s history.
When we first considered moving here in June of 2004, our realtor took us on a paddle tour of the island in a kayak through the opening to the bayou and along the front of Dead Man’s Island. At that time I remember walking out on the Jetty at the opening and seeing water on both sides. Fish were swimming at least two feet below the water on the inside of the jetty. Since that time sand has been washing from the north end of the island and filling in the area on both sides of the jetty. The realtor was compelled to disclose to us that Dead Man’s Island was slowly washing away. And that there were no guarantees it would not be gone altogether one day.
In the three years since, I have taken countless walks along the island and spoken with several of the original owners of property along Highpoint drive from the 50’s and 60’s. It has become apparent to me that since construction of the three mil bridge sand has washed from the north end of the island to the south. One homeowner told me he can remember walking out to the bricks with his children in the 60’s. Another told me she remembers the small strip of land connecting the north end of the island to the mainland shifting 50 to 100’ south into Gilmore Bayou as a result of Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Many homeowners in the area recall the dredging and construction of the seawall which improved the opening of Gilmore Bayou about 7 years ago.
Spoil from the dredging was used to build a containment area on the south end of the Island which is directly across the bayou from where we live today. This area was used to contain spoil prior to its removal. The sandy spoil dredged and deposited in the containment area was used to create a berm along the front of Dead Man’s Island where most remains today. It negatively affects views of Pensacola Bay for myself and others along Highpoint Drive, but does provide much needed protection in the event of storms. When we rebuilt our home is 2006, we elevated the back so we could see over the existing containment area. From speaking with those involved in the original dredging, we understand that the containment area will not become any higher with future dredging and the intent is to leave it in place to continue to provide protection for those living along the bayou.
I feel the containment area, as it exists today, is beneficial to the community. This area provides a good location to deposit spoil from future hydraulic dredging. This spoil – most of which comes from the Island – could be re-deposited along the Island again one day in the future. Removing the entire containment area would leave homeowners such as me vulnerable to future storms. And, any future dredging would require reestablishment of this same containment area. There remains some sand inside the containment area and around the jetty that could be used to restore the north end of Dead Man’s Island.
Attached are some aerial photos I took last summer. One can see how sand is building up around the jetty and spilling into the channel opening. I would like to see this native sand used first as part of any restoration project of Dead Man’s Island. Additional sand could be brought in from other bayous in the area as necessary. However, my concern would be that this same sand would eventually wash back down the beach, around the jetty, and into the channel. Should this happen, it would create a burden on the city and existing homeowners along Gilmore Bayou for its removal.
It looks like the plan to restore Deadman’s Island will be helping save what in my opinion is a valuable public asset. I have confidence you and City of Gulf Breeze will come up with a plan that accomplishes this goal and takes into account the needs of all concerned. This clearly is a good use of tax dollars and grant moneys.
In closing, I would highly recommend you contact Mr. Wayne Lee who is a resident of Gulf Breeze and lives on Gilmore Bayou. Mr. Lee was an original City Councilman in 1960 and was instrumental in the dredging and improvements mentioned above. Mr. Lee has been an advocate of Dead Man’s Island for over 40 years. His passion for the island is infectious to anyone who speaks with him.