TO: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator
Beth Powell, Parks Recreation & Conservation Director
FROM: Wendy Swindell, Parks, Recreation & Conservation Assistant Director
DATE: March 19, 2025
SUBJECT: Draft Coastal Technology Corporation Boat Ramp Siting Study - Work Order Number 1
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
On May 31, 2024, the County Administrator approved Work Order Number 1 with Coastal Technology Corporation (Coastal Tech) to complete a South County Boat Ramp Assessment (Study) to assess the potential for additional boater access locations in the southern portion of the Indian River Lagoon. The Work Order was approved within the Administrator’s signing authority in the amount of $29,890. The Study Area included the area between Wabasso Causeway (north) to the St. Lucie County line (south) on the western banks of the Indian River Lagoon (Study Area).
There are seven public boat ramps located within Indian River County along the Indian River Lagoon. These ramps include: (1) Captain Robert Hardee Boat Launch; (2) Sebastian Yacht Club; (3) Wabasso Causeway Boat Ramp; (4) Alex McWilliam Boat Basin Park; (5) Riverside Park Boat Ramp; (6) Oslo Boat Ramp; and (7) Round Island Park Boat Ramp.
ANALYSIS
The Study included two separate tasks. Task 1 was to complete a desktop screening assessment that included a specific set of criteria provided by the County. The Task 1 screening included a description of the elements of the project: (1) ramp information; (2) parking requirements; and (3) sufficient area for stormwater treatment and buffers. Task 1 also included specific criteria relevant to development and permitting considerations: (1) proximity to the Intra-Coastal Waterway; (2) depth for vessel clearance; (3) benthic resources such as seagrass; (4) proximity to existing launches; (5) existing zoning, future land use, and adjacent land uses; and (6) existing roadway access. The deliverable for Task 1 is a letter report to the County summarizing the results of the desktop assessment. Following coordination with the County on Task 1, Task 2 of the project includes a site-specific screening process which includes site review, a description and estimate of permitting timeframes and costs, and an opinion on probable construction costs for each Task 2 project.
Coastal Tech has provided the Task 1 screening report to the County (Attachment 1 - South County Boat Ramp Assessment Draft Report). The results of this screening assessment are summarized in both a narrative as well as a ranked table of potential sites.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
There is no budgetary impact associated with this Agenda Item.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Future Board action items may include expansion of the study area or further analysis of the boat siting study area to determine suitability for future boat ramp locations.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Quality of Life
OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT
Manatee Protection Plan 2004
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff respectfully request that the Board review the December 21, 2024, Coastal Tech Draft Report for the South County Boat Ramp Assessment and provide staff with directions on future project assessment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. February 14, 2025, Coastal Tech South County Boat Ramp Assessment Draft Report