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Sitting on the frozen lake in Wisconsin wondering how the beach project will affect the pier fishing. My trip begins in February until April 1st. I'm thinkin they will be well past the pier by then but also probably in front of our rental unit near Romar Beach. It looks to me like the weather nay be slowing the progress. Any thoughts on how this will affect the fiching?
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...ahead-in-2013/
I despise that term "beach replenishment". >:(
IMHO the only thing being replenished is certain pockets ::)
Even the company doing the actual operation refers to it as "dredging and beach fill".
http://olsen-associates.com/obgs/
[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=2457.msg22304#msg22304 date=1357177848]
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...ahead-in-2013/
I despise that term "beach replenishment". >:(
IMHO the only thing being replenished is certain pockets ::)
Even the company doing the actual operation refers to it as "dredging and beach fill".
http://olsen-associates.com/obgs/
[/quote]
"
Olsen Associates, Inc. is also trying to claim that this is a "beach renourishment project", which is even more sickening and a bigger contradiction.
Shoooooowwwwww meeee the MONEY!
[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]I wish the GS Park Beach/Pier would opt out.
Burying all that lives in and near the surf is just stupid IMHO! :slap:
Wonder what the poor little beach mouse thinks about all this? :run
[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Here is a pic of the replenishment signs.
Looks more like a Hazardous Area Warning to me. :run
[img width=720 height=540]http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g446/finchaser1/Forum%20Only/dredge.jpg[/img]
[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Saw this on the evening news. I guess they are going to come back and do the state park beaches about the time fishing should be getting good.
Quoting WKRG NEWS 5:
“Once crews are finished in Gulf Shores they're going to skip the state park and head straight to Orange Beach hoping to build back the beach before spring breakers arrive.”
Whole article and video:
http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2013/jan/03/r-ar-5289585/
Skipping over the park may wind up being a good thing, since there is always a chance that they won't come back to it later. What will happen to this project if turtles start to nest in the interim?
I know when they did pcola the fishing sucked for like 3 years and the sandbar moved out alot used to be 20ft off the end now maby 14ft if that...dang sand washes back out :violent
[quote author=DRH link=topic=2457.msg22329#msg22329 date=1357269774]
Skipping over the park may wind up being a good thing, since there is always a chance that they won't come back to it later. What will happen to this project if turtles start to nest in the interim?
[/quote]
Let's hope!
Maybe they will belay it in the park as that activity could mess with nesting turtles.
That was not mentioned in the article.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/01/16_m...oration_p.html
The down side would be all that dredging around the pier during the spring fishing :angry: ??? ::)
[quote author=DRH link=topic=2457.msg22329#msg22329 date=1357269774]
Skipping over the park may wind up being a good thing, since there is always a chance that they won't come back to it later. What will happen to this project if turtles start to nest in the interim?
[/quote]
When nesting season starts (a little bit before actually), they will start to patrol the beach in the unfinished project area every morning at sunup, looking for crawls & new nests and move any nests that might be impacted by the project, under supervision of the USFWS. THis is a permit requirement.
A few interesting features noted in regard to the current beach dredging project in Gulf Shores:
1. ONLY areas in front of houses and condos have been 'replenished' so far ::)
[img width=720 height=471]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/pierpounder/Misc/PierViews/GS/BeachDredging/121231_zps0fcb0f54.jpg[/img]
2. The water down wind/current from the discharge pipe has attracted a LOT of sea and shore birds.
[img width=665 height=443]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/pierpounder/Misc/PierViews/GS/BeachDredging/20121231-GSPPier_zps2e6e5d24.jpg[/img]
3. The interface between the dredged and undredged section of beach is developing new breaks in the existing beach bar.
[img width=720 height=453]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/pierpounder/Misc/PierViews/GS/BeachDredging/2013-0104_NewBeachHolesMarked_zpsf83a35cc.jpg[/img]
Thanks everyone for the reply. Looks like things will be messed up around the pier in March, about the time I'll be fishing. Figures!
[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=2457.msg22344#msg22344 date=1357309521]
A few interesting features noted in regard to the current beach dredging project in Gulf Shores:
1. ONLY areas in front of houses and condos have been 'replenished' so far ::)
[/quote]
[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]The only things being “Replenished” are a few select wallets! :slap:
Where are the environmentalists when ya need ‘em? This is destruction of a lot of critters’ homes! Maybe the turtles will save the state park beach. Come on girls, lay those eggs!
According to Alabama Sea Turtles.com nesting season doesn't start until May ::)
fshntime, there's no telling what the conditions will be like in March and what affect there will be on the fishing (i.e. catching).
Don't give up, and stay tuned!
:headbang:
Did the renourishment in the past have anything to do with what happened to the dauphin island pier? Are we going to end up fishing the T at the octi or do you all think the new sand will just dissipate? Just curious to hear from past experience.
No, DIPier shoaling is a different (natural) process altogether.
One problem with the sand being pumped in from 1/2 mile offshore is its inferior size to the 'natural' beach sand which has been accumulating over EONS.
But that is not an issue for the MORONS who proposed it ::)
Thanks, Mr. David. I had noticed what Wilson said about the depth change at Pcola:
[quote author=salt_water_guy link=topic=2457.msg22330#msg22330 date=1357270882]
I know when they did pcola the fishing sucked for like 3 years and the sandbar moved out alot used to be 20ft off the end now maby 14ft if that...dang sand washes back out :violent
[/quote]
Guess I'm just hoping there's some localized difference in currents that might keep the same thing from happening at GSSP. I know its a "wait and see" kind of thing now.
[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=2457.msg22331#msg22331 date=1357273256]
[quote author=DRH link=topic=2457.msg22329#msg22329 date=1357269774]
Skipping over the park may wind up being a good thing, since there is always a chance that they won't come back to it later. What will happen to this project if turtles start to nest in the interim?
[/quote]
Let's hope!
Maybe they will belay it in the park as that activity could mess with nesting turtles.
That was not mentioned in the article.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/01/16_m...oration_p.html
Anyone know a few radical environmentalists who'd be interested in what they might do to the turtle nesting areas?....just sayin.....snail darter, anyone?
The down side would be all that dredging around the pier during the spring fishing :angry: ??? ::)
[/quote]
I guess my question to who ever decided that this needed to be done would be; Was there ever a marine impact study. This must have some impact on all marine animal and beach dwellers alike, if there was shouldn't the finding be presented to the public, maybe that would clear up any concerns. Js
Its all about the $$$$$$$$$
Id assume theyre looking at it as a tourism thing. Keep the beaches there, keep the people there, and therefore keep the $$$$ there.
[quote author=bigdan link=topic=2457.msg22402#msg22402 date=1357523042]
I guess my question to who ever decided that this needed to be done would be; Was there ever a marine impact study. This must have some impact on all marine animal and beach dwellers alike, if there was shouldn't the finding be presented to the public, maybe that would clear up any concerns. Js
[/quote]
There have been quite a few studies done over the years looking at benthic invertabrate community recovery after these types of projects.
Overall, these community recover quickly. Anything living in the surf zone has to be resilient, they get pounded by storms, etc.., all year. If they can recover from a complete roll over/burial on a wide scale from a hurricane, they can recover from beach nourishement.
:-\
I have read some of the reports you refered to Carl and generally agree.
But they are generally dated (Johnson & Nelson 1985) and do not address are the long term affects on the benthic inverts especially after repeated episodes both natural (storms) AND manmade (which IMHO are far more devastating to the biological diversity of the littoral system).
Even later reports such as Sea Grant 2001:
Impacts of Beach Nourishment and Beach Scarping on Critical
Habitat and Productivity of Surf Fishes.
Quote:
• “Repeated disturbance caused by beach disposal appears to prevent the full
recovery of coquina clams (Donax variabilis and Donax parvula), ghost crabs,
mole crabs (Emerita talpoida), and several species of amphipod (Parahaustorius
longimerus and Haustorius spp.) which consequently results in their decreased
productivity and decreased energy flow to vertebrate consumers.”
This is exactly what I have observed in the Gulf Shores area and raise the red flag for me!
Fewer sandfleas and MUCH fewer coquina, together with species such as the beach ghost shrimp form the foundation of the food pyramid for surf dwelling species such as Northern and Gulf kingfishes and the Florida pompano.
Additionally, most of these studies have been on the Atlantic coast which has (significantly?) different geological (i.e. wave) dynamics from this region of the gulf coast.
There are HUGE inferences being made on our coast though I can find NO studies which have been done in this subregion.
Plus no longterm followups have been done on the erosion rates (i.e. geological) of the beaches after these manmade dredging episodes using sand of inferior size and which contains a higher sediment and nutrient load than the 'normally' deposited sand.
This increases the episodes and duration of dingy water making it even harder for fish to sight-feed on a decreased food supply and also seems to increase the occurance and duration of algal blooms in the surf zone during hot, still summer periods thus lowering the overall oxygen content (and biological viablity) of these waters.
In other words: I ain't nowhere near being sold on the process, nor convinced it is the 'win - win' that so many people seem to promote it as.
FWIW I dropped my membership in Mobile Baykeepers this year after they refused to address my reservations after adding their endorsement to the dredging.
That is just me, but it is about the only thing I could do at that point. At least for this go-round... ::)
>:(
One note: We (and OB/GS) monitor the project area, onshore and offshore along topo-bathy transect every 1000' in the project area annually. Tons of data on erosional/acretional trends since before the 1st project.
We also do a good number of profiles west of GS and on DI annually.
If you ever want the data, let me know.
8)
I didn't realize that was in your realm.
Yes, most definitely.
Plus any baseline biological data you may know about for our area.
:headbang:
Have any idea what it might do to the water under the Four Seasons Pier? Will there be any water left under it or will it be all sand? Coming down to stay at Four Seasons March 23rd - 30th. The whole reason to stay there was to fish on the pier everyday.
No idea really, it would depend on how much sand they push under the pier.
Right now they are pumping just west of that pier in front of the Cotton Bayou GSPark.
But they have pipes laid all up and down that stretch almost a mile in each direction.
Good luck! I hope it don't mess up your fishing :-\
Seems this post has drawn a lot of interest. I've at least got the answers I was seeking as my time in the Gulf region is drawing nera. And as always thanks to all my pier friends for their helpfulness.
Fshntime
I've been following the beach progression on their website and it appears the work is traveling West from Romar beach heading back towards GS. Will they then arrive at the State Park and pier during spring break and spoil the fishing? They only seem to report a few days in advance. Any one know what lies ahead? If the pier is in the near future and the fishing park is closed at Alabama Point I think I'll leave my fishing gear at home in March! Thanks for the comments so far. :boohoo: :cry:
Fshntime
[quote author=fshntime link=topic=2457.msg23121#msg23121 date=1359536513]
If the pier is in the near future and the fishing park is closed at Alabama Point I think I'll leave my fishing gear at home in March! Thanks for the comments so far. :boohoo: :cry:
Fshntime
[/quote]
No reason to leave your gear home, there are lots of other access points to surf fish and I dont think they will close the pier even if they are pumping right below it.
Thanks Carl,
I am sure they won't close the pier either but, no one knows how it would affect the fishing during the active pumping activity. I think it would come back, but how long would it take for things to settle down?
:fishing:
Fshntime
If the spanish are running on on the Octi, I doubt that the sand placement will phase them one bit.
As for the shallows, once the dredge goes by, things should return to normal pretty quick. Surf fish are used to storms kicking up the turbidity for days on end, they will be back.
Has anyone tried (or heard reports) of trying to slurp ghost shrimp in the areas of Gulf Shores where the dredging has been completed?
I am VERY curious as to how many have recolonized those areas :-\
[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=2457.msg23158#msg23158 date=1359578913]
Has anyone tried (or heard reports) of trying to slurp ghost shrimp in the areas of Gulf Shores where the dredging has been completed?
I am VERY curious as to how many have recolonized those areas :-\
[/quote]
I went to the pavilion on Saturday, not sure if they got that area yet. I know there weren't many signs of ghost shrimp there. That's the first time I've tried there though. Last year I could get all I wanted in an hour or so. It took me well over an hour to only get about 40 of them.
I'm going to try a spot next week that I know they have dredged and it had plenty last year, well see what they have now.
[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=2457.msg23158#msg23158 date=1359578913]
Has anyone tried (or heard reports) of trying to slurp ghost shrimp in the areas of Gulf Shores where the dredging has been completed?
I am VERY curious as to how many have recolonized those areas :-\
[/quote]
By the looks of this pic it hasn't bothered them! :poke1:
[img width=720 height=540]http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g446/finchaser1/Forum%20Only/NON%20REPORT%20PHOTOS/BigGhost.jpg[/img]
[/quote]
Aaaah, I see no re-touch here and if you see it on the internet, it has to be true! :3some:
Bon 'jour,
Fshntime
Everything on the Internet is true!! Right???
[quote author=PurpleNGold link=topic=2457.msg23170#msg23170 date=1359586384]
Everything on the Internet is true!! Right???
[/quote]
According to Thomas Edison it is.
Great picture!!
[quote author=spottedbass link=topic=2457.msg22778#msg22778 date=1358541974]
Have any idea what it might do to the water under the Four Seasons Pier? Will there be any water left under it or will it be all sand? Coming down to stay at Four Seasons March 23rd - 30th. The whole reason to stay there was to fish on the pier everyday.
[/quote]
This is a recent pic (since the dredging) from the surfing website @ http://surfalabama.com/ :headbang:
Gives a good idea about how much sand was pushed under the pier...
[img width=720 height=537]http://surfalabama.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/20130201-080655.jpg[/img]