Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – A new FEMA rule for beach renourishment reimbursements requires both a historical and archeological study of the areas in the Gulf contractors will use to add beach-quality sand to eroded beaches in both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

At its March 21 work session, the Gulf Shores City Council discussed the new regulations and plans to hire a firm to conduct the tests on four areas in the Gulf where sand will be retrieved and deposited on the beach. Olsen Associates will run the entire renourishment project for Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Gulf State Park with Gulf Shores spending about $54,400 for its portion of the study. But with state and federal reimbursements the city’s cost is only about $6,800. The entire project is expected to cost in the $10 million range.

“This is a task order for Olsen Associates to perform a cultural resources assessment survey for work related to Hurricane Nate and Hurricane Sally engineered beach losses,” City Engineer Mark Acreman said. “They were scored and deemed the most qualified engineer firm that submitted proposals. The engineered beach system that we have protects our structures, our infrastructure and has provided wider recreational beaches and creates critical habitat for shoreline birds, the endangered Alabama beach mouse and several species of endangered sea turtles.”

See related story: Part of Gulf Shores beach impassable for emergency, city crews

But for the first time since beach renourishments began in 2004 FEMA is requiring the additional study to make sure no Native American sites or other material will be disturbed by dredging sand from the Gulf floor.

“What they are asking us to do is to make sure we are not disturbing submerged historical artifacts that are below the seabed,” Acreman told the council. “It's a step that we need to take to make sure that we don’t do anything that would disturb any historical significance below our sea bottom. Because this is a dredging operation there is a chance that we could stir something like that up. This is a new requirement for FEMA and something we’ve never had to do before.”

The study is required because at times in the history of the Gulf Coast those sites could have been waterfront, Acreman said. There are four designated spots where the sand will be taken from and all are within the nine-mile state water limit.

“There’s a misunderstanding that we can just go off and get sand from anywhere along the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico but it’s only these particular locations in state waters that have beach quality sand that meet the color and gradation specifications of what we have on our shores today,” Acreman said.
 

Acreman said the work will have four areas of study on the four sites:

• Geophysical survey using sonar mapping

• Historical and prehistoric research of the project area

• Review an interpretation of the historic and sonar finding by a maritime historyand underwater archeology expert

• Assessment of potential impacts and development of mitigation plan to protect any significant cultural resources

Acreman said FEMA has always recognized beach renourishments as a reimbursable expense if they sustain damage in declared disaster areas following hurricanes and other storms as well. FEMA will pay 75 percent of the cost and the state and cities each kick in 12.5 percent each in matching funds. It is expected to start in the fall and be completed in spring of 2023.

The renourishment is also vital to restoring access for city public safety and public works crews in areas in Gulf Shores where the erosion is so severe vehicles can’t get by. This is in about a four-block area from West Sixth Street to West 10^th Street.

“The challenges we’re facing with first responders and public works trying to get up and down the beach so it’s critical for us to move forward with this as quickly as possible,” Acreman said.