Basis of Design Book 2 - City of St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg Pier - Environmental Assessment
July 19, 2012
Page 3 of 5
and an underwater video camera, to identify and delineate the sub aqueous
communities. These communities were marked with temporary weighted floats,
which were adjusted to the demarcated limits of the community, utilizing the
direct observations obtainable via skin diving. These limits were then mapped
utilizing a Trimble GPS system. In areas where water depths and visual clarity
allowed scientists to observe the seagrass from the surface, direct visual
delineations of seagrass bed boundaries were made, again using the Trimble
GPS unit.
The side-scan sonar was used to survey areas deeper than 10 feet for hard
bottom communities, which would then be investigated visually utilizing either
diving or the video camera. These communities were also mapped utilizing the
GPS system.
Emergent and near shore communities of vegetation, as relate to EFH, were also
mapped similar to the above using the GPS.
RESULTS
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) communities are located within the study
area (Figures 1 and 2). The principal SAV beds consist of a mixture of shoal
grass (Halodule wrightii) and manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme).
seagrass appears healthy, with low to moderate epiphyte load, typical blade
lengths for the species, and high relative shoot densities. The SAV communities
did not extend under the pier structure, likely due to shading.
Also present were EFH communities, principally existing as sessile communities
attached to man-made material.
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The
This material consisted of the pier pilings,
scattered pieces of concrete associated with the pier structure, rubble riprap
placed at the base of the seawall both south of the pier and along the entrance to
the Vinoy Basin, and on the submerged granite and limestone boulders that
make up the jetty protecting the Municipal Marina entrance. The east shore of
Albert Whitted Airport is composed entirely of concrete rubble and a partially