Basis of Design Book 2 - City of St. Petersburg

Lastly, we discussed schedule of upcoming events including the “round table” workshop tentatively scheduled
for the week of July 23 rd . He is currently available the 23 rd , 25 th and 26 th. We said we would get back to him as
soon as possible with a firm date for this meeting.
Technical Interview 4
Summary of Initial Interview for:
Gil McRae, Director
Florida and Wildlife Research Institute
Janicki Environmental met with Mr. McRae on Friday morning, July 6th, 2012 to discuss the underwater design
feature associated with the Lens. The interview included some background on the intent of the meeting
which was to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas between key members of the local scientific
community and the design team on the feasibility of including an underwater design feature within the Lens
that provides an attractive habitat that improves ecosystem services, access, and educational opportunities for
visitors and citizens of St. Petersburg. The meeting focused on three key concepts; perception, opportunity,
and partnership.
Mr. McRae has been kept up to date on the project. When asked, Mr. McRae thought it was feasible to design
an underwater feature that could highlight the estuary and engage the public.
Mr. McRae suggested that artificial reef modules are becoming popular as a mechanism to increase interaction
between people and marine life and that the substrate material used in construction is important to biological
recruitment success. He suggested that natural limestone tended to be more successful than concrete and
provided an MS power point presentation that illustrated some approaches one private company is using in
the design of these modules. He mentioned that, if properly designed, this element could be attractive as a
“snorkelers reef”.
Mr. McRae commented of the maintenance continuum that potential designs could encompass and how
seagrasses might be successful under controlled conditions but that those conditions would require substantial
maintenance. Similarly, the FWRI experience with scallop culture has been that there is a significant
maintenance burden to successfully rear scallops though it is possible under controlled conditions.
The discussion included conversation about the use of various existing and novel technologies to overcome
limitations in water clarity and increase interaction between people and the estuary and Mr. McRae gave
several examples including HD video cameras, hydrophones, and passive acoustics that could facilitate this.
Mr. McRae was positive about the opportunity to use the design feature as a platform for scientific research
and education.
Mr. McRae felt strongly that the presence of organic rich sediments was one of the principal potential limiting
factors of the success of the design feature. We discussed that the exact extent of these sediments is currently
unknown but that it will be investigated.
We spoke about the interaction of snorkelers and fisherpersons and ability for some type of special
designation such as a “sanctuary” associated with the underwater feature. He said that depending on whether
the submerged land belongs to the city or the state will affect the City’s authority to place special designations
and/or restrictions on activities such as fishing and boating, etc. within the Lens.
Mr. McRae thought that the design will likely require a staged implementation process.
He stated that that FWRI would like to see the underwater design feature succeed.
Lastly, we discussed schedule of upcoming events including the “round table” workshop scheduled for July
26th. He is not available for this meeting but will send an alternate (maybe 2 people) in his place for this
meeting.
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