MULTI-PURPOSE SURF REEF FEASIBILITY STUDY

            VIERA, Florida – In response to significant community interest, Brevard County commissioned a feasibility study for constructing multi-purpose surfing reefs to reduce beach erosion, improve surfing conditions and increase associated recreational opportunities.  Study results were presented to the public on November 19, 2008 at the Viera Government Center.

            Presenters included Michael Walther, P.E. of Coastal Tech, with over 30 years experience in coastal engineering and management in Florida and Mike Slotkin, PhD of Praecipio EFS, an economic, financial and statistical consulting firm.  Coastal Tech led a collaborative effort of five firms to examine the engineering and economic aspects of the proposed project.  Additional firms who contributed to this study include ASR America, Continental Shelf Associates, and Surfbreak Engineering Sciences.

            The study began with a literature review of all existing surf reefs constructed or under construction.  The literature was supplemented with interviews of people in Australia, New Zealand, England and California who were directly involved in the planning, design, construction and/or management of similar innovative reefs.

            Coastal Tech led the team in identifying and ranking optimal reef locations in Brevard County.  A reef configuration, refined by ASR America, was selected by the team for the purpose of analyzing its potential for Brevard County.  Surfbreak Engineering performed a wave analysis to predict the number of additional surfing days per year that could be generated by the reef.  Continental Shelf provided a preliminary assessment of environmental impacts pertinent to federal and state permitting requirements.  ASR America contributed to an opinion of probable costs; Coastal Tech estimated erosion control benefits; and Praecipio analyzed recreational benefits.  Coastal Tech concluded with a Benefit/Cost analysis and review of federal and state cost-share eligibility.  Based on the study results, it is Coastal Tech’s professional opinion that A multipurpose artificial surfing reef for Brevard County is not economically justified and is not expected to qualify for state or federal cost share.

                        The cost of the team’s engineering analysis was split between the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners and an innovative technology grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  Praecipio’s assessment of recreational benefits was financed with marketing funds from the Brevard County Tourist Development Council.

            The full report and several appendices can be downloaded here.  Please note that some of the files are quite large.

2008-11-17 Final Report

AppendixA - Praecipio

AppendixB - Surfbreak Engineering

SubAppendix B1

SubAppendix B2

SubAppendix B3

Appendix C - Coastal Tech Disclaimer

Appendix C - Table of Contents

SubAppC1 2008-03 Literature Review of MPASR

SubAppC2 2008-06-10 Comments Interim Report2

SubAppC3 2008-07 Conceptual Design

SubAppC4 2008-09 Numerical Modeling

SubAppC5 2008-10-13 Comments Interim Report3

SubAppC6 2008-10-31 ASRA Response to Draft Report

SubAppC7 2008-10-31 ASRA Info re- Salient Formation

SubAppC8 2008-11-14 ASRA Response to Final Report

Appendix D - Benefit Cost Analysis