DOCKS & SEAWALLS

The design of our docks or seawalls can impact the health of our lake. Many of us have older docks that were built before more environmentally sensitive regulations were in place. Many of us also have older seawalls (also sometimes called bulkheads). An environmentally sensitive new dock design would be a dock with an access boardwalk that completely spans the shoreline vegetation and avoids the need to remove large trees. The access boardwalk would be elevated sufficient to prevent shading of shoreline vegetation. The terminal platform (or docking structure) would be located beyond the limits of vegetation, minimal in size and not have any enclosed walls. This design would allow access to the lake without the need to clear any shoreline vegetation. Given that many people are modifying or rebuilding their docks due to our current low water levels, these design considerations (as well as any other environmentally sensitive design innovations) should be incorporated if at all possible.

Seawalls are perhaps the worst type of construction that can occur on the shoreline of a lake. They create a barrier for wildlife, cause erosion, disrupt plant communities and are a visual eyesore. Seawalls adversely affect critters such as turtles that need to lay eggs in uplands. Vertical seawalls cause wave action to erode the soil from the base and deposit it out further into the lake. This is evident if you look around the lake at homes that have seawalls and no stabilizing shoreline vegetation. You can actually see the soil that has eroded out into the lake, often creating a wide flat area with a sharp drop off into the lake. In many cases this soil is deposited under docks making it harder to get boats in and out during low water periods. Seawalls also disrupt the natural patterns of wetland vegetation that occur on normal shorelines. Under natural conditions, trees, shrubs and their root structure provides the stabilizing structure on our shoreline. Likely many seawalls were built after people foolishly removed this natural shoreline protection and found it necessary to build a seawall to prevent their property from eroding away. This has created a condition where many of the appropriate and beneficial native wetland trees and shrubs are absent from shorelines with seawalls.

Luckily most new seawall construction is not allowed on our lake. However, many of us have seawalls that were created before more environmentally sensitive regulations were put in place. If done properly it is possible to remove a seawall and re-establish stabilizing shoreline vegetation. Short of removing a seawall, it is also possible to slow down erosion by establishing woody and herbaceous vegetation adjacent to the seawall or by placing rip-rap at the base of an existing seawall.

While it is often possible to get a permit to keep a portion of your shoreline clear of vegetation, under no circumstances should sand be placed along a seawall or shoreline unless appropriate permits are obtained. Generally a permit will not be issued for creating a sand beach and fines are often levied against anyone who violates these rules. This is due to the fact that the lake is public property and creating a personal sand beach is clearly not in the public interest.

Be advised that dock construction and seawall modification generally require permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Alachua County. Even if you live in Putnam or Bradford County you may need to get a permit from Alachua County since the lake bottom is in Alachua County. Please contact these agencies for details prior to initiating any construction. Alachua Countys Environmental Protection Department can be reached at (352) 264-6800. The phone number of the Florida Department of Environmental Protections Gainesville office is (352) 333-2850. More info can be found on their web page at: http://www8.myflorida.com/environment/learn/waterprograms/erp/index.html (unfortunately their web page is unreliable and this link was not functioning when last checked). Remember that Lake Santa Fe & Little Lake Santa Fe are subject to any special regulations for Outstanding Florida Waters.