Industry Day Project Narrative SLSJ

Project Background
Project History:
St. Lucie Inlet is comprised of the navigation channel and four navigation features including the impoundment basin, north jetty, offshore breakwater, and south jetty. The Federal navigation channel requires routine maintenance, primarily to Cut-1 and the impoundment basin. The north jetty, offshore breakwater, and south jetty have not received any routine or emergency maintenance from USACE or the non-federal sponsor (NFS), Martin County. The only known construction efforts for these structures are initial construction (1978-1982) and the north jetty modifications (2009). The south jetty has experienced continued deterioration resulting from numerous damage drivers, most notably degradation of the asphalt walkway and internal grout, armor stone instability, and slope instability. The worst deterioration has occurred along the jetty’s head. A breach developed approximately 10 years ago near the seaward limit of the structure head and continues to expand, and new breaches are forming along the head section. The continued degradation threatens to compromise the ability of the jetty to stabilize the inlet and the adjacent shoreline (the northern end of Jupiter Island) and increase the volume of sand entering the inlet system, potentially increasing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs for the federal project.
To date, the Federal navigation channel has experienced no direct service disruptions or increases in maintenance dredging activities directly related to the south jetty condition; however, given the age and continued deterioration of the structure, this is unlikely to continue. Further, a major storm event could significantly damage the south jetty and quickly result in adverse impacts to the Federal project and overall inlet stability. Major maintenance is recommended before the jetty is further damaged, more extensive structure repairs are needed, and repair costs increase. Project Location:
St. Lucie Inlet is in Martin County on the southeast coast of Florida, about 115 miles north of Miami (Figure 1), serving as the County’s only point of access to the Atlantic Ocean. The Federal project connects the Atlantic Ocean with several key waterways including the Intracoastal Waterway (IWW) and Okeechobee Waterway, both heavily used by recreational and commercial vessels. The nearest coastal inlets are Jupiter Inlet, 17 miles south, and Ft. Pierce Inlet, 22 miles north.

Figure 1: St. Lucie Inlet Federal Navigation Project Location