Franklin County Deepwater Horizon Oil-Spill Early Restoration Projects

At a press conference this morning Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Secretary Herschel Vinyard and officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released additional proposed Deepwater Horizon oil-spill early restoration projects for Franklin and seven other Panhandle counties.

For Franklin County the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees are proposing seven recreational use projects. As a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the public’s access to and enjoyment of their natural resources along Florida’s Panhandle was denied or severely restricted. These seven proposed recreational use projects seek to enhance and/or increase the public’s use and/or enjoyment of those natural resources.

The proposed Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps: Abercrombie Boat Ramp project would construct additional docks at the existing Abercrombie boat launch facility.

The proposed Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps: Waterfront Park project would enhance existing parking and adjacent tie-up docks at the existing Waterfront Park in Apalachicola. In addition an existing onsite building would be enhanced to serve as an information center and dockmaster office.

The proposed Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps: Indian Creek Park project would construct restroom facilities, connect them to an existing central wastewater facility nearby, and renovate the existing boat ramp, bulkhead, and parking area at the existing Indian Creek Park boat launch facility.

The proposed Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps: Eastpoint Fishing Pier Improvements project would construct new restrooms and a holding tank at the existing public Eastpoint Fishing Pier.

The proposed Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps: St. George Island Fishing Pier Improvements project would construct new restrooms and a holding tank, and renovate the existing bulkhead at the existing St. George Island Fishing Pier.

The proposed Bald Point State Park Recreation Areas project would construct picnic pavilions, boardwalks, and a restroom with an associated aerobic treatment system and drainfield at Bald Point State Park in Alligator Point. Furthermore, a boardwalk and floating dock for use as a canoe/kayak launch would be constructed at the park.

The proposed Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area Fishing and Wildlife Viewing Access Improvements, Cash Bayou and Sand Beach project would construct a boardwalk on the 1⁄4 mile Sand Beach interpretive trail and the construction of a fishing and wildlife observation structure and associated parking at Cash Bayou.

ESTIMATED COST

The Enhancement of Franklin County Parks and Boat Ramps project is $1,771,385.

The Bald Point State Park Recreation Areas project is $470,800. 

PLEASE NOTE

The listed projects were selected based on feedback from several public listening sessions hosted by Florida's Trustees.  They are only proposals.  There will be a public comment period that will run from December 6, 2013 through February 4, 2014, and will include two public meetings. 

If someone is unable to attend the public meetings, they can submit their comments online at www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov or via U.S. Mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 49567, Atlanta, GA 30345.