Master plan for shorefront protection and utilization, Hancock County, Mississippi

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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MASTER PLAN FOR SHOREFRONT PROTEC77ON AND UTILIZATION
HANCOCK COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

Prepared By:
Sand Beach Planning Team

Ralph M. Field Associates, Inc. -
Design Consortium, Ltd. -
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory -
- Robert G. Dean, Sc. D. -
Mississippi Law Research Institute -
Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District -

Major Funding:
Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation
Bureau of Marine Resources

1986

This document was financed in-Wt through a federal
grant from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation
Bureau of Marine Resources
P. 0. Drawer 959
Long Beach, MS 39560
(601) 864-4602
Enforcement Div. (601) 374-3205

BILL ALLAIN
Governor

Commissioners:

Joseph W. Gex
Bay St. Louis
ro: Members of the Sand Beach Executive Council, Advisory
S. T. Rayburn Councils and Other Interested Parties
Oxford
W. A. "Sonny" Speights From: Richard L. Leard, Director
Brandon Bureau of Marine Resources

Champ Terney
Indianola During the past eighteen months, I have had the distinct pleasure
A.G.Williams of serving as the ex officio chairman of the Executive Council
Osyka for the Sand Beach Master Plan. I am delighted that the Plan has
now been completed and that we can direct our attention to its
Richard L. Leard implementation.
Bureau Director

During the planning period we investigated many problems, pro-
posed solutions and learned to compromise. We considered existing
public and private concerns, and remembering that progress entails
change, boldly sought out the best ways to create new economic
opportunities while preserving present and traditional uses.

The Plan would never have been developed without the tremendous
enthusiasm brought to the work table by the Technical Advisory
Council and each of its members. Public officials, private
groups and individuals contributed their best efforts and exercised
outstanding leadership to bring this Master Plan to completion.

I believe this Plan is an excellent instrument for the successful
implementation of beachfront improvement and carefully planned
development. It expresses the genuine desire of our communities
to utilize this valuable resource without damaging it, and at the
same time promote it as an economic asset.

The Bureau of Marine Resources is proud to have played a role in
the beachfront planning process, and I appreciate the role you
have allowed me to play in this endeavor.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Hancock County sand beach master planning process was initiated in 1984 when the Hancock
County Board of supervisors requested assistance from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife
Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR) for the preparation of a long-range plan for
managing the sand beach. Funding was obtained from the Federal Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resources Management.

Key Participants

The Board of Supervisors established an Executive Policy Council (comprised of elected public
officials) and a Technical Advisory Council (TAC) to address the planning issues, and to provide
guidance to a planning team of consultants retained to assist in preparing the Plan. Input from
the public was obtained through several rounds of public hearings and a public opinion survey.

Formal adoption of the Master Plan by the Board of Supervisors and by the cities of 'Bay St.
Louis and Waveland will facilitate long-term coordination of beach-related maintenance and
recreational development activities and help local officials establish future funding priorities
and prepare long-range capital improvement programs.

Gods of the Planning Process

The basic goals of the sand beach master planning process were:

To develop policies and recommendations for the sound and orderly growth, development,
and conser vat ion/preservat ion of the shorefront for the future benefit of the general public.

To incorporate those policies and strategies into a Master Plan to be adopted by public
officials and used to guide all public decisions concerning the long-range, coordinated
development and conservation/preservation of the shoreline.

The Master Plan is also intended to complement the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' ongoing
feasibility study for implementing a federal sbore protection project in the County.

Planning Area

The 9-mile Hancock County shoreline is divided into 14 "planning units" established for the
purposes of focusing attention on discrete geographic areas for which specific policies and
management objectives are set forth.

General Recommendations

General recommendations respond to each of several identified categories of problems and issues
and are intended to guide erosion control, facility development, and other beach-related activities
throughout the planning areas. (See Chapter One.)

General recommendations are included for:

0 Shore Protection and Erosion Control

1. Replenishment of the sand beach should be designed to meet both shore protection
and recreational development objectives in selected areas.

2. Shore protection objectives should be met through a combination of measures, including
beach replenishment in areas marked for expanded recreational use, and other measures
as appropriate.

3. Sand dunes, beach vegetation, sand fencing and other stabilizing measures should be
established in coordination with beach replenishment to reduce beach erosion and
maximize the effective life of replenished beach areas.

4. The County should closely monitor the progress of the Corps of Engineers' 'study for
evaluating the feasibility of a federal shore protection project.

0 Maintenance

1. Maintenance of an expanded recreational beach and new user facilities should be a
shared responsibility between the Board of Supervisors and the appropriate
municipalities. The State Park Commission should also assist with beach maintenance
operations in the Buccaneer Park area.

2. Measures to reduce wind-caused erosion should be supplemented by maintenance
procedures to relocate sand on the beach profile.

3. Appropriate procedures should be established for maintenance of erosion control
measures such as dunes, sand fencing, vegetation, and groins.

4. The current level of funding allocated for sand beach maintenance should be expanded
to support recommended development of erosion control measures and enhanced
maintenance operations on a county-wide basis.

5. A specific County budget for sand beach maintenance operations should be established
to support recommended development of erosion control measures and improvements in
maintenance operations.

Recreational Facilities

1. Sand beach recreational opportunities should be enhanced by the beautification of
existing beach areas and facilities, by the improvement and addition of public piers,
and by the addition of facilities such as restrooms, showers, and pavil ions/con cession
areas providing basic services and conveniences for beach users. Outdoor lighting of
new facilities in certain areas should be provided for security purposes.

2. New facilities should be suitable for providing basic services, such as restrooms and
showers, and also special services such as food concessions, water sports concessions
(jet skis, sailboats, etc.), and expendable supplies concessions (novelties, souvenirs,
suntan lotion, etc.). In the future, beach vendors should operate from the new facilities
designed to provide- these services.

3. A designated and continuous pathway reserved solely for the use of pedestrian and
bicycle traffic should be provided between the beach and Beach Boulevard along the
entire length of the shoreline.

4. Plans to provide increased shore protection should include replenishment of the sand
beach to meet both recreational development and shore protection objectives in selected
areas:
- in areas designated for new recreational facility development, the sand beach
should be renourished to an average width of 200 feet and an average crest
elevation of 5 feet above Mean Sea Level; and
- in areas not designated for new recreational facility development, the width and
configuration of the beach should be determined by shore protection requirements.

5. Selective placement of new facilities should be used to establish, delineate, and control
beach use areas including recreational activity centers, as well as shoreline
"Preservation/conservation" areas.

6. New facilities should be located on the beach or near existing public pier structures,
seaward of the seawall:

- all new facilities located seaward of Beach Boulevard should be confined to
segments of shoreline currently fronted by commercial property or to areas in
which some recreational development already exists; and

- in shoreline segments fronting exclusively residential areas, only shore protection
and beach stabilization measures should be established on the beach.

7. Development of new recreational facilities recommended in the Master Plan should
complement, and be consistent with, local development projects currently underway in
the County.

8. Recreational facilities should be designed to meet or exceed local standards controlling
construction in coastal high hazard areas.

9. New recreational facilities should be designed to create a unified beachf ront environment
consisting of a County-wide series of linked activity centers providing a variety of
recreational opportunities. The new facilities should be designed to promote the image
of the sand beach as a County-wide as well as municipal resource.

10. A Hancock County "Beach and Shoreline Logo" should be designed, and a series of
informational signs employing this logo established along the beach to point out facilities,
points of interest, etc.

11. To the extent possible, recreational facilities should be designed to resist vandalism,
and new security and law enforcement procedures should be developed to further
protect public investment in recreational facilities.

� Traffic and Parking

1. Planning for improved beach access and parking should be coordinated with planning
efforts for new recreational facilities and repair of Beach Boulevard. New parking
areas should be concentrated near areas designated for expanded recreational use and
new facility development.

2. To the extent possible, and in accordance with highway safety standards, new parking
areas should be located within the existing public rights-of-way. Where necessary, and
in conjunction with renourishment of the sand beach and the development of new
recreational facilities, parking areas may be located seaward of the seawall.

3. Increased use of the public right-of-way landward of the Beach Boulevard for parking
should be discouraged where parking currently occurs in exclusively residentisa areas.

4. In some areas where parking for beach use has traditionally taken place alongside
Beach Boulevard, minimal parking improvements should be made to the extent possible.

5. The imposition of fees should be considered for parking in designated areas.

� Public Access and Littoral Rights

1. All new development areas should tie confined to segments of shoreline currently
fronted by commercial property, to areas in which some recreational activity already
takes place, or to areas within public right-of-ways.

2. Shoreline segments in exclusively residential areas should be designated only for the
establishment of shore protection or beach stabilization measures.

� Administration and Financing

1. A new administrative body should be established by the Hancock County Board of
Supervisors to oversee the day-to-day maintet.,iance of the beach and related areas, and
to exercise primary responsibility for implementing the Master Plan.

2. A long-range capital improvement program should be prepared to guide implementation
of the Master Plan. The financial base for this program should rest primarily with
local funding sources:

- increased allocations from current seawall tax revenues and revenues from the 1
1/2 cent per gallon road protection tax should be used to fund recommended
improvements for shore protection and erosion control;
- the Board of Supervisors should consider levying an additional tax in accordance
with County recreation laws to support public recreational development on the
sand beach;

- 5 -

the Board of Supervisors should consider adding a special sales tax on food,
beverages, and lodging to help finance beach improvements, user facilities, and
tourism promotions; and

the Board of Supervisors should consider applying user fees where practical to
support beach improvements.

Specific Recommendations

Each of the 14 shorefront planning units is designated according to one or more "management
categories" (see Chapter Two), which indicate different intensities of beach use and levels of
new facility development.

Category 1: New Facility Development; High Use Activity Center
0 Category 11: New Facility Development; Activity Center
0 Category III: Beach Conservation

Chapters Three and Four set forth (1) area-specific management policies for recreational facility
development, and erosion control and beach stabilization, and (2) development concepts for each
of the 14 planning units.

Recommended Administrative Structure

Five recom me ndat ions are directed towards the establishment of an administrative structure for
implementing the Master Plan and administering beach-related affairs:

1. Establish Memorandum of Agreement Between Board of Supervisors, Municipalities, and the
State Parks Commission Regarding Participation in Implementing Beach Improvements.

2. Establish a Hancock County Sand Beach Commission.

3. Establish a County Beach Maintenance Department.

4. Assign Beach Replenishment Responsibilities to the New Beach Commission.

5. Establish an Erosion Control Task Force.

Implementation Priorities

Two Plan implementation phases are recommended, based on the identification of projects for
(1) Immediate Action; and (2) Longer-Term Action. (See Chapter Five.)

Phase One activities, to be initiated as soon as possible following adoption of the Master Plan,
include:

* Emergency roadway repairs to Beach Boulevard

* Beach replenishment (with erosion control and shore protection measures) in Category
11 and III areas requiring emergency shore protection.

- 6 -

0 Beach replenishment (with erosion control) for enhanced recreation in Category I areas.

0 Recreational facility development in Category I areas in coordination with selected
plans pending implementation by municipalities.

0 Recreational facility planning and development in the Buccaneer Park area in
coordination with the Mississippi State Parks Commission.

Phase Two activities should be initiated as soon as funds are available, and in accordance with
public attitudes following implementation of the Immediate Action Program. Longer-term
activities should address the desired long-terin future of the sand beach in a manner which
optimizes the economic and recreational opportuni ties; of the beach.

Potential funding sources for financing the implementation of the Master Plan, in accordance
with the recommendations for Administration and Financing, are also set forth in Chapter Five.

CONTENTS

Page

List of Figures iii
List of Tables iv

Acknowledgments v

Introduction 1

PART I: FOUNDATIONS FOR PLANNING

Chapter One: Problems, Issues and Plan Recommendations 12

Shore Protection and Erosion Control 13

Maintenance 19

Recreational Facilities 23
Traffic and Parking 31
Public Access and Littoral Rights 35
Administration and Financing 38

PART H: AREA-SPECIFIC PROPOSALS

Chapter Two: Planning Units and Management Categories 42

Chapter Three: Bay St. Louis 52

North Beach Boulevard Planning Unit 53
Ulman Avenue Planning Unit 54
Downtown Bay St. Louis Planning Unit 56
St. Stanislaus Planning Unit 58
American Legion Pier Planning Unit 61
Ramaneda/Bay Oaks Planning Unit 65

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Chapter Four: Waveland and Unincorporated Area 66

Bay Oaks/Whispering Pines Planning Unit 67
Nicholson Avenue Planning Unit 69
Coleman Avenue Planning Unit 71
St. Clare/Waveland Boulevard Planning Unit 75
Gulfside Assembly Planning Unit 76
Buccaneer Park Planning Unit 77
Clermont Harbor Planning Unit 81
Bayou Caddy Planning Unit 82

PART Ell: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Chapter Five: Implementation Strategies 84

Administrative Organization and Responsibilities 85
Implementation Priorities 89
Potential Funding Sources 98

APPENDIX A: HISTORY OF BEACH AND SEAVIALL CONSTRUCTION A-1

APPENDIX B: SHOREFRONT EROSION CONDITIONS AND BEACH

STABILIZATION MEASURES B-1

APPENDIX C: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS C-1

APPENDIX D: EXECUTIVE POLICY COUNCIL AND

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS D-1

APPENDIX E: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTION ADOPTING

MASTER PLAN E-1

LIST OF FIGURES

Page

1: Regional Context 2
2: Key Participants in the Planning Process 9
3: Overview of the Planning Process 10
4: Existing and Potential Beach Sections 44
5: Beach Dune and Vegetation System 46
6: Beach Recontouring to Reduce Sand Transport onto Roadway 46
7: Typical Restroom and Shower Structure 47
8: Shorefront Planning Units and Management Categories 48
9: Planning Units and Management Categories 49
10: Planning Units and Management Categories 50
11: Planning Units and Management Categories 51
12: Possible Future Shoreline Section 55

13: Downtown Waterfront and Linked Shoreline Recreation
Areas; Bay St. Louis 60
14: Recreational Activity Center and Beach Park; American Legion Pier 64
15: Recreational Activity Center, Marina, and
Beach Park; Coleman Avenue 74
16: Buccaneer Park Beach Development 80
17: Summary of Recommended Shore Protection and
Beach Erosion Control Measures 92
18: Implementation of Phase One Recommendations for
Recreational Facilities 93

19: Unit Costs for Recreational Facilities 94
20: Cost Estimate for a Typical Category I
Beach Recreation Area 96
21: Implementation of Phase Two Recommendations
for Recreational Facilities 97

B-1: Schematic Illustration of Sediment Losses B-4

B-2: Potential Future Alteration of Beach Profile
by Onshore Winds B-7
B-3- Offshore Breakwaters and Shoreline Effects B-9

B-4: Artificial Headlands and Shoreline Effects EI-10
B-5: Prevention of Sand Transport onto Roadway EI-12
B-6: Beach Dune and Vegetation System (Low
Recreational Use Area) 11-13
B-7: Beach Dune and Vegetation System (Recreational Activity
Area) B-14

LIST OF TABLES

1: Annual Collections from Seawall Tax 101
2: Bond Payment Schedule Summary 102

B-1:History of Beach Replenishment and Seawall Construction 13-2

- iv -

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many individuals have contributed to the preparation of this Plan, including private
citizens and public officials in Hancock County and representatives of state and federal
agencies.

The Plan could not have been prepared without the leadership efforts of the Hancock
County Sand Beach Technical Advisory Council (TAC), which from the outset guided
preparation of the Plan, helped develop Plan policies and area-specific proposals, and
carried out numerous other tasks necessary for completion of the Plan. The support of
the Sand Beach Executive Policy Council was also essential for successful completion
of the Plan. The resolution of Plan adoption signed by the Executive Council represents
the first step in Plan implementation.

A vital leadership and coordination role was provided by the Mississippi Department of
Wildlife Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources, which provided administrative and
technical assistance as well as major funding. Photographs in the Plan document were
provided by Gordon Larson of the Bureau of Marine Resources.

The Planning Team consisted of the following consultants:

Ralph M. Field Associates, Inc.
Design Consortium, Ltd.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Robert G. Dean, Sc. D.
Mississippi Law Research Institute
Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District

The following agencies and departments are just several among the many that provided
additional support and input to preparation of the Plan:

Mayor's Office, City of Bay St. Louis
Mayor's Office, City of Waveland
Gulf Regional Planning Commission
Mississippi State Parks Commission
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District

Finally, the citizens of Bay St. Louis, Waveland, and other sections of Hancock County
who attended several rounds of public meetings and demonstrated their concern for the
future use and protection of the Hancock County shoreline must be given special thanks
for their interest, input, and support.

INTRODUCTION

Environmental Setting

That portion of the Hancock County shoreline bounded on the north by Highway 90 and
on the south by Bayou Caddy gives rise to a unique coastal environment exerting a
major impact on the County's heritage, character, and quality of life. The protective
seawall that runs along this roughly nine mile stretch of shoreline is fronted in various
segments by recreational beaches, public and private piers, and tidal marshes. In some
places the waters of St. Louis Bay and the Mississippi Sound lap directly against the
seawall. Beach Boulevard connects Highway 90 and Bayou Caddy, and runs immediately
alongside the seawall, providing an unbroken view of the Bay and Sound. This local
roadway connects the various shoreline communities in the cities of Bay St. Louis and
Waveland, and in the unincorporated area south of Waveland. (See Figure 1.)

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Hancock County Shoreline at Bay St. Louis

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FIGURE 1: REGIONAL CONTEXT
HANCOCK COUNTY SEAWALL AND SAND BEACH cllLp op
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Eroded Sand Beach; Waveland

Unlike the Harrison County shoreline to the east, where the uninterrupted sand beach
is the most prominent feature, there is no one distinguishing aspect of the diverse,
curving shoreline between Highway 90 and Bayou Caddy. Traveling south on Beach
Boulevard, a visitor encounters a variety of coastal environments as he or she passes
through the business district of the City of Bay St. Louis, and then alongside narrow
sand beaches and quiet residential neighborhoods. Numerous private wooden piers, some
still showing the effects of past exposure to coastal storms, jut out into the water.
Closer to Bayou Caddy, residential development is sparce, and large expanses of coastal
wetlands are found on the inland side of the road. Before Beach Boulevard ends at
the Bayou Caddy commerical fishing harbor, it passes by Buccaneer State Park which
provides picnic and camping facilities near the shoreline as well as a freshwater swimming
pool.

There are no hotels, motels or beach-related commercial establishments along the Hancock
County shoreline, but on summer weekends the beaches are filled with local residents
and visitors from outside the County, particularly from Louisiana. The recreational
beaches, however, are relatively narrow, having eroded considerably from their original
widths. The sand beach areas are, in fact, remnants of an originally six-mile long
beach pumped into place along Mississippi Sound in 1967 as an emergency measure to
protect the seawall and Beach Boulevard from waves and high water.

Problems and Issues

Despite the overall positive effect of the diverse shoreline and aquatic environment on
local character and quality of life, there are significant problems associated with the
current condition and use of the Hancock County shoreline and sand beach areas. These
problems have been raised and discussed by many local residents. (See page 8.) Some
of the more prominent problems and issues concern:

� shorefront erosion which has resulted in deterioration of the seawall, Beach Boulevard
(Beach Boulevard is in need of emergency repair, and much of the beach originally
intended as a protective buffer against waves and high water has eroded), and the
sand beach areas;

� lack of recreational facilities such as restrooms, showers, concession areas, walkways,
etc. which is seen to a rsely affect the enjoyment of current recreational
activities;

� traffic and parking problems caused by the lack of organized parking areas and
resulting in conflicts between beach users and shorefront property owners;

� public access questions regarding the relationship between the littoral rights of
shorefront property owners and public rights of beach access;

� maintenance problems associated with cleaning and maintaining the existing beach
areas;

� public attitudes regarding beach-related problems (including litter, noise, and other
nuisance problems) and opportunities for enhancing the beaches for overall community
benefit; and

� administration and financing problens associated with coordinating the existing
public roles and responsibilities affeTting the shoreline, and with the search for
sources of funds to finance shoreline improvements.

Prior to initiation of the shorefront master planning process, no efforts had been
undertaken to prepare a single, long range plan for guiding recreational development
and shore protection along the Hancock County shoreline. No public or private agency
had ever attempted to completely assess the problems, the potentials and the methods
for achieving a reasonable balance between recreational use and shoreline protection.

Background to the Planning Effort

Over the course of many years, local citizens and officials have offered and discussed
numerous proposals for improving the recreational potential of the shoreline. These
proposals have ranged from elaborate marinas to small cabanas and have addressed
almost every other possible user enhancement. Unfortunately, most of these ideas were
never properly evaluated. In the past several years, however, the Hancock County
Board of Supervisors (which is responsible for funding and administering overall
maintenance of the beach areas) has been under increasing pressure from the general
public, the municipalities, and the business community to improve the shoreline. In
response to this pressure, the Board of Supervisors in 1983 established a study committee
to examine various shorefront problems. The study committee prepared a brief report
citing major problems and offering several basic recommendations. Perhaps the most
important recommendation was that a comprehensive master plan addressing the entire
shoreline between Highway 90 and Bayou Caddy was needed. The lack of such a master
plan containing specific recommendations for beach development, recreation and shore
protection was seen to have a negative effect on government decision-making capabilities
regarding the shoreline.

In the summer of 1984, the Board of Supervisors requested assistance from the Mississippi
Department of Wildlife Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR) in the
preparation of a long range master plan for managing the County's shorefront and sand
beach areas between Highway 90 and Bayou Caddy. BMR concurred with local officials
as to the need for such a planning effort, and funding was obtained from the Federal
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.1

Basic Goals and Objectives of the Planning Effort

The master planning effort adopted a basic goal of establishing policies and strategies
to address long-standing beach-related problems in such a manner that the full potential
of the Hancock County shorefront might be realized. The policies and strategies would

1. At the same time as the Hancock County shoreline master planning effort was
initiated, BMR began a similar planning effort in Harrison County Mississippi with
the cooperation of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors. (See "Sand Beach
Master Plan; Harrison County, Mississippi", June 1986.)

- 6 -

be based on considerations of the natural coastal environment, as well as public
preferences and needs. A major goal of the planning effort was to achieve balance
- balance between the benefits of shorefront utilization and conservation; and balance
between development of beach-related recreational and economic opportunities on the
one hand, and protection of the existing character and quality of life in the County's
shorefront area on the other. The Master Plan for Shorefront Protection and Utilization
is also intended to complement the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' ongoing feasibility
study for implementing a federal shore protection project in the county; effectively
tying the results of the Corps' study into one long range strategy for recreation and
shore protection.

No doubt, the time frame for implementing all of the recommendations contained in the
Master Plan and in future plans for a federal shore protection project will be rather
lengthy. Formal adoption of the Master Plan by the Hancock County Board of Supervisors
and by the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland, however, will facilitate long-term
coordination of beach-related maintenance and recreational development activities, and
also help local officials establish future funding priorities and prepare long-range capital
improvements programs. The Master Plan will establish early action priorities for
implementation as well as recommendations intended to shape the long-term future of
the shoreline.

In summary, the basic goals of the planning process have been:

0 To develop policies and recommen,dations for the sound and orderly growth,
development, and conservation/preservation of the shorefront for the future benefit
of the general public.

0 To incorporate those policies and strategies into a Master Plan to be adopted by
public officials and used to guide all public decisions concerning the long-range,
coordinated development and conserv at ion /preservat ion of the shoreline.

More specific planning objectives are:

0 To promote public awareness of shorefront management and operational problems
and to solicit and incorporate public input in the formulation of Plan strategies
and recommendations.

0 To promote public involvement in the solution of litter, noise, and other nuisance
problems affecting beach areas.

To identify specific shoreline areas suitable for higher intensity recreational use
and to identify other areas suitable for low intensity use, or for
conservation/preservation as natural areas.

0 To prepare appropriate maintenance strategies to coincide with identified high use,
low use, and conservation/preservation areas.

0 To establish measures for reducing erosion of existing and/or renourished beach areas.

To prepare a beach parking and access strategy to reduce traffic and parking
problems.

� To recommend strategies for the efficient administration and management of the
shorefront area by city, County, and state jurisdictions.

� To identify potential local, state, federal, and private sources of funding to implement
Plan strategies and recommendations.

� To assist local officials in establishing a capital improvements program to construct
public recreational and shore protection facilities.

The Planning Proeess

In the summer of 1984, the Hancock County Board of Supervisors established an Executive
Policy Council (comprised of elected public officials) and a Technical Advisory Council
(TAC). These two groups addressed the various planning issues affecting formulation
and implementation of the Master Plan, and provided guidance to consultants retained
to assist in preparing the Plan. The TAC formed several committees to specifically
address facilities planning, financing, public relations, environmental conditions, and
legal concerns. (Executive Policy Council and Technical Advisory Council members are
listed in Appendix D.) A planning team consisting of the following consultants was
established:

� Ralph M. Field Associates, Inc. of Westport, Connecticut, whose role was to provide
the basic framework for Plan formulation, coordinate the work of the other
consultants, and prepare the Master Plan document.

� Design Consortium, Ltd. of New Orleans, Louisiana, whose role was to prepare
conceptual and site specific illustrations of appropriate recreational facilities and
beach stabilization measures, along with cost analyses of proposed facilities.

- 8 -

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory of Biloxi, Mississippi, whose role was to assemble
and analyze available historical information with regard to shorefront erosion
conditions.

Robert G. Dean, -Se.D., Consultant in Coastal and Ocean Engineering, of Gainesville,
Florida, whose role was also to analyze shorefront erosion conditions, as well as
propose and analyze potential beach protection and stabilization measures.

The Mississippi Law Research Institute of the University of Mississippi, whose role
was to identify and assess key legal issues and to assess the legal implications of
proposals for recreational facility development and beach stabilization.

0 The Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District of Gulfport, Mississippi,
whose role was to facilitate public coordination in the preparation of' the Plan., to
identify potential sources of funding for beach improvements, and to work toward
the development of a capital improvements plan for financing new facility
construction.

Throughout the planning process, direct input to the Plan was sought from the general
public, local units of government, and the numerous governmental agencies with roles
and responsibilities in the planning area. The key participants in the planning process
are listed in Figure 2, and Figure 3 presents an overview of the process.

During all stages of the Plan's development, special emphasis was placed on public input.
During the course of the planning process, a lengthy citizen participation program was
developed and carried out. The program was highlighted by several rounds of public
meetings and a public opinion survey. The first round of meetings, organized by the
Bureau of Marine Resources, was held in November 1984. The purpose of those meetings
was to introduce the public to the planning process; and to solicit public opinion regarding
existing shorefront problems. An extensive public opinion survey was then developed
and carried out to further clarify public concerns and attitudes. (The results of this
survey are contained in Appendix C.)

The second round of public meetings was held one year later, in November, 1985. The
primary purpose of the second round of meetings was to present a preliminary, conceptual
Plan as prepared by the Consultant Planning Team and the Technical Advisory Council,
and to receive public response to the preliminary elements of this Plan, which included
recommended planning units, proposed management categories, possible new facilities
and erosion control measures. (Public response to the preliminary Plan is summarized
in Appendix C.) The basic concepts contained in the Preliminary Plan received
overwhelming public support, and the planning team proceeded to expand those concepts

- 9 -

FIGURE 2: KEY PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS

GENERAL PUBLIC

Bay St. Louis
Waveland
Unincorporated Areas

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Mayors
Bd. of Supervisors
-J
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (TAC)

Local Representatives of:
Government
Business
Public

Facilities [Environmental Legal
v
Co
Planning Committee Issues
Committee Loommitt

COORDINATING AGENCIES

Bureau of Marine Resources
Gulf Regional Planning Commission
Southern Miss. Planning Development District

CONSULTANT PLANNING TEAM

Ralph M. Field Associates
Design Consortium, Ltd.
Gulf Coast Research Lab.
Robert G. Dean, Ph.D.
Miss. Law Research Institute
Southern Miss. Planning & Development District

SUPPORTING AGENCIES

Gulf Regional Planning Commission
Mississippi State Park Commission
US Army Corps of Engineers

1.0

FIGURE 3: OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING PROCEW

ORGANIZATION & ADMINISTRATION

� Formation of Executive
Council & TAC
� Assemble Consultant
Planning Team
� Monthly TAC Meetings
� Coordinate Participants

(BMR, SMPDD)

PHASE 1: RESOURCE ASSESSMENT' PUBLIC MEETINGS (11/84)

� Identify Problems * Introduce Planning
� Evaluate Existing Conditions Process
* Input to Problem
(TAC, Consultant Planning Team, Identification
Supporting Agencies)

PHASE 2: PLAN FORMULATION PUBLIC MEETINGS (11/85)

� Preliminary Draft * Review Phase 1 Assessment
� Intermediate Drafts * Present Preliminary
� Final Draft Draft

(Consultant Planning Team, TAC)
PUBLIC MEETINGS (6/86)

* Present Plan

PHASE 3: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

� Plan Adoption
� New Facility Construction
� Erosion Control Measures

(Executive Council, Supporting
Agencies)

in order to prepare several subsequent drafts of the Shorefront Master Plan document.
The final draft of the Plan was formally adopted by the Sand Beach Executive Policy
Council on June 6, 1986. (See Appendix E.) A third round of public meetings was held
in June of 1986 to present the Master Plan to the public.

Organization of the Plan Document

The Hancock County Master Plan for Shorefront Protection and Utilization is organized
as follows:

� Part One. Summarizes the principal problems and issues associated with the current
condition and use of the shorefront, sand beaches and related areas, and contains
recommendations for responding to these problems and guiding recreational development
and shore protection throughout the planning area.

� Part Two. Contains descriptions of existing conditions in 14 shorefront planning units,
area-specific recommendations to guide development, conservation and shore protection
in each planning unit, and conceptual illustrations of shoreline enhancement projects.

� Part Three. Addresses Plan implementation requirements and implications, including:
recommended administrative organization and responsibilities; implementation priorities;
and potential sources of funds for financing shoreline improvements.

� Appendices. Contain background information pertinent to Plan formulation including:
a history of beach and seawall construction; a description of shorefront erosion
conditions and beach stabilization measures; results of public opinion surveys; and a
list of Executive Council and Technical Advisory Council members. Appendix E
contains the formal resolution signifying the Executive Council's adoption of the Plan.

Curving Seawall Near Buccaneer Park

PART 1:

FOUNDATIONS
FOR
PLANNING

CHAPTER ONE: PROBLEMS, ISSUES AND PLAN
RECOMMENDATIONS

The problems and issues described in this chapter are associated with
the current condition and use of the Hancock County shoreline between
Highway 90 and Bayou Caddy. Some of the problems are more immediate
than others, and some will require longer-term approaches to their
solutions than others. The problems and issues addressed in the Master
Plan have been grouped into the following categories:

Shore Protection and Erosion Control

0 Maintenance

0 Recreational Facilities
0 Traffic and Parking
0 Public Access and Littoral Rights
0 Administration and Financing

This chapter also contains general recommendations which have been
established to respond to each of the identified problems and issues.
These recommendations are not tied to specific geographic areas, but
have been formulated to guide facility development, erosion control,
and other shoreline activities throughout the planning area. (Area-
specific recommendations and management policies are contained in
Chapters Three and Four.)

- 13

SHORE PROTECTION AND EROSION CONTROL

The most immediate problems in the plannning area are caused by inadequate shore
protection and the deterioration of Beach Boulevard. The existing seawall was built
between 1915 and 1928 (see Appendix A) and large sections have deteriorated, most
visibly in the Ulman Avenue area and south to the downtown Bay St. Louis area. In
the Ulman Avenue area, land shoreward of the seawall is being eroded and washed out
through the seawall, threatening the integrity of Beach Boulevard.

Further south, much of the six mile-long artificial beach originally constructed between
Clermont Harbor and downtown Bay St. Louis to provide a protective buffer against
waves and high water (see Appendix A) has eroded. The sand that remains is held in
place largely by the numerous drainage outfalls which extend into the Mississippi Sound,
and by the several rock pier structures which function as groynes. The remaining beach
continues to recede as a result of coastal storms and normal littoral processes, and as
a result of heavy rainfall running over and off Beach Boulevard and across the sand.

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-3, V

Damaged Seawall Next to Beach Boulevard

- 14 -

Sections of Beach Boulevard currently protected by only the seawall are often under
water during even moderate storms, and sections of the roadway throughout the entire
study area are in need of immediate, emergency repair. (Historical trends in shoreline
erosion and the factors causing erosion are described in more detail in Appendix B.)
Hurricanes Elena and Juan in the fall of 1985 inflicted considerable damage on the
shoreline.

Since 1965, the County's efforts to secure federal assistance for shore protection have
been unsuccessful. The Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, however, is currently
studying the feasibility of providing federal assistance for erosion control and beach
replenishment. (See Appendix A.) In carrying out this study, the Corps will coordinate
its work (including the formulation of shore protection reco m mendat ions) with the policies
and recommendations contained in this Master Plan.

Assuming early allocation of local matching funds, the draft feasibility study should be
completed by December 1986, the final draft by April 1987, and final Corps of Engineers'
recommendations regarding a federal shore protection project could be issued in October
1987. If a positive recommendation is issued, then the proposed shore protection project

.. .. ......

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Stepped Seawall with No Protective Beach

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Drainage Outfall Extending into Mississippi Sound

will be sent to the sponsoring Congressional Committee for authorization and
appropriation. Congressional action could require one legislative session or several
depending on such factors as the total cost of the project compared to its benefits,
and Hancock County's commitment of matching funds for construction.

Key Planning Considerations

0 The amount (extent, volume) of beach replenishment necessary for shore protection
purposes.

0 The types of beach stabilization measures most suitable for preventing erosion of
a renourished beach.

0 The most effective locations for beach stabilization measures.

0 The impacts of stabilization measures on recreational activities, beach image and
appearance, maintenance, etc.

0 The cost and most optimistic timetable for constructing a federal shore protection
project.

- '16

Plan Recommendations

1. Replenishment of the sand beach should be designed to meet both shore protection
and recreational development objectives in selected areas.

The Corps of Engineers' study to deterimine the feasibility of a federal shore
protection project for Hancock County will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a
variety of methods for shore protection including a strengthened seawall, rip-rap,
revetments, as well as a renourished sand beach. The Corps, however, has agreed
to give added consideration to beach replenishment for shore protection purposes
in areas designated for expanded recreational use in the Master Plan.

In areas designated for expanded recreational use and new recreational facility
development, shore protection objectives should be achieved through beach
replenishment. The design width of the renourished beach should be at least 200
feet and the crest elevation should be five feet above Mean Sea Level.
Replenishment to a width of 200 feet will be necessary in areas of active recreational
use in order to provide space for facilities, activity areas, and erosion control

measures.

2. Shore protection objectives should be met through a combination of measures,
including beach replenishment in areas marked for expanded recreational use, and
other measures as appropriate.

In areas not designated for expanded recreational use and new facility development,
the extent of beach replenishment should be based on cost-effectiveness criteria
and shore protection needs. In certain areas it may be possible and desirable to
meet shore protection needs through the use of measures other than a new or
expanded sand berm.

In addition to beach replenishment and other protective measures established to act
as buffers against waves and high water, the Hancock County seawall should be
repaired where necessary. The foundation and backfill integrity of the seawall
should be evaluated and, where found to be lacking, repaired. Also, the seawall
should be rendered "sand-tight" to ensure that minor storms, rainfall and groundwater
seepage will not cause the long-term loss of backfill through the seawall, thereby
jeopardizing the integrity of Beach Boulevard.

- 17

3. Sand dunes, beach vegetation, sand fencing and other stabilizing measures should
be established, in coordination with beach replenishment, to reduce beach erosion
and maximize the effective life of replenished beach areas.

As described in Appendix B, present sand losses from the Hancock County beaches
result from a combination of longshore, offshore and onshore (by wind) losses. The
current loss rates are fairly small because the existing beaches are relatively narrow
and lacking in sediment. Following substantial replenishment and resulting wider
beaches, the tendency for greater longshore, offshore and onshore losses will increase
substantially. Thus, in conjunction with beach replenishment efforts, it will be
necessary to implement erosion control measures to stabilize and thereby prolong
the life of an expanded beach.

Beach stabilization to control longshore losses will require lengthening and upgrading
of several existing shore-perpendicular structures (e.g., drainage outfalls, rock piers)
and the construction of several new shore-perpendicular structures such as groins
or the equivalent. In addition, sand dunes, stabilizing vegetation, and sand fencing
should be established where appropriate to reduce future wind-caused erosion from
widened beaches.

Recommended beach stabilization and erosion control measures in specific areas
are set forth in Part II of this document. (Erosion control measures are illustrated
and described in more detail in Appendix B.)

The public must be guided away from certain erosion control areas if the beach
stabilization measures established in those areas are to be effective. The success
of efforts to keep the public away from erosion control structures will depend on
beach regulations and adequate enforcement as well as an educational campaign to
influence public attitudes.

Erosion control measures in conjunction with expansion of the sand berm will result
in significant changes in beach appearance, and these changes are likely to raise
objections on the part of some persons. Nevertheless, 99% of those responding to
the preliminary Master Plan concepts presented at public meetings in November
1985 supported the introduction of beach vegetation and other erosion control
measures as necessary to stabilize expanded beach areas. (See Appendix C.)
Because of the changes in beach appearance that will result from the establishment

of erosion control measures, an educational campaign will assume additional
importance in maintaining public support for those measures.

4. The County should elosely monitor the provress of' the Corps of Engineers' study
for evaluating the feasibility of a federal shore proteetion projeet.

In carrying out the feasibility study, the Corps has agreed to worl( closely with
the County and to coordinate the formulation of federal shore protection
recommendations with the recommendations for recreational development contained
in the Master Plan. The County should work: closely with the Corps to ensure the
Corps' full understanding and consideration of County recreational and shore
protection objectives.

- 19

MAINTENANCE

Although the Hancock County sand beach has eroded considerably since its construction,
and in some areas is quite narrow, the remaining beach areas receive intense use,
particularly on summer weekends. Litter and debris on the beach and alongside Beach
Boulevard are a constant problem. Beach clean-up and maintenance is the responsibility
of the County Supervisor within whose district the particular beach area falls. Lack
of funding, however, limits the effectiveness of current maintenance efforts. As a
result, these efforts (which are currently not supported by a specific beach maintenance
budget) are not able to consistently meet generally desired levels of condition and
appearance, and the overall environmental quality of the shoreline suffers.

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Litter and Debris on the Beach

20 -

Key Planning Considerations

� The improvement of current maintenance strategies and procedures.

� The establishment of an ongoing beach maintenance program.

� The extent to which development of new recreational facilities and beach
stabilization measures will affect future majintenance operations.

� The availability of new sources of funding to improve current maintenance operations
as well as support future operations that may be required as a result of beach
enhancement.

Plan Recommendations

1. Maintenance of an expanded recreational beach and new user facilities should be
a shared responsibility between the Board of Supervisors and the appropriate
municipalitie& The State Park Commission should also assist with beach maintenance
operations in the Buccaneer Park area.

Maintenance of the existing sand beach are-as is currently the reponsibility of the
County Supervisor within whose district the particular beach area falls.
Replenishment and expansion of the existing sand berm to 200 feet in areas
designated for expanded recreational use will require increased maintenance efforts
on a County-wide scale and a new County-wide organizational structure specifically
responsible for beach maintenance. Since beach renourishment will provide shore
protection and recreational benefits for the municipalities as well as for the County,
the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland should contribute to maintenance efforts
within their corporate limits. Similarily, the State Park Commission should contribute
to beach maintenance efforts directed toward expanded beach areas near Buccaneer

Park.

2. Measures to reduce wind-caused erosion should be supplemented by maintenance
procedures to relocate sand on the beach profile.

Plan Recommendations for Shore Protection and Erosion Control address the future
need for establishing stabilizing dunes, sand fencing and vegetation in order to
reduce future wind-caused erosion on certain sections of a renourished sand beach.

These measures should be supplemented by maintenance efforts to relocate sand on
the beach profile. One way to reduce future airborne sediment losses from a
widened beach, especially in areas where intensive recreational use may, in the
future, preclude the use of dunes and stabilizing vegetation, is simply to remove
sand blown toward the base of the seawall and place the material back toward the
Mississippi Sound before there is adequate opportunity for the sand to be transported
over the seawall and onto Beach Boulevard. In certain areas, a shallow veneer of
sand should be removed from the vicinity of the seawall and transported and
deposited near the waterline of the beach. A fairly shallow depression should then
be maintained at the base of the seawall in these areas to trap sand before it
reaches the seawall. Such operations to recontour the beach profile should be
carried out on at least a biennial basis.

3. Appropriate procedures should be established for maintenance of erosion control
measures such as dunes, sand fencing, vegetation, and groins.

The reduction of future wind-caused erosion by removing sand accumulations from
near the base of the seawall and placing this sand nearer the water requires no
ongoing maintenance efforts other than the biennial movement of the sand. Sand
dunes stabilized by sand fencing and/or vegetation will, however, require limited
transferral of sand from the landward to the water side of the dunes-to prevent
continuing migration of the dunes landward. It is estimated that the amount of
relocation, on a biennial basis (excluding relocation required as a result of severe
storms), will be less than 0.25 cubic yard per front foot of beach per year. If a
severe hurricane should occur, the dunes and/or sand fencing would be severely
impacted and there is the potential for complete loss of these erosion control

measures.

In addition to efforts to transfer sand, periodic clean-up of dunes and beach
vegetation to remove litter will be required. Minimum initial and annual maintenance
costs for vegetated dunes are estimated at $3.00 and $1.00 per linear foot,
respectively. These costs are estimates only, and should be further refined based
on the experience of the test plantings currently being evaluated on the Harrison
County beaches.

Any stabilization measures employed to reduce longshore sediment transport will
require minimal maintenance, except following severe storms. As a result of such

- 22 -

storms, shore-perpendicular structures (e.g., groins) are expected to experience
somewhat less damage than shore-parallel structures (e.g., offshore breakwater's and
artificial headlands as described in Appendix B).

4. The current level of funding allocated for sand beach maintenance should be
expanded to support recommended development of erosion control measures and
enhanced maintenance operations on a County-wide basis.

5. A specific County budget for sand beach maintenance operations should be established
to support recommended development of erosion control measures and improvements
in maintenance operations.

There is currently no specific budget for sand beach maintenance activities, and
the current level of funding for beach maintenance is not sufficient to allow equal
and systematic maintenance attention to be given to the entire sand beach, seawall
and Beach Boulevard area. As a result, litter on the beach and alongside the
seawall and roadway near popular recreation areas is a constant problem. Public
opinion surveys show widespread concern regarding the existing appearance of the

beaches and related areas.

Constructing and maintaining recreational facilities, replenishing the beach,
establishing and maintaining erosion control measures, and carrying out enhanced
day-to-day maintenance operation.,; will require increased and centralized
administration of sand beach affairs. (Potential sources of revenue for increasing
existing funding levels and a recommended administrative structure are addressed
in the Administration and Financing: Recom me nda.t ions and in Part 111.)

- 23

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Although the sand beaches of Hancock County are relatively small and narrow, the
beaches are popular not only with local residents but also with day trip visitors from
outside the County. No studies have been carried out to assess the number of beach
users and where their trips to Hancock County originate from, but a visual inspection
of the registration plates of parked cars seems to indicate that the majority of beach
users on summer weekends are from Louisiana.

With the exception of the Ulman Avenue pier, the American Legion pier, the Garfield
Ladner pier, and the facilities at Buccaneer State Park, there are no public recreational
facilities along the Hancock County shoreline between Highway 90 and Bayou Caddy.
(The existing public recreational facilities are discussed in more detail in the planning
unit descriptions contained in Chapters 3 and 4.) The lack of such facilities as restrooms,
showers, pavilions, outdoor lighting in key locations, and organized concession areas

Ar
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American Legion Pier and Sand Beach

24 -

creates certain hardships for beach users and is seen by many to diminish the recreational
experience and potential of the existing shorefront. (The term "recreational facilities"
encompasses a wide range of facilities which can enhance the use and enjoyment of
the beach by the general public. These facilities commonly include marinas, piers,
picnic areas, cabanas, boardwalks, pavilions, restrooms, showers, and boat launches, as
well as concessions for refreshments, supplies and water sports rental equipment.)

Addina to the difficulties caused by the lack of public recreational facilities along the
0
shoreline is the extent to which the original sand beach has eroded, thereby limiting
the space available for recreational activities.

.Expressed public preferences with regard to specific recreational facilities most needed
and appropriate for development on the Hancock County shoreline have been documented.
These preferences were indicated at public meetings held in November of 1984 and 1985
and in the results of a public opinion survey undertaken in the summer of 1985. (See
Appendix C.) (Improved beach parking facilities are also needed, and this need is
addressed in the Traffic and Parking section.)

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Ulman Avenue Pier

Wave Pool in Buccaneer State Park

Key Planning Comiderations

0 The kinds of recreational facilities most needed.

0 New facilities for implementation in the short term, in the event that extensive
beach replenishment does not become a reality for several years.

The width and configuration of a re-established sand beach necessary for optimizing
recreational opportunities.

The scale of new facilities.

0 The locations of new facilities.

0 The design of new facilities to minimize risk to natural hazards such as high winds,
waves, and flooding.

The design of new facilities to achieve esthetic objectives, discourage vandalism
and facilitate maintenance.

- 26 -

Plan Recommendations

1. Sand beach recreational opportunities; should be enhanced by the beautification of
existing beach areas and facilities, by the improvement and addition of public piers,
and by the addition of facilities such as restrooms, 'showers, and paVilions/eonclE.,ssion
areas providing basic services and conveniences for beach usem Outdoor lighting
of new facilities in certain areas should be provided for security purposes.

2. New facilities should be suitable for providing basic services such as; restrooms and
showers, and also special services such as food concessions, water sports concessions
(jet skis, sailboats, etc.) and expendible supplies concessions (novelties, souvenirs,
suntan lotion, etc.). In the future, beach vendors should operate from the new
facilities designed to provide these services.

3. A designated and continuous pathway reserved solely for the use of pedestrian and
bicycle traffic should be provided between the beach and Beach Boulevard along
the entire length of the shoreline.

Throughout the years, local residents and officials have discussed the need for a
variety of recreational facilties including restrooms, showers, cabanas, pavilions,
picnic areas, outdoor lighting, boatramps, fishing piers, pedestrian walkways, and
other facilites. As part of the master planning process, a public opinion survey
was carried out in the summer of 1985 in order to better understand and document
public preferences regarding beach improvements and recreational facilities. (The
results of this survey are included in Appendix C.) Most respondents (over 90%)
in Bay St. Louis and Waveland indicated support for efforts to beautify and improve
the existing appearance of the sand beach and related areas, and approxiinately
70% indicated support for public restrooms. The majority of respondents; also
indicated support for improved litter control and new and/or enhanced public piers.

Additional public input regarding the types of facilities needed to improve beach
recreational opportunities was gathered during the public meetings held in November
1984 and November 1985. Comments offered during those meetings supported the
addition of bathrooms, pavilions, and piers,, and the creation of distinct recreational
activity areas. In addition to identifying desirable facilities, the public also indicated
facilities to be discouraged. For example, the construction of boardwalks (i.e.
wood structures resembling piers attached to the Seawall) was generally discouraged.
Boardwalks should therefore be considered as specialty structures for possibly limited
use in specific locations. The pedestrian-bikeway should be constructed as a simple,

- 27 -

paved pathway which will be less expensive than a boardwalk and less vulnerable
to vandals and natural hazards.

4. Plans to provide increased shore protection should include replenishment of the
sand beach to meet both recreational development and shore protection objectives
in selected areas:
- in areas designated for new recreational facility development, the sand beach
should be renourished to an average width of 200 feet and an average crest
elevation of 5 feet above Mean Sea Level; and
- in areas not designated for new recreational facility development, the width
and configuration of the beach should be determined by shore protection
requirements.

Opportunities for enhanced recreational use of the sand beach are closely tied to
beach replenishment for shore protection purposes. While the primary purpose of
sand beach replenishment should be to meet shore protection objectives, beach
replenishment in selected areas should also be utilized to meet recreational
objectives. With appropriate beach stabilization measures, the minimum controlling
width of the beach for shore protection and recreational purposes should be 200
f eet. In areas not designated for new recreational facility development, sand
renourishment to widths of less than 200 feet may be suitable for meeting shore
protection objectives when undertaken in conjunction with the establishment of
other shore protection measures (e.g., strengthened seawall, revetments).

5. Selective placement of new facilities should be used to establish, delineate, and
control beach use areas including recreational activity centers, as well as shoreline
"Preservation/conservation" areas.

The intensity of recreational activities currently varies along the shoreline. The
locations of active recreational use are primarily limited to the existing sand beach
areas. Plans to provide for increased shore protection will result in expansion of
the existing beaches and, in some areas, re-establishment of beaches in areas where
no sand currently exists. New facilities, however, should be sited in a manner that
does not encourage the dispersal of recreational activities throughout the planning
area, but rather serves to focus activities in specific areas. By focusing recreational
activities in selected areas, future beach maintenance requirements should be
centralized and existing conflicts between recreational activities and residential

use reduced.

- 28 -

A basic objective of the master planning process is the identification of areas
suitable and appropriate for higher intensity or expanded beach use, areas suitable
for a more moderate intensity of recreational use, and areas suitable for designation
as "preservat ion/cons er vat ion" areas in which shore protection measures should
receive highest priority. The designation of' a mix of different types of shoreline
use areas - ranging from recreational activity centers to shoreline
"Preser vat ion/conser vat ion" areas - will create a variety of beach environments
throughout the overall 9-mile planning, area. (Area-specific management policies and
recommendations for new facility development and erosion control. measures are
contained in Chapters 3 and 4.)

6. New facilities should be located on the beach or near existing public pier structures
seaward of the seawall:

- in shoreline segments fronting exclusively residential areas, only shore protection
and beach stabilization measures should be established.

In identifying areas for different types and intensities of recreational use, and for
new facility development and erosion. control and beach stabilization measures, five
principal factors should be considered: 1) current intensities of beach use; 2), type
of adjacent shorefront development (i.e. residential or commercial); 3) current
shorefront zoning; 4) ongoing County or municipal development plans; and 5) the
location of existing public right-of-ways.

Consideration of these factors respresents not only a logical approach to facility
siting from a physical planning perspective, but is also intended to minimize potential
future conflicts between the littoral rights of adjacent upland property owners and
the public's rights of beach access. (See Plan Recommendations for Public Access
and Littoral Rights.)

7. Development of new recreational facilities recommended in the Master Plan should
complement, and be consistent with, local development projects currently being
planned.

In several locations, the cities of Bail St. Louis and Waveland have initiated planning
for recreational development projects. The County is also considering recreational

- 29

improvements in areas under its jurisdiction. In these locations, the area-specific
policies of the Master Plan (see Part II) will be based on, and guided by, these
proposals. The areas where already-developed local proposals have been formulated
and/or initiated are:

0 The Ulman Avenue area where the City of Bay St. Louis is formulating plans
to develop a public neighborhood park and beach;

0 Downtown Bay St. Louis where the City of Bay St. Louis is preparing to
conduct an urban waterfront study to identify redevelopment and reutilization
options which would link the downtown area with the waterfront;

0 The Coleman Avenue area where the City of Waveland is considering the
addition of a public marina, recreation area and public pier; and

0 The American Legion Pier in Bay St. Louis where the County is considering
beautification plans and the addition of facilities to provide basic recreational
services.

8. Recreational facilities should be designed to meet or exceed local standards
controlling construction in coastal high hazard areas.

Any new facility established seaward of the seawall will be located in a Coastal
High Hazard Area or 'IV-Zone" as delineated on Flood Insurance Rate Maps prepared
for the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland. The area seaward of the seawall
has been judged potentially subject to high velocity waters from wave action (the
most destructive element of coastal storms) associated with a 11100-year" flood. As
Hurricanes Juan and Elena proved in the fall of 1985, however, storms less severe
than 100-year events can also cause significant damage to coastal structures. As
a result, the potential effects of wind, waves, and high water on new recreational
facilities should be an important design consideration. Construction of certain
facilities so that finished floor elevations are above projected flood levels will add
to construction costs but will be necessary in order to protect public and private
investment, meet local regulations, and satisfy federal flood insurance requirements.

- 110 -

9. New recreational facilities should be designed to create a unified beachfront
environment consisting of a County-wide series of linked activity centers providing
a variety of recreational opportunitie& The! new facilities should be designed to
promote the image of the sand beach as a County@wide as well as municipal resource.

10. A Hancock County "Beach and Shorelfine Logo" should be designed, and a series of
informational signs employing this logo established along the beach to point out
facilities, points of interest, etc.

New recreational activity areas and facilities should be designed, constructed, and
promoted as linked, component parts of a County-wide recreational resource system.
Linkage should be promoted through coordinated design, the development of an
informational sign system, and the construction of the pedestrian/bikeway.
Consistent with recommendations for a new administrative structure for beach
affairs (see Chapter 5) the County should consider establishing a Design Review
Panel to evaluate facility designs. New facilities in each municipality can incorporate
common elements such as awnings, roofliners, and plantings, as well as common
colors. Temporary structures can also be "dressed up" to relate to common themes.

The beach and shoreline logo should be designed as a tool to focus public attention
on the sand beach. Employment of the logo along with informational signs should
be utilized to help promote the image of the beach as a County-wide resource with
a variety of linked component parts. To further stimulate public involvement, a
design contest could be held in local schools to select the beach and shoreline logo.

New facilities can not be designed as "vandal proof" but can be designed and
constructed to withstand or resist damage inflicted by vandals. For example,
stainless steel fixtures and concrete block construction can be employed in permanent
structures. Measures to increase vandal resistance, however, will add to construction
costs, and increased police patrols and area lighting in certain locations will also
be necessary.

31 -

TRAFFIC AND PARKING

Beach Boulevard follows the County shoreline from Highway 90 to Bayou Caddy and
functions as a low speed beach access road providing physical and visual access to the
shorefront and sand beach areas. Existing traffic and parking conditions along Beach
Boulevard, however, are much less than ideal. These conditions create hardships and
safety problems for beach and shorefront users, result in conflicts between beach users
and property owners, and diminish the overall quality of the recreational experience
and potential of the shorefront.

Many sections of Beach Boulevard are threatened by shorefront erosion (due in large
part to the absence of a protective beach) and many sections are currently in an
advanced state of disrepair. Although at one time this road was part of the state
highway system and its maintenance was a state responsibility, it is now designated as
a local road and the County is responsible for its repair and maintenance. (The City
of Bay St. Louis is, however, planning to widen a section of the roadway within the
city's central business area.) Hurricanes Elena and Juan in September and November

Min
7111 7

Damaged Seawall; Emergency Repair Work on Beach Boulevard

:32

of 1985 caused considerable damage to the roadway. Most of the culverts providing
drainage under the road have deteriorated almost to the point of collapse, and in
November of 1985 the Board of Supervisors imposed a weight restriction limiting use of
the road to automobiles and light pick-up trucks..

While access to the shoreline is almost totally open along the length of Beach Boulevard,
there are only a few formal (paved) parking areas. Between Ulman Avenue and downtown
Bay St. Louis, for example, there is limited parking space on the shoulder 'Of the roadway
next to the seawall. There is also room for parking on and adjacent to the shoulder
of Beach Boulevard in the Washington Street area and on the American Legion Pier.
In addition to the main parking lots at the Buccaneer State Park there is a small paved
.lot adjacent to Beach Boulevard near the park entrance. With the exception of these
several areas, however, parking for beach access; takes place primarily wherever there
is space on the western or landward side of Beach Boulevard. This space used for
parking between the paved road surface and the utility line is approximately 20 feet
wide and is within the public right-of-way. The use of this right-of-way for parking,
however, creates several problems. First, since the surface is sandy in most places, it
is often easy for vehicles to get stuck. Second, parking along the beach road creates
conflicts (caused by litter, noise, etc.) between beach users and shorefront property
owners, especially in the Nicholson Avenue and Coleman Avenue areas.

uo""'4
I.- A-.10
gw

X,
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Parking in the Right-of-Way Inland of Beach Boulevard

- 33

Key Planning Considerations

� The optimum location of new parking areas.

� The number of new parking spaces to be provided.

� The planning and placement of new parking areas in order to reduce existing
conflicts between beach users and shorefront homeowners caused by current parking
methods.

� Appropriate measures for regulating parking (by charging a fee, for example).

Plan Recommendations

2. To the extent possible, and in accordance with highway safety standards, new
parking areas should be located within existing public right-of-ways. Where
necessary, and in conjunction with renourishment of the sand beach and the
development of new recreational facilities, parking areas may be located seaward
of the seawall.

The siting of new parking areas should contribute to the establishment, delineation,
promotion and control of different types of beach use areas including high-use
recreational activity centers, as well as lower-use activity areas and shoreline
conservation areas. (See Plan Recommendations for Recreational Facilities.) For
example, parking should be prohibited or discouraged and new parking areas should
not be added near areas designated for shoreline conservation. On the other hand,
efforts to centralize beach activities in areas designated for new or expanded
recreational facilities will not be successful unless adequate parking space is provided
in those areas.

While new parking should be located wherever possible within the existing public
right-of-way, the opportunities for adding new and safe parking areas in the right-
of-way are limited and should be identified by the application of basic standards
for the design and location of off-road parking areas.

-- 34 -

Opportunities for adding new, safe parking areas in the right-of-way between the
roadway and seawall, however, are insufficient for meeting current peak demands
for parking space near areas designated for expanded recreational use and new
facility development. In order to provide adequate parking for beach users, it may
therefore by necessary to construct some new parking areas seaward of the seawall
near areas designated as recreational activity centers. Such parking areas should
be developed in coordination with the development of new recreational facilities
following replenishment of the sand beach.

3. Increased use of the public right-of-way landward of the Beach Boulevard for
parking should be discouraged where parking currently occurs in exclusively
residential areas.
.4. In some areas where parking for beach use has traditionally taken place alongside
Beach Boulevard, minimal parking improvements should be made to the extent
possible.

The major portion of beach parking currently occurs at random - taking place
between Beach Boulevard and private property boundaries landward of the roadway.
This method of parking creates litter, noise and other nuisance problems affecting
shorefront residents and also results in public safety problems. Therefore, increased
use of the right-of-way landward of Beach Boulevard for parking should be
discouraged in exclusively residential areas. The planning and placement of new
parking areas in locations designated for expanded recreational use and new facility
development should reduce the demand for continued parking use of the landward
right-of-way in residential areas.

5. The imposition of fees should be considered for parking in designated areas.

Consistent with recommendations directed toward imposing user fees to help defray
the costs of beach improvements (see Chapter 5), the imposition of parking fees as
a source of revenue for funding beach improvements should be considered. Currently,
no fee is charged for beach parking by the County or the municipalities. In
evaluating the feasibility of adding a charge for parking in or near beach areas
designated for expanded recreational activities, a variety of factors should be
considered, including: enforcement requirements; potential revenue to be generated;
and available measures and approaches for imposing a fee (for example, use of
parking meters, sale of vehicle parking decals, excluding County residents from fee
requirements, imposing fees only on summer weekends, etc.).

- 35

PUBLIC ACCESS AND LITTORAL RIGHTS

Legal questions regarding beach ownership in Hancock County have received relatively
little public attention to date. Such questions, however, particularly with regard to
the relationship between the littoral rights of beachfront property owners and the
public's rights of beach access, will most likely be the subject of increased public
attention as development and implementation of the Master Plan proceeds.1

In Harrison County, Mississippi, legal questions regarding public access and ownership
of the sand beach have been addressed through lengthy litigation and are the subject of
a federal court order. Public access to the Harrison County beaches is currently
guaranteed by a court order which arose out of the decision of the Federal Court of
Appeals in U.S. v. Harrison County. That court order guarantees that a contract entered
into between the United States and Harrison County dedicating the beach to the public
will be enforced, and prevents the private littoral property owners from interfering
with the public's use of the beaches. The order also recognizes that the private littoral
owners retain certain important water and beach-related rights. (See "Sand Beach Master
Plan; Harrison County, Mississippi".)

The legal relationship between the littoral rights of beachfront property owners and
the public's rights of beach access obviously has important implications for the planning
of new recreational facilities and the implementation of beach improvements. However,
Hancock County was not included in the Harrison County court order, and the Federal
Court of Appeals' ruling in U.S. v. Harrison County should therefore not be considered as
a precedent for resolving future littoral rights and public access questions that may
arise in Hancock County.

1. With regard to water rights law, water rights arise when property either abuts or
contains water. If the water in question is a navigable river or stream, the rights
are said to be riparian. If the water is subject to the ebb and flow of the tides,
the rights are said to be littoral rights.

@U @Wu

Now,

Private Shorefront Property Inland of Beach Boulevard

Key Planning Consideration

0 Balancing littoral rights of private shorefront property owners with the public's
rights of beach access.

Private Pier Extending into Mississippi Sound

Plan Recommendations

1. All new development areas should be confined to segments of shoreline currently
fronted by commercial property, to areas in which some recreational activity already
takes place, or to areas within public right-of-ways.

2. Shoreline segments in exclusively residential areas should be designated only for
the establishment of shore protection or beach stabilization measures.

The siting of new recreational facilities should be designed to minimize conflicts
between the littoral rights of beachfront property owners and public rights of beach
access. Accordingly, new facility development should be confined to stretches of
shorefront near already developed or commercial areas, to beach areas where some
recreational activity currently takes place, or to areas within the public right-of-
way. (The public right-of-way includes extensions of public street right-of-ways
across the sand beach. Where such street right-of-ways cross the Hancock County
seawall and intersect the existing or future sand beach, the control of the property
from the point of the seawall to the edge of the water is traditionally vested in
the County Board of Supervisors.)

While the development of beach recreational facilities should be limited to several
specific areas based on private littoral rights considerations, the establishment of
erosion control measures to stabilize and extend the life of a renourished sand
beach need not be limited to specific areas. Such measures may be justified as
shore protection measures necessary for protecting the seawall, Beach Boulevard,
and adjacent upland areas from coastal erosion and flooding.

- 38

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCING

There are currently several governmental jurisdictions - County, city, state, and federal
- with roles and responsibilities affecting: the shoreline. For example, maintenance of
the sand beaches in Bay St. Louis and Waveland is a County responsibility, and tile
County is responsible for maintenance of the Ulman Avenue Pier and the American
Legion Pier in Bay St. Louis. The cities are also involved: The City of Bay St. Louis
has plans for recreational improvements in the area of the Ulman Avenue pier and also
along the shorefront adjacent to the downtown, -and the City of Waveland installed the
Ladner Pier and is considering improvements and new recreational facility development
in this area.

State agencies involved in shorefront activities include the Mississippi State Parks
Commission which operates the Buccaneer State Park in Waveland, and the Mississippi
Commission on Wildlife Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources. The Bureau of
Marine Resources reviews permit applications and issues (where appropriate) permits for
activities affecting wetlands and Mississippi Sound waterbottoms, conducts coastal
planning activities, and can issue grants for constructing certain types of beach
improvements.

In addition to County, city, and state involvement, tile U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
is also actively involved in planning activities affecting the shoreline through its
feasibility planning study for a federal shore protection project. In addition, the Corps
reviews permit applications for beach replenishment and can provide technical assistance
with regard to shore protection and erosion control.

Among the different governmental jurisdications concerned with the Hancock County
shoreline, sand beach and related areas, there has generally been a lack of uniform and
comprehensive policies regarding administration, authority and operations. The lack of
such policies has been seen to negatively affect overall shorefront management,
development, and maintenance capabilities.

The effectiveness of beach-related operations and the existing appearance and condition
of the shoreline are significantly influenced by County and municipal budget allocations.
For example, current maintenance difficulties relative to providing a consistently high
level of shoreline condition and appearance throughout the planning area are due in

- 39

large part to lack of funds for maintenance operations and the lack of a specific budget
for beach maintenance activities.

Under Chapter 33 (the Seawall Chapter) of the Mississippi Code, the Hancock County
Board of Supervisors has broad powers to erect, improve, and maintain all necessary
shore and road protection structures. Several local revenue sources are potentially
available for funding a variety of shore protection activities. These revenue sources
include the County's special tax on gasoline. This tax, authorized by State statute,
was enacted about 1928 when the Board of Supervisors added a 3 cents per gallon tax
on gasoline to pay for the construction of the Hancock County seawall. In addition,
the Hancock County allocation from the state road protection tax was designated as a
supplementary revenue source (secondary to the seawall tax) for retiring seawall and
road protection bonds. After retirement of the original seawall construction bonds,
seawall tax revenues began to be applied for purposes not related to the sand beach
or seawall. Incoming seawall tax funds as well as surplus County funds were used for
debt service on the County's Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis Industrial Airport.
As a result, only a relatively small percentage of the total available seawall tax revenues
are currently applied for shore protection and maintenance purposes.

The seawall tax, road protection tax, and other local revenue sources potentially available
for funding beach-related activities and improvements are discussed in more detail in
Chapter 5.

Key Planning Considerations

0 Opportunities for improving current administrative procedures affecting the shoreline.

The availability of new sources of local, state, and federal funding to support beach
improvements.

0 Possibilities for reallocating funds from existing local funding sources (e.g., seawall
tax) that are currently not directed toward beach-related programs, and using these
funds to support beach improvements.

- 40 -

Plan Recommendations

1. A new administrative body should be established by the Hancock County Board of
Supervisors to oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the beach and related areas,
and to exercise primary responsibility for implementing the Master Phm

Due to the extent of the Hancock County shoreline between Highwa, 90 and Bayou
y
Caddy, the complexity and diversity of beach-related problems and issues, and the
number of governmental entities with beach-related roles and responsibilities, a
more streamlined and coordinated administrative structure for sand beach affairs
should be established. A Hancock County Beach Commission should be established
and given responsibility for overseeing and coordinating the actions of all agencies
engaged in beach activities. The Commission should also have primary responsibility
for implementing the Master Plan. (See Chapter 5 for more detailed recommendations
regarding establishment of the Beach Commission and the creation of a more
streamlined administrative structure.)

2. A long-range capital improvement program should be prepared to guide
implementation of the Master Plan. The financial base for this program should
rest primarily with local funding sources:

- increased allocations from current seawaU tax revenues and revenues from the
1 1/2 cent per gallon road protection tax should be used to fund recommended
improvements for shore protection and erosion control;

- the Board of Supervisors should consider levying an additional tax in accordance
with County recreation laws to support public recreational development on the
sand beach;

- the Board of Supervisors should consider adding a special sales tax on food,
beverages, and lodging to help finance beach improvements, user facilities, and
tourism promotions; and

- the Board of Supervisors should consider applying user fees where practical to
support beach improvements.

Constructing new facilities, replenishing the beach, and establishing erosion control
measures in accordance with Master Plan recommendations will require taking public
revenues currently applied elsewhere and redirecting some of those revenues to the
sand beach, and/or obtaining additional capital and operating funds from new sources.

Public opinion surveys carried out in the course of the master planning process
(see Appendix C) indicate support for the use of local funding sources in implementing

- 41 -

the Master Plan. The Hancock County TAC conducted a review of state laws
governing the financial resources available to local governments for funding beach
improvements and maintenance. Special attention was given to the legislation
authorizing the seawall and road protection taxes and to other state laws enabling
the transfer of seawall tax revenues for the support of activities and projects not
related to seawall or road protection functions. Based on this review, the TAC
recommended that seawall tax revenues serve as the principal means of financing
shore protection, erosion control, and beach maintenance activities along with
revenues generated from the 1 1/2 cents per gallon gasoline tax for road protection.
The TAC also recommended that the Board of Supervisors discontinue the traditional
practice of using seawall tax revenues to support projects elsewhere in the County
or projects not related to shore protection purposes. (See Chapter 5 for a listing
of potential funding sources and more detailed recommendations regarding the
development of a capital improvements program.)

PART II:

AREA-SPECIFIC PROPOSALS
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

CHAPTER TWO: PLANNING UNITS AND MANAGEMENT
CATEGORIES

This chapter sets forth 14 shoreline "planning units" established for the
purpose of guiding the formulation of area-specific Plan proposals, and
also introduces three basic ,management categories" designating
different intensities of beach use and levels of new facility development.

Category 1: New Facility Development; Activity Center

Category H: New Facility Development; Beach Park

e Category HE Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

- 43

PLANNING UNITS AND MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES

For planning purposes, the study area has been divided into 14 shoreline planning units:
six in Bay St. Louis; and eight in Waveland and the unincorporated area south of
Waveland. Each planning unit represents a separate segment of the shoreline.
Collectively, these individual segments form Hancock County's unique and diverse coastal
environment. Efforts to solve shorefront problems and optimize recreational potentials
should also aim to protect those coastal environmental characteristics which are so much
a part of the County's heritage, character and quality of life.

The 14 planning units cover the entire Hancock County shoreline between Highway 90
and Bayou Caddy. The Master Plan addresses this entire length of shoreline including
those areas where there is currently no sand beach but where beach replenishment could
take place in the future. The Plan also addresses those areas where shore protection
and other planning objectives might be accomplished without the need for beach
replenishment in the near future.

The purpose of designating individual planning units is to focus attention on discrete
geographic areas for which specific policies and management objectives may be
established. These area-specific policies and management objectives are intended to
guide planning and development for beach recreation and shore protection purposes.
(The shorefront planning units are listed in Figure 8, shown in Figures 9-11, and described
in some detail in Chapters 3 and 4.)

For each planning unit, a management category (or categories) and specific management
policies have been formulated. The management categories designate different types
and intensities of recreational use and, where appropriate, indicate where new facilities
for beach users should be located. The management policies address the type, location
and design of new facilities as well as the type of shoreline protection and beach
stabilization measures appropriate for use in the planning unit. Where possible,
recreational facilities, erosion control measures and parking areas are proposed for
construction seaward of the existing seawall in coordination with replenishment of the
sand beach. (See Figure 4.)

FIGURE 4: EXISTING AND POTENTIAL ROAD AND BEACH SECTIONS

Three basic management categories designating different intensities of beach use and
levels of new facility development are applied throughout the planning area:

Category I: This category is applied to selected areas judged suitable for recreational
use supported by new or expanded beach areas and new facilities (pavilions,
restrooms, showers, concession areas, picnic areas, pier, and boat ramps fo
example). To the extent possible, the development of new or expanded parking
facilities should also take place in these areas. The new facilities developed should
support a relatively high intensity of beach use by the general public, including
visitors from outside the County, and should serve to conventrate or focus beach
facilities and services in specific areas, thus creating recreational activity centers.
In areas designated as activity centers, public/private cooperation in the development
and operation of new user facilities should be pursued.

- 45 -

0 Category 11: This category is also applied to selected areas judged suitable for new
or expanded beach use, but on a smaller scale and more moderate intensity than in
the Category I areas. New development in these areas should be limited primarily
to beach expansion and the establishment of new or expanded parking facilities,
and should not include permanent structures such as pavilions, bathrooms, concession
areas, etc. Beach expansion should be designed to create a beach park environment
that serves community recreation needs and may also act as a buffer between
Category I and III areas.

0 Category III: This category is intended to preserve the existing character of
residential neighborhoods and certain undeveloped shoreline areas. In Category III
areas, existing low intensity, neighborhood recreational uses should continue, but
no new user facilities should be developed. In certain areas where parking for
beach use has traditionally taken place, minimal parking improvements (to the extent
possible) should be made. These parking improvements should not expand the existing
parking capacity, however, nor be intended to attract additional users to the area.

Five principal factors have been considered in applying these categories to the individual
planning units: 1) current intensities of beach use; 2) type of adjacent shorefront
development (i.e., residential or commercial); 3) current shorefront zoning; 4) ongoing
County or municipal development plans; and 5) location of existing public right-of-ways.

Implicit in each of the three basic management categories is the establishment of
appropriate shore protection and/or beach stabilization measures. The type of measure
and the amount of beach area covered by these measures will vary depending on the
particular management category in which they are applied. Generally, in Category Il
and III areas where beach replenishment is recommended for recreational and shore
protection purposes, planted dunes should be used to control sand. (See Figure 5.) These
dunes will tend to migrate landward, and a limited amount of maintenance will be
required to stabilize them in desired locations. In Category I areas, where higher-
density recreational activities could interfere with the survivability of stabilizing
vegetation, sand should be relocated at least biennially to reduce wind-caused erosion.
This will involve recontouring of the beach profile by removing accumulated sand from
near the base of the seawall and relocating the sand closer to the water. (See Figure
6.) The movement of sand to prevent a "ramp" being formed at the base of the seawall

- 46

Sand Deposits to be Renvved by Front Endi Loader
and Placed on Beach, as Necessary

Sand Fence
Natural Vegation
to be Encouraged

Sea
6:

NOTE "Breaks in Sand Fences to be Provided at 100 ft
Intervals to Provide Access by Front End Loader

FIGURE 5: BEACH DUNE AND VEGETATION SYSTEM (CATEGORY III AREA)

Sand Removed from in Front of Seawall
and Placed on Outer Part of Beach

Roadway

*.'Seawall

NOTE, A "Wedge" of Sand b) Creation of Depression (Trop) Along
Seawall Base with Material Removed
Placed on Outer Part of Beach
Would Equo I Two Years
of Wind Transport

FIGURE 6: BEACH RECONTOURING TO REDUCE SAND TRANSPORT ONTO ROADWAY

- 47

will be a relatively low cost measure not subject to vandalism. To reduce longshore
sand losses, some of the existing shore-perpendicular structures should be lengthened
and possibly increased in elevation, and additional shore-perpendicular structures should
be added in some locations. (Specific beach stabilization measures are described in
more detail in Part II and Appendix B.) In Category III areas where there is currently
no sand beach and where future beach development is not proposed for shore protection
or recreational purposes, shore protection might be accomplished through seawall
reinforcement, revetments, rip-rap or other measures.

In some planning units, more than one management category has been designated, and
the interspersing of different types of beach use areas - ranging from higher intensity
activity areas to shoreline conservation areas - will create a variety of beach
environments throughout the overall planning area.

In Chapters 3 and 4, each planning unit is addressed separately. A general description
of existing conditions within each planning unit is included, along with a recommended
management category or categories. (The recommended categories are listed in Figure
8 and shown in Figures 9-11.) Specific management objectives and policies are also
recommended. The planning units are listed in geographic order from north to south,
and organized by municipality.

C=C=
PR

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7/7/77rrr

FIGURE 7: TYPICAL RESTROOM AND SHOWER STRUCTURE

- 48 -

FIGURE 8:
SHOREFRONT PLANNING UNITS AND MANAGEMENT CATEG43RIES

Bay S,. Louis

North Beach Blvd. Category III
Ulman Ave. Category 11
Downtown Bay St. Louis Category I
St. Stanislaus Category III
American Legion Pier Category I and 11
Ramaneda/Bay Oaks Category III

Waveland

Bay Oaks/Whispering Pines Category III
Nicholson Ave. Category III
Coleman Ave. Category I and It
St. Clair/Waveland Blvd. Category III
Gulfside Assembly Category III
Buccaneer Park Category I and 11

Unincorpo-ated Area

Clermont Harbor Category III
Bayou Caddy Category III

1*46

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IL

MEMORIAL
CATEGOR

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SCALE:

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RAMANEDA BAY OAKS
j mile mile
CATEGORY III

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CATEGORY M

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-46 -:I_ -'0 \ @:: : --
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-@ULFSJDE ASSEMBLY

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SCALE:

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mile I mile

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RESIDENTIAL I COMMERCIAL

CHAPTER THREE: BAY ST. LOUIS

This chapter includes recommended management policies and development
concepts for each of the following planning units in the City of Bay
St. Louis:

� North Beach Boulevard Planning Unit
� Ulman Avenue Planning Unit
� Downtown Bay St. Louis Planning Unit
� St. Stanislaus Plannning Unit
American Legion Pier Planning Unit
0 Ramaneda / Bay Oaks Planning Unit

New facility development designed to create recreational activity
centers is recommended adjacent to the downtown area and on and
adjacent to the American Legion Pier. Beach park areas are proposed
for the Ulman Avenue area and for the beach south of the American
Legion Pier. Pedestrian linkages are recommended to connect the
Ulman Avenue, downtown, and pier areas.

- 53 -

NORTH BEACH BOULEVARD PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

This exclusively residential planning unit extends from the Highway 90 bridge over St.
Louis Bay to just south of McDonald Avenue. Older, single family homes inland of
Beach Boulevard lend character and atmosphere to this portion of the shoreline in the
City of Bay St. Louis. While a small portion of the shorefront immediately south of
Highway 90 is zoned "Commercial Highway", the remainder of the planning unit is zoned
for residential development. There is a relatively wide stretch of undeveloped and
landscaped shorefront between Beach Boulevard and St. Louis Bay; the several parcels
of land which make up this undeveloped shorefront are in private ownership.

Undeveloped Shorefront Between Beach Blvd. and St. Louis Bay

Management Policies

The shoreline in this planning unit is not designated for beach renourishment or for
recreational facility development. The existing private and undeveloped character of
the shorefront between Beach Boulevard and St. Louis Bay should be maintained.

- 54

ULMAN AVENUE PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
New Facility Development (Beach Park)

Extending from just south of McDonald Avenue to Demontluzin Street and the beginning
of the commercial area of the City of Bay St. Louis, this planning unit includes the
public pier extending into St. Louis Bay at the foot of Ulman Avenue. It was in this
area that a popular municipal beach was constructed in 1967 with material excavated
from the bay bottom during construction of the L & N railroad bridge just to the south.
Hurricane Camille completely eroded this beach in 1969 and also did considerable damage
to Beach Boulevard in this area.

There is currently no beach in this planning unit, and the original seawall, buckled by
Camille, has further deteriorated. Also, land shoreward of the seawall is being eroded
and washed out through the seawall, threatening the integrity of Beach Boulevard. The
elevation of Beach Boulevard in this area, along with the top of the seawall, is greater
than 10 feet above the level of the Bay. Existing parking space for pier users is limited
to the wide shoulder of the beach road at the foot of the Ulman Avenue pier.

411 J
Afto

Beach Blvd. and Entrance to Ulman Ave. Pier

- 55 -

The existing development inland of Beach Boulevard is residential with the exception
of the Reed Nursing Home at the corner of Ulman Avenue. The shorefront zoning is
exclusively residential.

Management Polides

Consistent with plans currently being formulated by the City of Bay St. Louis, the
shorefront in this planning unit should be redeveloped as a municipal neighborhood park.
(See Figure 12.) Fill material could be placed over the existing crumbled seawall in
order to create a new land area which would extend toward the bay. This fill would
be held in place by a new shore protection structure (either a seawall or rip rap
structure). A landscaped park area might then be created on top of the fill at a level
below that of Beach Boulevard. At a still lower level, a small new beach might also
be constructed on both sides of the Ulman Avenue pier. The park area and new beach
so created would provide primarily passive (as opposed to active water sports) recreational
opportunities for people living nearby, and might be linked (via a pedestrian walkway
along Beach Boulevard or a narrow sand beach) to new recreational development adjacent
to the downtown area. (See Downtown Bay St. Louis Planning Unit and Figure 13).

Re-establishment of a narrow sand beach extending south from this planning unit to
the downtown area will require the construction of a new groin in the Ulman Avenue
area extending approximately 200 feet from the shoreline. This groin will serve to
stabilize the replenished beach.

III 11I lilt iiiiii
NEW PARKWAY NIEW BEAC" ILI MIAMM8811144 BOLM
PROMT4 1 MOM OAX MU MANTIM W/ anow a DIMS
UAW"

FIGURE 12: POSSIBLE FUTURE SHORELINE SECTION

- 56 -

DOWNTOWN BAY ST. LOUIS PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
New Facility Development (Activity Center)

The Downtown planning unit extends from Demontluzin Street on the north to the L&N
railroad tracks and includes the shorefront portion of the central business district of
the City of Bay St. Louis. (With the help of the Mississippi Bureau of Marine Resources,
the City of Bay St. Louis intends to carry out an "Urban Waterfront Study" of the
larger downtown area; the purpose of the study being to stimulate economic revitalization
of the downtown based on the creation of waterfront themes and linkages.)

The planning unit falls within the city's "Central Business District" zoning category and
includes some commercial development seaward of Beach Boulevard just north of the
railroad tracks. (This is the only shoreline location where buildings are located between
Beach Boulevard and the seawall.) On the shoreline just north of the railroad bridge is
a tidal wetland and a small sand beach currently not used for recreational purposes.
The seawall throughout the planning unit is in need of repair.

S04
mom

4V,

Beach Blvd. and Downtown Bay St. Louis
(Looking South)

- 57 -

Management Policies

New shorefront recreational facilities should be developed to contribute to downtown
revitalization efforts and the establishment of an "Urban Waterfront" district. A new
beach should be established in this area with linkages to the downtown commercial
center of the city and to the community park/beach area recommended for development
in the Ulman Avenue planning unit. A public boat launching facility could be sited
just north of the RR bridge with access provided by a new roadway passing under the
bridge and connecting with Beach Boulevard just south of the RR tracks. The feasibility
of developing a large (e.g., 400 slip) municipal marina facility north of the RR bridge
along with an extended breakwater and new parking and commercial facilities should
also be evaluated. Development of a large marina in this planning unit should be
considered a long-range development option. (See Figure 13.)

Unused Beach Near
F, Downtown Bay St. Louis
(Looking North Toward
Ulman Ave. Area)

Unused Beach Near
Downtown Bay St. Louis
(Looking South Toward
IWO RR Bridge)

- 58

ST. STANISLAW PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

There is currently no beach in this planning unit which is located between the railroad
tracks and Sycamore Street. On the Mississippi Sound side of Beach Boulevard, the
planning unit contains a relatively wide grass area Oust south of the railroad tracks)
between the roadway and the seawall, the private St. Stanislaus pier, and a tidal wetland
just north of the American Legion Pier. On the inland or west side of Beach Boulevard,
the Lady of the Gulf Church, St. Stanislaus College (actually a private Jr. and Sr. High
School) and some private homes are found.

R
. .... .;I loop,

PoIr

Beach Blvd. and St. Stanislaus College

- 59 -

Management Policies

The shoreline of this planning unit is not designated for large scale beach renourishment
for recreational purposes. On the Mississippi Sound side of Beach Boulevard, however,
a pedestrian linkage should be created to connect the Downtown planning unit with
recreational opportunites provided in the American Legion Pier planning unit. This
linkage could include a landscaped, linear park between the roadway and seawall south
of the RR tracks, and a pedestrian walkway along the seawall adjacent to the wetland
north of the American Legion Pier. (See Figure 13.)

If it is decided to establish a sand beach for shore protection purposes in this area, a
new groin or equivalent structure (extending approximately 200 feet from the shoreline
near the base of Union Street) should be constructed to help retain the sand.

M6@

41z,

AT
.... ... ... ..
Vx

Z I

jM
v@

Open Space Between Roadway and Seawall South of RR Tracks

VETERANS MEMORIAL PIER

rl RESTROOM SHOWER CONCESSION

WETLA DS

PARKING AREAS
RAILROAD BRIDGE

PARKING ON NEW BULKHEAD

MAIN STREET

FISHING VILLAGE

Aw
==agsl a OAK TREE PLANTING

400 SLIPS

-1--HARBOR MASTER & FUEL DOCK
NEW BEACH

11 ril Iflirliffli, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, p 1 1 11 11,111 lp"
T-PUBLIC PIER

GROINS

RENOVATED & EXPANDED PARK

FIGURE 13: DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT & LINKED SHORELINE RECREATION AREAS; BAY ST. LOUIS

- 61 -

AMERICAN LEGION PIER PLANNING UNIT

Management Categories:
New Facility Development (Activity Center)
New Facility Development (Beach Park)

This planning unit contains the only recreational beach area currently found south of
Highway 90 in the City of Bay St. Louis. The planning unit is bounded on the north
by Washington Street and extends southward to the drainage outfall which marks the
southern boundary of the existing sand beach. A small commercial area is located at
Washington Street across Beach Boulevard from the American Legion Pier. With the
exception of this commercial area, the shorefront west of Beach Boulevard is exclusively
residential. All of the shorefront in this planning unit, however, including the commercial
area, is zoned "Residential (Beach)".

The sand beach located south of the American Legion Pier is a popular recreation area.
However, with the exception of the convenience store on the corner of Washington
Street where beach users can buy cold drinks and ice cream, there are no facilities
for beach users.

WN
4 0,1 ta."

MM4
7-

American Legion Pier

- 62 -

There is space available on the Mississippi Sound side of Beach Boulevard for new
facility development - both in the area where the old American Legion building was
once located, and also on the pier which is a large rock structure with an unpaved
roadway on its surface.

The pier, which provides a public boat launch and fishing platform, is technically not a
city facility. It was constructed by the American Legion, and the County is now
responsible for its maintenance. There is room for parking on the pier and on the
seawall side of Beach Boulevard in the Washinaton Street area. Beach users also park
on the public right-of-way in front of the homes on the west side of Beach Boulevard
south of Ballintine Street.

The County District Supervisor maintains the pier and also the beach south of the pier.
Existing maintenance operations, however, are primarily limited to litter and debris
collection. The beach is stabilized somewhat on each end by the American Legion pier
and by the drainage outfall just north of Ramaneda Street.

Sand Beach South of American Legion Pier

- 63 -

Management Polides

This planning unit should be considered a priority area for new recreational facility
development and the construction of an expanded sand beach. (See Figure 14.) Two
separate management categories are designated. The pier itself, and the beach area
immediately south of Washington Street including the former site of the American Legion
building, are designated for Category I new facility development. New facilities to be
considered include a pavilion, restrooms, showers, and a concession and picnic area
designed to support expanded recreational activities for local residents and also visitors
from outside the County. In addition, landscaping and other beautification measures
should be applied to the pier. The new facilities to be developed should be sited so as
not to interfere with the littoral rights of the residential property owners adjacent to
Beach Boulevard.

The stretch of beach fronting the exclusively residential area south of the Washington
Street commercial area and extending to the drainage outfall just north of Ramaneda
Street is designated Category 11. New development in this area should be limited to
an expanded sand beach and new parking facilities on the seaward side of Beach
Boulevard. Beach users should be discouraged from parking alongside Beach Boulevard
in front of the homes south of Ballintine Street.

Replenishment of the sand beach in this planning unit to accomodate expanded
recreational use should require extension and elevation of the drainage outfall just north
of Ramaneda Street to help hold the new beach in place.

-OAK TREE PLANTING

wolw -

0100

@VEGETATED DUNES
BEACH CONCESSION

--WETLANDS

PARKING AREA

RESTROOM / SHOWER / CONCESSION

WIDENED FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING
FISHING PIER -
PAVILION
IMPROVED BOAT LAUNCH DESM
CONSORTM

FIGURE 14: RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY CENTER AND BEACH PARK; AMERICAN LEGION PIER

- 65 -

RAMANEDA/BAY OAKS PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

There is currently little or no beach against the seawall in this planning unit which
extends from the drainage outfall just north of Ramaneda Street to the Bay St.
Louis/Waveland corporate boundary. The existing shorefront development is exclusively
residential and the shorefront properties are all zoned for residential use.

Management Policies

The shoreline in this planning unit is designated for beach replenishment only as necessary
to serve shore protection needs. If a new beach is established for shore protection
purposes in this area, extension and elevation of the drainage outfall near Bay Oaks
Drive will be necessary to stabilize the sand. The area is not designated for new
facility development or increased recreational use, and the existing residential character
of the area should be maintained.

" N

Drainage Outfall and Shoreline Near Ramaneda St.

- 67 --

BAY OAKS/WMSPERING PINES PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood R

This planning unit extends from the Bay St. Louis/Waveland boundary on the north to
the drainage outfall just south of Whispering Pines Road. The beach in this area is
almost totally eroded in the northern part of the planning unit but widens toward the
drainage outfall. Overall, however, the beach is considerably narrower than the! beach
south of the American Legion Pier, and the shoreline is marked by a number of private
piers. The beach is a low intensity use area easily distinguished from the heavily used
Nicholson Avenue beach just to the south.

The shorefront development and zoning in this area are exclusively residential. Although
the beach area is used primarily by local residents, some parking for the nearby Nicholson
Avenue beach does occur in the public right-of-way on the west side of Beach Boulevard,
adjacent to the private homes in this area.

5m,

Private Piers and Narrow Sand Beach

- 68 -

Management Policies

This area is designated for beach replenishment only as necessary to serve shore
protection needs. The area is not designated for new facility development or increased
recreational use. The existing residential character of the area should be maintained.
Where parking for beach use has traditionally taken place alongside Beach Boulevard,
minimal parking improvements should be made to the extent possible.

CHAPTER FOUR: WAVELAND (and unincorporated area)

This chapter includes recommended management policies and development
concepts for each of the following planning units in the City of Waveland
and the unincorporated area to the south:

� Bay Oaks / Whispering Pines
� Nicholson Avenue

Coleman Avenue
0 St. Clair / Waveland Boulevard
Gulfside Assembly
� Buccaneer Park

� Clermont Harbor
� Bayou Caddy

Two recreational activity centers are proposed for development: at the
intersection of Coleman Avenue and Beach Boulevard; and at Buccaneer
Park. Each of these proposed centers would be flanked by beach parks.

- 69 -

NICHOLSON AVENUE PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

Extending from the drainage outfall just south of Whispering Pines Road to the drainage
outfall between Nicholson Avenue and Mollere Drive, this planning unit contains one of
the more intensively used beach areas in the County. The beach here is stabilized
somewhat by two drainage outfalls which act as sand retention structures.

Nicholson Avenue, a direct access route to Highway 90 West to New Orleans, bisects
the planning unit. The beach is a popular recreation area for day trip visitors from
Louisiana who park on the public right-of-way between Beach Boulevard and the
shorefront homes. There are, however, no facilities for beach users. Conflicts between
beach users and beachfront property owners are intense in this planning unit. These
conflicts are caused by litter, noise, traffic, parking and other nuisance problems
associated with high intensity beach use.

The existing shorefront development is exclusively residential, as is the current zoning.

@,A

Sk.

Nicholson Avenue Beach Area

- 70 -

Mmiagement Policies

This area is not designated for new recreational facility development or expanded beach
use. Efforts should be undertaken to discourage the continued high intensity use of
the beach and to redirect beach users to new beach and recreational activity centers
recommended for development in the American Legion Pier, Coleman Avenue, and
Buccaneer Park planning units. The existing residential character of this planning unit
should be maintained. Where parking for beach use has traditionally taken place
alongside Beach Boulevard, minimal parking improvements should be made to the extent
possible.

Extension and elevation of the drainage outfall approximately 1,000 feet to the east
of Nicholson Avenue should help to stabilize beach replenishment that may be necessary
for shore protection purposes.

- 71 -

COLEMAN AVENUE PLANNING UNIT

Management Categories:
New Facility Development (Activity Center)
New Facility Development (Beach Park)

This planning unit extends from the drainage outfall marking the southern boundary of
the Nicholson Avenue planning unit to the drainage outfall just north of St. Clare
School. The shorefront development is primarily residential but commercial development
and commercial zoning are found along Coleman Avenue which intersects Beach Boulevard
in the center of the planning unit. At the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Beach
Boulevard, multi-family residential development is currently under construction. The
Garfield Ladner Memorial Fishing Pier and a smaller, unused rock/pier structure are
also found in this planning unit.

There are no user-related facilities convenient to the sand beach in this area. As in
the Nicholson Avenue area, beach users park alongside Beach Boulevard on the right-
of-way in front of the shorefront homes. Beach maintenance operations are carried out

I 111a4"

MUM

Coleman Avenue Beach Area

- 72

by the County District Supervisor while the City of Waveland is responsible for the
Ladner Pier. The same sorts of conflicts (caused by noise, litter, and parking problems)
between beach users and shorefront property owners exist in this planning unit as in
the Nicholson Avenue area.

The drive along Coleman Avenue toward the shoreline presents a pleasing view of the
Mississippi Sound in the distance, and instills the visitor with a certain sense of
anticipation. Upon arriving at Beach Boulevard, however, this anticipation @is not
realized. There are no water-related facilities other than the underutilized Ladner pier.

City officials have recently expressed an interest in pursuing the development of a
municipal marina in this area. Although the County had once promoted the development
of such a marina further south at Bayou Caddy (see Bayou Caddy Planning Unit), there
appear to be advantages to building a recreational marina in the Coleman Avenue area.
The principal advantages are dredging and dredged material disposal-related. The
Coleman Avenue site is not as near to fishing grounds and deep water as Bayou Caddy,
however, and the proposed development of a marina near Coleman Avenue may raise
objections on the part of some nearby waterfront property owners.

EMU,
OR
WOMME&W
"'Ie
OWN

PIZU,

Coleman Avenue (Looking Toward Mississippi Sound)

- 73

Management Polieies

This planning unit is a priority area for new recreational facility development and the
construction of an expanded sand beach. To help stabilize this beach, the drainage
outfall approximately 800 feet to the east of Mollere Drive should be extended and
elevated. Two separate management categories are designated. The area at the foot
of Coleman Avenue, including the Ladner Pier, the smaller rock/pier structure and the
area between the two piers, is designated for Category I new facility development.
(See Figure 15.) Consistent with plans currently being formulated by the City of
Waveland, new facilities to be considered should include a public marina, pavilion,
restrooms, showers, concession and picnic area. These facilities should be designed to
support expanded recreational activities for local residents and visitors from outside
the County, and should include appropriate linkages to the Coleman Avenue commercial
area inland of Beach Boulevard. New facilities should be sited so as not to interfere
with the littoral rights of the residential property owners adjacent to Beach Boulevard.

The beach areas fronting the exclusively residential areas on each side of the proposed
activity center (south of Coleman Avenue and north of Terrace Street) are designated
for Category II use. New development in these areas should be limited to sand beach
expansion and new parking facilities on the seaward side of Beach Boulevard. Beach
users should be discouraged from parking adjacent to the residential areas alongside

Beach Boulevard.

0@"

Ladner Pier

RESTROOM / SHOWER RESTROOM / SHOWER / CONCESSION

uj MARINA CENTER PARKING CLUSTERS
>
<
z
-PARKING AREA KOAK TREE PLANTING
0

low

VEGETATED GROIN

TOT LOT L-VEGETATED DUNES
GARFIELD LADNER PIER PINE TREE$

NEW BEACH

EXTENDED DRAINAGE STRUCTURE

@-MARINA 150 SLIPS nesm

FIGURE 15: RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY CENTER, MARINA AND BEACH PARK; COLEMAN AVENUE

- 75 -

ST. CLARF,/WAVELAND AVENUE PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

There is currently no beach adjacent to the seawall in this planning unit which extends
from the drainage outfall and private pier just north of St. Clare School to Waveland
Avenue. With the exception of the school, beachfront development is exclusively
residential and the zoning is also exclusively residential.

Shorefront Near St. Clare School

Management Policies

The shoreline in this planning unit is designated for beach replenishment only as necesary
to serve shore protection needs. To help stabilize beach replenishment for shore
protection purposes, a new groin or equivalent structure in the vicinity of Oak Boulevard
should be constructed. The area is not designated for new facility development or
increased recreational use. The existing residential character of the area should be
maintained.

76 -

GULFSIDE ASSEMBLY PLANNING UNIT

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

This planning unit extends from Waveland Boulevard to the Gulfside Assembly entrance.
There are a few private piers in this area and two small "pocket" beaches updrift of
the drainage outfalls near Sears Avenue and Dane Road. The Gulfside Assembly is the
only non-residential development in the planning unit. The zoning is exclusively
residential and the pocket beach areas are used by local residents.

"Pocket" Beaches Near Gulfside Assembly

Management Policies

This area is designated for beach replenishment only as necessary to serve shore
protection needs. Extension and elevation of the drainage outfall just east of Sears
Avenue should help stabilize a replenished beach in this area. The area is not designated
for new facility development or increased recreational use. The existing residential
character of the area should be maintained.

- 77 -

BUCCANEER PARK PLANNING UNIT

Management Categories:
New Facility Development (Activity Center)
New Facility Development (Beach Park)

The Buccaneer Park planning unit is located between the Gulfside Assembly and the
Clermont Harbor area. The planning unit contains four small pocket beach areas located
across Beach Boulevard from the entrances to the Buccaneer State Park. Although
these beaches are small, they are often crowded with park visitors. The beaches are
held in place by three drainage outfalls and a rock pile which function as groynes to
trap sand on their updrift sides.

The park provides picnic and camping facilities and also a wave pool which is especially
popular with visitors from outside the County (particularly from New Orleans) who arrive
by the busload on summer weekends. Income generated by the wave pool and associated
food concession has made Buccaneer Park the largest revenue producer of all the state
parks in Mississippi.

Entrance to Buccaneer State Park

Small Beach and Wetland Near Buccaneer Park

There are actually two park areas, separated by a large expanse of tidal marsh, on the
inland side of Beach Boulevard. -The first area, close to the Gulfside Assembly, contains
a picnic pavilion and some camping facilities. The second, larger area, contains the
wave pool, a large parking lot, picnic facilities and a more extensive camping area.
This larger area is separated from the Clermont Harbor planning unit by another large
expanse of marsh. The park is served by municipal sewer and water lines which run
along Beach Boulevard.

There is no residential development in this planning unit and, with the exception of
the park area, much of the land area inland of Beach Boulevard is tidal marsh.

Tidal Marsh Inland of Beach Blvd. Near Buccaneer Park

- 79 -

Mmiagement Policies

This planning unit should be considered a priority area for construction of an expanded
and continuous sand beach which would allow the development of new recreational
facilities seaward of the seawall. (See Figure 16.) Two separate management categories
are designated. The beach area near the entrance to the wave pool is designated for
Category I new facility development. New facilities to be considered include a pavilion,
pier, restrooms, showers, and a concession area designed to create a high use activity
center. This activity center should be designed to support expanded use by local
residents and also visitors from outside the County. The opportunity for County/local/
state cooperation in the financing, construction and management of such a facility
should be pursued. For example, the feasibility of the State Parks Commission operating
the activity center for both park visitors and other beach users should be evaluated,

The shoreline on both sides of the new activity center is designated Category 11. New
development in these areas should include sand beach expansion and new parking facilities
on the seaward side of Beach Boulevard.

Concurrent with beach replenishment for recreational use in this planning unit, existing
drainage outfalls in the following locations should be extended and elevated to help
hold the expanded beach in place:

- adjacent to Buccaneer Park picnic pavilion and camping area just east of entrance
to Wave Pool;
- approximately 1600 feet to the west of entrance to Wave Pool;
- approximately 2800 feet to the west of entrance to Wave Pool; and
- approximately 4000 feet to the west of entrance to Wave Pool.

- 82

Unincorporated Area
Bayou Caddy Planning Unit

Management Category:
Conservation - Neighborhood Recreation

There is currently no beach in this curving stretch of shoreline between Poinset Street
and the Bayou Caddy Commercial Fishing Harbor. In this area the Hancock County
seawall is lowest in elevation above sea level and serves as a platform for recreational
fishing. Most of the land area shoreward of Beach Boulevard is marsh although a few
small cottages are located near Lakeshore Road, and there is parking space for
recreational fishermen alongside the roadway.

Plans are currently being pursued by the Mississippi Bureau of Marine Resources and
Hancock County to expand and enhance the Bayou Caddy Commercial Fishing Harbor.
Some of the difficulties associated with enhancement of the harbor, however, include
the poor quality of material to be dredged, the lack of a nearby disposal area, and the
lack of municipal utilities serving the site.

MR "AWON
"J'C

"Ap

Are,

Hancock County Seawall Near Bayou Caddy

- 83 -

Management Policies

This area is not designated for beach replenishment or for new recreational facility
development. Shore protection measures should allow continued use of the shorefront
in this area for recreational fishing purposes. Accordingly, a sand beach should not
be established in this area and an alternative measure (a sloping rock revetment, for
example) should be employed to protect this area from waves and high water. Parking
improvements along Beach Boulevard should be undertaken to serve the needs of
recreational fishermen.

@Jk
... . ....... .
Bayou Caddy Commercial Fishing Harbor

PART III:

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

CHAPTER FIVE: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

This Chapter contains recommended strategies for implementing the
Sand Beach Master Plan. The recommendations address:

0 Administrative Organization and Responsibilities, including the
establishment of a new Hancock County Sand Beach Commission.

Implementation Priorities.

0 Potential Funding Sources, emphasizing increased alloeations of
seawall and road protection tax revenues for beach maintenance
and erosion control.

-85-

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As described earlier, there are several governmental entities currently exercising
administrative and operational roles and responsibilities affecting the Hancock County
shoreline. By law, the Hancock County Board of Supervisors exercises primary control
over beach operations, and the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland also conduct beach-
related activities in certain areas. Implementation of the Master Plan for Shorefront
Protection and Utilization will require coordinated efforts on the part of the County
and the cities, as well as the involvement of the State Parks Commission and the Bureau
of Marine Resources at the state level, and the Corps of Engineers at the federal level.

Recommended Administrative Structure

Implementation of the far-reaching recommendations and proposals contained in the
Master Plan will require the establishment of a more streamlined and coordinated
structure for adminstration of beach-related affairs. (See Plan Recommendations for
Administration and Financing in Chapter 1.) The County should assume a lead role in
Plan implementation, but the affected municipalities must also play a major role, and
individual Plan components must be planned, designed, and constructed in a manner
consistent with local zoning and other applicable regulations. The f ive Plan
recommendations discussed below are directed toward the establishment of a new
administrative structure under the auspices of a new Hancock County Sand Beach
Commission.

1. Establish Memorandum of Agreement between the Board of Supervisors, Municipalities
and the State Parks Commission Regarding Participation in Implementing Beach
Improvements.

This memorandum will formalize the roles to be played by the County, the
participating cities and the State Parks Commission in implementing the Plan. The
document should signify adoption of the Plan as policy by the signatory bodies,
should stipulate specific activities and financial commitments to be made, and should
define responsibilities regarding construction within jurisdictional boundaries,
manpower commitments, and maintenance responsibilities for new facilities to be
built.

-86-

2. Establish a Hancock County Sand Beach Commission.

In order to effectively implement all elements of the Master Plan, a degree of
inter-governmental and inter-agency coordination not previously experienced with
regard to sand beach affairs will be required. An institutional mechanism to assure
coordination among ongoing beach-related activities, as well as new activities
envisioned by the Plan, is needed. Implementation of the Plan will require a variety
of coordinating activities that can best be handled by one group with the multi-
governmental representation and overall responsibility necessary for centralizing
the administration of all beach operations.

A new administrative body - the Hancock County Sand Beach Commission - should
therefore be established by the Hancock County Board of Supervisors to ov(arsee
day-to-day maintenance of a renourished and expanded beach and to exercise primary
responsibility for implementation of the Master Plan. The Commission should consist
of representatives from Bay St. Louis and Waveland; each Mayor and District
Supervisor should appoint a member to the Commission, and the terms of each
member should be staggered to maintain continuity. The Commission should be
responsible for overseeing and coordinating all actions of local, state and federal
agencies on matters pertaining to the sand beach and related areas.

Specific activities of the Commission should include, but not be limited to:

� Preparation and review of annual capital improvement plans for facilities
development to ensure consistency with priorities established in the Plan.

� Coordination of local, state, federal, and private funding sources.

� Review of designs for new facilities to ensure conformance with the Plan and
with local regulations.

� Coordination with the State Parks Commission, Corps of Engineers, Bureau of
Marine Resources, and other governmental bodies regarding beach replenishment,
erosion control, new facility development, and other aspects of Plan
implementation.

Review and approval of bids for concessions.

� Promotion of public awareness.

� Direction and coordination of sand beach and facilities maintenance operations.

-87-

0 Monitoring overall progress of Plan implementation.

0 Working with the private sector to develop joint public-private ventures for
funding and maintenance of facilities.

3. Establish a County Beach Maintenance Department

The County should establish a new department with specific responsibilities for
maintaining a renourished and expanded sand beach, as well as new recreational
facilities. This department should have its own budget and report to the Sand
Beach Commission. The cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland should also contribute
to beach and facility maintenance in specific areas designated as recreational
activity centers. The Mississippi State Parks Commission should contribute to beach
and facility maintenance efforts near Buccaneer State Park. The Beach Commission
should coordinate County, city and state maintenance efforts in accordance with
responsibilities established in the Memorandum of Agreement.

4. Assign Beach Replenishment Responsibilities to the New Beach Commission.

Replenishment of the sand beach is an integral part of the Master Plan and ties
in closely with both erosion control and recreational facility improvement.
Consequently, to insure that replenishment is accomplished in compliance with the
Plan, the Beach Commission should work with the Corps of Engineers regarding
beach replenishment studies and projects, and all future beach replenishment programs
should be overseen by the Commission.

5. Establish Erosion Control Task Force.

Erosion control measures recommended in the Plan for stabilizing a renourished
sand beach include a sophisticated arrangement of stabiliz ,ing structures, dunes, and
vegetation plantings designed to hold sand. The County should establish an Erosion
Control Task Force to oversee and supervise actual dune construction, placement
of sand fencing, establishment of vegetation and construction of stabilizing
structures. The Task Force should consist of representatives from the following

-88-

agencies which have indicated their support for an erosion control program:

Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, Plant Materials Cel.'Iter
Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Mississippi/Alabama Sea Grant Advisory Service
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District
Hancock County Civil Defense
Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District

IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES

Part II outlined a number of area-specific proposals and recommendations for recreational
facilities and erosion control measures in each of 14 shorefront planning units. When
considered in total, these proposals and recommendations represent a long-range Plan
for beach development and shore protection. This Plan will require a number of years
for implementation and should ultimately result in a beach environment quite different
in both appearance and function from the environment which currently exists. Given
the high costs of full implementation and the major changes in beach environment
envisioned, development of Plan proposals should proceed in several phases. The phased
approach is necessary because of the initially limited availability of funds for
implementation and because of the need for demonstrating the successful operation of
basic plan concepts on a relatively small scale at first, then gradually developing a
broad, solid base of public support for full implementation.

Two Plan implementation phases should be established, based on the identification of
projects for: (1) Immediate Action; and (2) Longer-Term Action. Unit costs f or key
facility components and erosion control measures have been estimated, and sources of
funds for some individual projects are recommended.

Phase One: Immediate Aetion

Phase One activities should be initiated as soon as possible following adoption of the
Master Plan. The immediate action activities should consist of:

0 Emergency roadway repairs to Beach Boulevard.
0 Beach replenishment (with erosion control and shore protection measures) in Category
II and III areas requiring emergency shore protection.
0 Beach replenishment (with erosion control) for enhanced recreation in Category I
areas.
0 Recreational facility development in Category I areas in coordination with selected
plans pending implementation by municipalities.
0 Recreational facility planning and development in the Buccaneer Park area in
coordination with the Mississippi State Parks Commission.

Beach Replenishment

As noted earlier, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the early stages of conducting
a feasibility study for erosion control and beach replenishment assistance. The time
frame for completion of the draft feasibility study is December, 1986; a final draft
should be completed by April, 1987; and final COE recommendations can be expected
by October, 1987. If the project receives a positive recommendation from the Chief of
the Engineers, then the project will be sent to the sponsoring Congressional Committee
for authorization and appropriation. Congressional authorization might follow one
legislative session or require several depending on the mood of Congress, the total cost
of the project compared to its benefits, and Hancock County's committment of matching
funds. In any event, given the schedule for completion of the feasibility study, a imajor,
federally funded beach replenishment effort can not be initiated before 1988, fit the
earliest.

Beach Erosion Control Measures

In conjunction with extensive beach replenishment, it will be necessary to implement
sand conservation measures to stabilize and thereby prolong the life of the renourished
beach. This will include the upgrading of several shore-perpendicular structures to
control longshore sand losses and the implementation of measures (e.g., relocation of
sand across the beach profile and dune stabilization by vegetation and fencing) to limit
wind-blown sediment. Stabilization of the placed sand will require the construction of
several new structures, such as groins or their equivalent, and the lengthening of existing
structures as described in Chapters 3 and 4.

In addition to shore-perpendicular structures for the reduction of sand losses caused by
longshore sediment transport, the control of wind-blown sand on an expanded sand beach
can be accomplished either by mechanical relocation of sand soundward on a biennial
basis or by establishment of vegetated dunes (possibly in combination with sand fel,'Icing).
Minimum initial and annual maintenance costs for vegetated dunes are estimated at
$3.00 and $1.00 per foot, respectively. These cost estimates should be refined based
on the experience of the test plantings currently being evaluated on the Harrison County
beaches. If those test plantings demonstrate good survivability and minimal vandalism
problems, then it is recommended that vegetated dunes be established in appropriate

_91-

Category II and III areas where an expanded sand beach is recommended for shore
protection purposes.

Figure 17 summarizes recommended shore protection and erosion control measures
associated with large-scale beach replenishment for shore protection and recreational
development. (Not all of these measures will be implemented in Phase One.)

Recreational Facilities

Recommendations for recreational facility development to be implementated in Phase
One include:

Planning, design and construction of recreational facilities (e.g., pavilion, restrooms,
showers, picnic areas, and concession) in the Category I area of the American
Legion Pier planning unit.
� Planning, design and construction of recreational facilities in the Coleman Avenue
Category I area, in coordination with plans being formulated by the City of Waveland.
� Planning, design and construction of recreational facilities for the Category I area
of Buccaneer Park (e.g., pavilion, pier, restrooms, showers, boardwalks, concession
area).

Figure 18 lists potential funding sources for these recreational development activities.
Estimated unit costs for the development of recreational and supporting facilities are
shown in Figure 19, and Figure 20 illustrates a sample total project cost based on unit
cost estimates. Because the sites marked for development along the shoreline vary,
and because the size and configuration of particular facilities will vary, preparation of
detailed designs for each site should be the first step in the implementation process.
After detailed designs are completed, more specific cost estimates should be prepared.

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FIGU RE 17:

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED SHORE PROTECTION
AND BEACH EROSION CONTROL MEASURES

Type of Activity Est. Cost

1. Beach replenishment; design beach 200 feet wide; $[To be determined]
crest elevation 5 feet above mean sea level.

2. Beach replenishment as necessary for shore
protection purposes in Category III areas. [To be determined)

3. Construction of new structures for stabilization
of placed sand (groins or equivalent structures):

- Ulman Ave. Planning Unit: 200-foot groin
at the base of McDonald Ave. $ 40,000

- St. Stanislus Planning Unit: 200-foot groin
near the base of Union St. 30,000

- St. Clare/Waveland Ave. Planning Unit:
300-foot groin in the vicinity of Oak Blvd. 35,000

4. Lengthening and elevating existing structures:
projections of 300 feet from seawall; crest $5,000 - 15,001)
elevations of 5-6 feet: per structure

- American Legion Pier Planning Unit: drainage
outfall just north of Ramaneda St.

- Ramaneda/Bay Oaks Planning Unit: drainage
outfall near the base of Bay Oaks Drive

- Nicholson Ave. Planning Unit: drainage
outfall approx. 1,000 feet east of
Nicholson Ave.

- Coleman Ave. Planning Unit: drainage
outfall approx. 800 feet east of Mollere Dr.

- St. Clare/Waveland Ave. Planning Unit:
Drainage outfall just east of Sears Ave.

- Buccaneer Park Planning Unit: Drainage outfalls
- adjacent to Picnic Pavilion & Camping Area
- just east of entrance to Wave Pool
- approx. 1,600 ft. west of entrance to Wave Pool
- approx. 2,800 ft. west of entrance to Wave Pool
- approx. 4,000 ft. west of entrance to Wave Pool

5. Mechanical relocation of sand Soundward on a biennal
basis in Category I High Use Activity Areas

6. Vegetated dunes in Category II and III areas $120,000 (initial.)
45,000 (annual)

-93-

FIGURE 18:

IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE ONE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Planning Unit Type of Activity Source of Funds

American Legion Pier Category I: Planning design Road Protection & Seawall
(Bay St. Louis) and construction of re- Taxes
creational facilities. County District 4
City of Bay St. Louis
County Recreation Fund

Coleman Ave. Category 1: Design of Road Protection & Seawall
(Waveland) recreational facilities Taxes
and parking site plans County District 1
in coordination with City City of Waveland
of Waveland's plans for County Recreation Fund
recreational development.

Buccaneer Park Category 1: Design of Road Protection & Seawall
(Waveland) recreational facilities Taxes
and parking site plan in County District 1
coordination with MS State City of Waveland
Park Commission. MS State Parks Commission
County Recreation Fund

..94-

FIGURE 19: UNIT COSTS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Structures

All wood; built to local and federal
standards for structures In beach zone
subject to hurricane force storms; handi-
capped access where required.

Picnic shelters
201 x 201; concrete floor $10,000 each

Play area
Incl. play equipment and low curb $15,000 - 25,000 each

Restroom/Showers
In street right-oF-way; elevated
for storm protection; handicapped
access; utilities under highway by
others; 201 x 301 $40,000 each

Temporary Restroom
4-stall unit; enclosure to coor-
dinate with other design elements $ 5,000 each

Rest room/show er/conc ession
In high-use areas; utilities under
highway by others; 301 x 401 $110,000 each

Major Facilities
Res troom/sho wers/concessions &
restaurant; joint public-private

Pedestrian Walkways

Concrete sidewalk
61 wide, placed on grade $ 11/lin.ft.
101 wide, placed on grade $ 18/lin.ft.

Boardwalk
TO_1-w`ird-e, elevation less than 61 $200/lin.f t.
101 wide, elevation 101 $250/lin.ft.

Plank dc cable walk through dunes
TOF _wOr d- _e $ 40/lin.ft.
Control rail $ 7/11n.ft.
Graphics (re:dune protection) $100 each

--------------

-95-

FIGURE 19: (Continued)

Parking Areas

Parking at 900 angle to Beach Blvd.
Asphalt with signs,
wheel stops, meters
Each 20 spaces $8,000

Opportunity area north of seawall
Asphalt on sand with pa-rEir-n-gmeters,
signs, and 8 x 8 wood post and rail.
Base of 60 spaces $70,000
Each additional 20 spaces $20,000

Parking south of seawall
Asphalt on sand With-parking meters,
signs, and 8 x 8 post and rail.
Base of 60 spaces $85.000
Each additional 20 spaces $20,000

Plantings*

Live oak trees
Ve-p-en-d-irn-g on size $ 100-300 each

Palm trees on beach
Depending on size $ 200-300 each

Small flowering trees
Depending on size $ 100-200 each

Shrubs
Depending on size $ 15-40 each

Pine tree group
T
Te-
yp al mass 76 plants
(3001 x 501 planted) $ 3,500-4,500
Prices i'nclude maintenance until plants
are established. Some demolitian may be
required for oak tree planting in some areas.

-96-

FIGURE 20:

COST ESTIMATE FOR A TYPICAL CATEGORY I
BEACH RECREATION AREA

Parking Area (south of seawall 200 spaces) $ 90,000
Restroom/showers/concessions (1200 sq. ft.) 90,000
Pavilions (400 sq. ft.) 10,000
10 Sun Shelters 5,000
Beach Playground 15,000
Landscaping 10P000
Erosion Control 5,000
Other Equipment 10,000
Contingency 15,000
Est. Total Cost $250,000

Phase Two: Longer-Term Action

Longer-term activities should affect all of the planning units, and should address the
desired long-term future of the sand beach in a manner which optimizes the economic
and recreational opportunities of the beach. Phase Two could include expansion of
Phase One projects, as well as other activities made possible as a result of a major
beach replenishment project.

Phase Two activities should be initiated as soon as funds are available and in accordance
with public attitudes following implementation of the Immediate Action Program. Specific
Phase Two activities should include:

� Expansion of erosion control measures to all Category III areas.
� Recreational facility development in selected areas identified for beach improvements
in the downtown Bay St. Louis area.
� Design and construction of recreational facilities in Category II areas (Ulman Avenue,
American Legion Pier, Coleman Avenue, and Buccaneer Park).

Figure 21 summarizes recreational facilities recommended for development in Phase! Two.

-97-

FIGURE 21:

IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE TWO
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Planning Unit Type of Activity Source of Funds

Ulman Ave. Category 11: design and Road Protection & Seawall
(Bay St. Louis) construction of recreational Taxes
facilities in coordination County District 3
with plans for a municipal City of Bay St. Louis
neighborhood park. County Recreation Fund

Downtown Bay St. Louis Category 1: development of Road Protection & Seawall
(Bay St. Louis) recreational facilities in Taxes
coordination with Urban County District 5
Waterfront redevelopment City of Bay St. Louis
plans. County Recreation Fund
Community Development
Block Grant

American Legion Pier Category II: design and Road Protection & Seawall
(Bay St. Louis) construction of new parking Taxes
facilities for expanded County District 4
beach area. City of Bay St. Louis
County Recreation Fund

Coleman Ave. Category 11: design and Road Protection & Seawall
(Waveland) construction of new parking Taxes
facilities for expanded County District 1
beach area. City of Waveland
County Recreation Fund

Buccaneer Park Category 11: design and Road Protection & Seawall
(Waveland) construction of new parking Taxes
facilities for expanded County District 1
beach area. City of Waveland
County Recreation Fund
MS State Park Commission

-98-

POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES

Constructing new facilities, replenishing the beach, and establishing erosion control
measures in accordance with Master Plan recom mendat ions, will require increased levels
of funding for sand beach activities. Increasing existing funding levels will require
taking some public revenues currently applied to programs not related to the sand beach
and redirecting those revenues toward the beach, as well as obtaining additional capital
and operating funds from new sources.

The potential of a number of local, state, and federal funding sources for contributing
to implementation of the Master Plan has been evaluated. As noted in Chapter 1 (see
Plan Recommendations for Administration and Financing), local funding sources have
been chosen to form the financial base for implementing the Master Plan.

The basic recommendations for financing implementation of the Master Plan are as
follows:

0 Revenues from the special 3 cents/gallon tax on gasoline (seawall tax) and the li
cents/gallon road protection tax should be the principal sources of funding for all
shore protection and beach maintenance activities.

0 The Board of Supervisors should consider levying a special tax in accordance with
County recreation laws to support public recreational development.

0 The development of public/private partnerships should be pursued to aid in the
financing of new recreational facilities.

0 Beach user fees should be applied where practical to help defray construction,
operation, and maintenance costs for recreational facilities and erosion control
measures.

0 The Board of Supervisors should consider adding a special sales tax on food,
beverages and lodging to help finance beach improvements and user facilities.

State and federal funding sources should also be utilized in the financing of beach
improvements.

_99-

Potential Local Funding Sources

As noted earlier, funding sources for some of the existing beach-related activities
carried out by local government entities are authorized by specific state statutes. A
review of these statutes has revealed opportunities for financing beach improvements
in Hancock County. The following sections describe potential local funding sources as
authorized by specific chapters of the Mississippi Code.

Chapter 9 - County Park System

The five-member Hancock County Park Commission has full authority and responsibility
to develop, operate and maintain any or all of the County's recreational resources and
facilities. The County Park Commission may hire employees, collect fees for park use,
and operate or lease concessions (MSS Code Sections 55-9-83 and 55-9-85). This
Commission can join with other commissions, municipalities or authorities in establishing,
maintaining and operating any public park or recreational facility and can accept funds
from any source and levy up to 2 mills to accomplish these purposes. Because of the
recreational functions which a renourished beach would provide, it would be possible
to consider managing the entire sand beach operation, including maintenance of shore
protection functions, as a County park and recreation system. The Board of Supervisors
can levy a 2 mill County-wide tax and can allocate all or a portion of that collected in
the municipalities for recreational improvements on the beach for the benefit of municipal
residents.

Chapter 11 - County Port and Harbor Commission and
Chapter 9 - County Port Authority or Development Commission

Through the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission (PHC), the Board of Supervisors
has the authority to replenish County sand beaches (Section 59-9-21) by the issuance
of general obligation bonds, or the Board of Supervisors may apply, for beach
replenishment purposes, any funds made available to the Port and Harbor Commission.
It has been suggested that if tourism is designated an "industry" under the definitions
cited in MSS Code Section 55-9-5, then County funds designated for PHC use for
industrial development purposes could be used to finance beach recreational facilities.
Under current law, however, replenishment and the development and maintenance of

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harbors appear to be the only beachfront-related projects for which Port and Harbor
Commission funds may be applied.

Chapter 33 - Sea Walls

The five member Board of Supervisors has broad powers under this statute to erect,
improve and maintain all necessary shore and road protection structures (MSS Code
Section 65-33-1). Numerous methods of financing are also authorized under this Chapter
to implement shore and road protection structures. The Board of Supervisors may issue
general obligation or revenue bonds, borrow, collect fees and tolls, assess ad valorem
taxes, levy automobile privilege license taxes, levy and collect motor vehicle license
taxes, borrow money on the full faith and credit of the County, levy and collect gasoline
excise taxes, and receive state and federal aid.

About 1928, the Board of Supervisors enacted a 3 cents per gallon special County tax
(seawall tax) on gasoline to pay for the c6nstruction of the Hancock County seawall.
After the original seawall construction bonds were retired, the seawall tax was continued
and revenues from this tax, as well as surplus County funds, were used for debt service
on the County's Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis Industrial Airport. As a
result, the total seawall tax revenues available for shore protection and maintenance
purposes were reduced. This allocation of seawall tax revenues for purposes other than
shore protection is allowed by various statutes, under certain conditions as stated in
MSS Code Section 59-9-53 and 59-9-57. (Recent seawall tax collections are shown in
Table 1.)

The potential funding sources and options available for industrial development projects
are as numerous as those available for shore protection purposes, but have not been as
fully utilized. For industrial development. purposes, the Board of Supervisors can issue
bonds, borrow, assess taxes, collect fees and apply the proceeds from sale of lands or
operation of industrial parks (MSS Code 1972, Section 59-9-53). However, because of
the available surplus revenues traditionally generated by the seawall tax, revenue sources
established specifically for industrial development purposes have not been utilized.
These other sources should be utilized in order for additional seawall tax revenUE!S to
be available for shore protection purposes.

-101-

Table 2 shows the debt service requirements for retiring the construction bonds on the
Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis Airport. There is a current outstanding
balance of $1,808,000, but by the end of 1993 the bonds will be completely retired if
collections remain as expected and continue to be applied in the same manner. However,
these funds should be available much sooner if the Board of Supervisors applies all or
a portion of available industrial development revenues and proceeds estimated at $2
million (MSS code of 1972 Section 59-9-53) to the retirement of the two major bond issues.

Table 1:

Annual Collections from
3* Speeial Tax (Seawall) on Gasoline

Year Amount

1978 266,882
1979 301,658
1980 274,964
1981 297,362
1982 336,924
1983 350,477
1984 340,789

Source: Mississippi Motor Vehicle Comptroller, 1986.

-102-

Table 2:
Bond Payment Schedule Summary
Port Harbor Bond & Interest Sinking Fund

Year Principal & Interest

1986 213,000
1987 223,000
1988 233,000
1989 248,000
1990 258,000
1991 258,000
1992 175,000
1993 200,000

1994 - 0-

Chapter 13 Harbor Improvements by Coast Counties

This Chapter authorizes the Board of Supervisors to use and expend funds from the sale
of bonds to develop and improve public harbors, breakwaters, docks, and recreational
centers, and to purchase land and rights-of-way as necessary (MSS Code Section 59-13-1).

Chapter 15 - Small Craft Harbors

Under this Chapter, any municipality which has a population of 10,000 or more may be
authorized to acquire land, harbor sites, and waterfrontage for the purpose of establishing,
operating and controlling harbors and recreational parks. The municipality can accept
grants, charge fees, lease and also levy sufficient millage in connection with the issuance
of bonds for the specified purposes.

-103-

Chapter 37 - Streets, Parks and Other Public Property

The governing authority of any municipality may own, operate and regulate piers,
pavilions, bathhouses, etc. for public recreational purposes through the use of streets
or public landings or the procurement of same (MSS Code Section 27-37-13).

Ad Valorem

In Hancock County, a 1 mill Ad Valorem tax on the assessed County-wide valuation
would generate approximately $125,000.

Potential State Sources of Revenue

Bureau of Marine Resources

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation, Bureau of Marine Resources
administers several grant programs (available for coastal planning as well as construction
purposes), including those authorized by various sections of the Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972, as amended.

Potential Federal Funding Sources

Several federal programs have also been identified as potential funding sources for
beach improvements and recreational facilities. The availability of funds through some
of these programs could, however, be significantly curtailed by recent Administration
proposals to reduce the federal deficit.

Economic Development Administration Programs

The Economic Development Administration provides grants for development facilities
(public works) under Title I of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of
1965. Hancock County is located in an EDA-designated Redevelopment Area. Projects
for funding are judged by estimated employment increases relative to the size of the
grant. The EDA also requires a demonstration of feasibility for all proposed projects.

-104-

Docking facilities designed to stimulate the tourist industry are considered as project
activities eligible for EDA public works grant assistance.

Community Development Block Grants

Under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1.974, the Community Development
Block Grant program allocates grants to urban areas. These grants can be used to
fund facilities and infrastructure planned to support economic development.

Urban Mass Transit Administration Programs

The Urban Mass Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, administers
a program of grants for mass transportation projects under Section 9 of the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964. This program provides for grants of up to 80% of eligible
planning costs, and in some cases 50% of any net deficit operating costs. Funds are
allocated by state, and within the state among specific areas. A proposed project must
be described in an application to the UMTA Regional Office, and must be listed and
described in an area plan for urban mass transit. A private developer or other private
enterprise entity can operate the service under agreement with the grantee.

Land and Water Conservation Fund

Recreation grants are available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund
administered by the National Parks Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Funds granted under this program can be used on a 50% local matching basis for
acquisition of land for park or recreational use and for recreational facilities, including
elements of pleasure-craft marina facilities. The Bureau of Recreation and Parks,
Mississippi Department of Natural Resources, administers the Land and Water
Conservation Fund at the state level. Final project approval rests with the Atlanta
Regional Office of the National Parks Service.

NOAA/Fish & Wildlife Service Program

This program is administered jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
and is authorized under the Fish Restoration and Management Act (the "Dingell-Johnson

-105-

Act"), as recently amended by the "Wallop-Breaux" Act. Funds from this program may
be used to support recreational fishing development and can be used to construct piers,
boat ramps, and other supporting facilities. Under the program, pooled proceeds from
specific excise taxes are collected by the federal government and allocated to state
governments on a formula basis, requiring a state match of 25% of the federal funds
in each state. Under the amendment, more tax proceeds are available, the funding pool
larger, and marine (salt water) fisheries resources and users are eligible.

.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

As described in Chapter 1 and Appendix A, the Corps of Engineers has recently completed
a Reconnaissance Report recommending that a study of the Hancock County Shoreline
be conducted to determine the feasibility of establishing a federal shore protection
project. The Feasibility Study, which will be funded by the Corps (50%) and by Hancock
County (50% matching funds), will make recommendations regarding the need for, and
costs of, beach replenishment and other shore protection measures.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A:

HISTORY OF BEACH AND SEAWALL CONSTRUCTION

A - 1

HISTORY OF BEACH AND SEAWALL CONSTRUCTION

[Note: The information contained in this Appendix is taken largely from three sources:
(1) the draft Phase I Survey Report on Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection
for Shores of Mississipp'l (Hancock County) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1974;
(2) "Shoref-ront Rehabilitation, a Proposed Plan of Action for Hancock County, Miss."
prepared by Gulf Regional Planning Commission and Southern Mississippi Planning and
Development District, September 1983; and (3) the National Shoreline Study, Regional
Inventory Report, South Atlantic - Gulf Region, U.S. Army Engineer Division, South
Atlantic Corps of Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia. The Corps of Engineers, Mobile District
has recently completed a reconnaissance study of the Hancock County shoreline in
preparation for studying the feasibility of a federal shore protection project, but this
reconnaissance study is not yet available for public review.]

Baekground

Historically, shoreline erosion has caused significant problems in Hancock County. Over
the years, incessant wind and wave action, flooding, inadequate drainage, beach erosion,
and occasional hurricanes have caused millions of dollars in damage, limited economic
growth, and presented life threatening situations to the people of Hancock County. The
existing seawall and sand beach, as well as Beach Boulevard which runs alongside the
seawall, have deteriorated significantly as a result of these natural forces.

Hancock County has no coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. The County's Mississippi
Sound shoreline is protected by Cat Island and by the islands of the Louisiana marshes.
The eastern boundary of Hancock County's coastal region is a center line through St.
Louis Bay, one of the two inland bays on the Mississippi coast. The north shore of the
bay, from the Harrison-Hancock County boundary to the mouth of the Jourdan River,
is entirely marsh. Most of the County's eastern coast, from near the mouth of the
Jourdan River to the mouth of Bayou Caddy, is protected by 11.5 miles of seawall built
piecemeal between 1915 and 1928, and by an originally 6-mile long sand beach pumped
into place along the Mississippi Sound side of the seawall in early 1967. A paved road
(Beach Boulevard) immediately behind the seawall connects the various shoreline
communities. At Bayou Caddy there is an abrupt change in topography. From Bayou
Caddy westward the Hancock County coastal area is flat, drainage is poor, and the
shoreline is almost entirely low salt marsh broken by numerous bayous and streams.

With the exception of a mile of school property, the entire Hancock County shoreline
is privately owned.

A - 2

Hancock County's 1980 population of 24,537 makes it the least populous of Mississippi's
three coastal counties. Much of the population is concentrated near the coastal area
from Bay St. Louis to Bayou Caddy. Considerable residential development has taken
place in the County in recent years, particularly since the NASA Mississippi Test Facility
was constructed. The coast westward from Bayou Caddy is undeveloped.

In past years, development in Hancock County has not kept pace with development in
the two other Mississippi coastal counties. The area from Highway 90 to Bayou Caddy
is appreciated to continue to develop as a residential area, while future development
of the marshy shoreline westward of Bayou Caddy is unlikely.

Existing Shore Protection Works

The principal shore protection structure in Hancock County is the 11.5-mile seawall
constructed by local interests between the Jourdan River and Bayou Caddy. The existing
seawall consists of a variety of wall types and configurations. Between 1915 and 1920,
the City of Bay St. Louis, together with St. Stanislaus College, built a series of seawalls
5,500 feet in length to protect the city's main business district. Another series of
step-type seawalls was constructed by the County between 1926 and 1928. The total
cost of original construction of these seawalls was approximately $850,000. The adjoining
roadway (Beach Boulevard) was initially constructed as a 24-foot double lane concrete
structure, costing approximately $350,000.

The seawall sections constructed by the City of Bay St. Louis include three sections
of step-type walls and five varieties of upright concrete walls. The seawalls constructed
by the County are reinforced concrete step-type slabs supported at the heel by reinforced
concrete piling and at the toe by a curtain wall of interlocking concrete piles. Top
elevations of both series of seawalls vary according to backshore elevations, and range
from 2.78 feet above Mean Sea Level at Bayou Caddy to 11.0 feet at Bay St. 'Louis.

In 1929, local interests attempted to maintain a beach seaward of the seawall through
construction of a series of low, short concrete groins. In 1941, small amounts of
dredged fill were placed against the wall in another effort to establish a protective
beach. Both of these efforts proved ineffective.

A - 3

Historically, maintenance of the seawall by local interests has been limited to essential
repair work after complete washouts of sections of Beach Boulevard during periods of
intense coastal flooding. Following extensive damage to the seawall and adjoining
roadway caused by Hurricane Betsy in September 1965, wall sections were repaired and
a 6.1 mile stretch of protective sand beach was constructed along the more severely
damaged sections from Clermont Harbor to Bay St. Louis. The sand beach was pumped
into place early in 1967 and constructed to a 150-foot top width. Beach construction
and seawall repairs were performed by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness.

Additional repairs to undermined sections of the seawall have since been realized
indirectly as a result of repairs to Beach Boulevard by the Mississippi State Highway
Department. Beach Boulevard is no longer a state highway, however, and its maintenance
is now a County responsibility. In 1982, sections of the roadway were repaired by the
County using Federal Coastal Energy Impact Program grant funds provided under the
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.

Shoreline Erosion

The portion of the Hancock County shoreline northeast of Bayou Caddy has historically
been subject to the forces of erosion. (See Appendix B.) Available surveys indicate
that the magnitude of shoreline recession has been greatest near the mouth of Bayou
Caddy. A total recession of about 750 feet occurred near the mouth of the Bayou
during the 89-year period between 1852 and 1941. About a mile to the northeast, the
shoreline eroded 250 feet in the 1852-1917 period and 300 feet in the 1917-1941 period
for a total recession of 550 feet. Between two and three miles northeast of the Bayou,
the 1852-1917 erosion was about 250 feet and the 1917-1941 erosion was about 100
feet, for a total recession of 350 feet. This trend continued northerly around Bay St.
Louis to the mouth of the Jourdan River.

With minor exceptions, the existing seawall defines the 1941 shoreline. At many points
in Bay St. Louis the seawall also coincides with the shoreline as it existed in 1917-
1918. The position of the shoreline from the mouth of the Jourdan River to the mouth
of Bayou Caddy was more or less fixed by construction of the seawall between 1915
and 1928, but prior to that period the shoreline was experiencing severe recession.

A - 4

Essentially all natural beaches that existed seaward of the seawalls at the times of
their construction have been eliminated by erosion. Since the design toe elevations of
the seawalls generally approximated the elevations of the natural beaches, loss of the
beaches has left many of the underlying cut-off walls exposed to all tidal stages in
those areas where the walls are not protected by artificial fill. Many exposed Cult-off
walls have developed cracks, due to the improper driving of the cut-off walls and
settling and shifting of some seawall sections as a result of decay of untreated timber
supports and past storm damages. These cracks allow sand back-fill from behind the
seawall and under the adjacent roadway to seep out, endangering the stability of the
walls and undermining the adjoining road bed and sidewalk.

A detailed survey of the Hancock County seawalls following Hurricane Betsey in 1965
indicated the following: 252 linear feet of destroyed, buried or badly displaced sellwall
attributed directly to the hurricane; 729 linear feet of similar damages attributable to
earlier storms and general deteriorations; and an additional 10,103 linear feet of less
damaged seawall attributed to improper construction, settlement and deteriorating
factors. All seawall damages adjacent to Beach Boulevard were accompanied by
undermining and failures of the adjoining road and backlying properties. Reconstruction
of the destroyed seawall sections and placement of the 6-mile protective beach berm
against the wall were authorized and accomplished in 1967 with federal disaster recovery
funds. A survey of the seawall following Hurricane Camille in 1969 indicated that
general conditions of the wall were unchanged from those following the repairs in 1967.
Numerous cracks and openings in the underlying cut-off walls, however, continue to
result in leakage of back-fill and settlement of the adjoining sidewalk and roadway
along unprotected reaches. General conditions of the older vertical-faced seawalls are
better than the conditions of the more numerous step-type walls with respect to both
structural integrity and soundness of cut-off walls.

The approximately 6 miles of artificial beach along Mississippi Sound between Clermont
Harbor and Bay St. Louis were constructed to provide a berm width of 50 feet at
elevations ranging from 3.4 to 6.0 feet above Mean Sea Level and a seaward slope of
1 vertical to 25 horizontal. Initial widths of beach formed by the protective berm
extended from about 150 to 200 feet from the seawall. Currents apparently flowing
southwesterly along the shore have completely eroded this beach on the south sides of
littoral blockages. (Numerous piers, several irregularly spaced bulkheaded drains and

A - 5

broken concrete groins extend from the seawall and block the littoral movement of
material along the shoreline from Highway 90 to Bayou Caddy.

The 6-mile artificial beach suffered negligible damage during Hurricane Camille in 1969,
apparently because the beach was so rapidly inundated by the storm surge. A second
low and shallow artificial beach about 1 mile in length was constructed in the Ulman
Avenue area south of the U.S. Highway 90 bridge by the Mississippi State Highway
Department in 1967. This beach, however, was completely eroded by Hurricane Camille.

Improvements Desired

The hurricanes of 1947, 1965, 1969, 1978, 1979, the severe flooding caused by abnormal
high tides and rain in April 1983, and, most recently, Hurricanes Elena and Juan in the
fall of 1985, have served as powerful stimulants to local interests seeking means for
protection against tidal flooding, and have led to many unanswered requests for federal
assistance. Efforts to mitigate the existing flood and erosion problems have included
various Congressional resolutions authorizing the Corps of Engineers to study the effects
of hurricanes and shore protection needs. These studies took place on several different
occasions beginning in 1943, again in 1966 and 1974, and a 1985 report has just recently
been completed by the Corps. Each of these studies and/or investigations hinged on
the construction of new shore protection devices that would attempt to minimize the
potential for hurricane damage. The 1974 report, for example, focused on construction
of a massive rock barrier to protect the Hancock County shore. Federal assistance for
the proposed structure (which would have cost an estimated $300 million and stretched
from the Henderson Point area in west Harrison County to an upland point mid-way in
Hancock County) was not recommended. Not only was the project declared economically
unjustified by the Corps, the proposal posed significant environmental impacts.

In the last several years, actions undertaken and funded by Bay St. Louis, Waveland
and Hancock County have been primarily remedial. Local action has included' various
planning and administrative pursuits, along with many resolutions and requests for federal
assistance. Collectively, these local actions have included: replenishment of portions
of the sand berm in 1972; routine overlay and other roadway repairs; acquisition of
$325,000 in Coastal Energy Impact Funds to initiate emergency road repairs in 1982;
and completion of an Emergency Beach Road Repair Plan in 1983.

A - 6

The Corps of Engineers has recently completed a Reconnaissance Study of the Hancock
County shoreline prior to initiating a study of the feasiblity of a federal shore protection
project. The recommendations from the reconnaissance report were favorable, and the
Corps' has initiated the feasibility planning study.

Assuming early allocation of local matching funds, the draft feasibility study should 'be
completed by December 1986, the final draft by April 1987, and final Corps of Engineers'
recommendations regarding a federal shore protection project could be issued in October
1987. If a positive recommendation is issued, then the proposed shore protection project
will be presented to the sponsoring Congressional Committee for authorization and
appropriation. Congressional action could require one legislative session or several,
depending on such factors such as the total cost of the project compared to its benefits,
and Hancock County's committment of matching funds for construction.

APPENDIX B:

SHOREFRONT EROSION CONDIflONS AND BEACH STABIIJZATION MEASURES

SHOREFRONT EROSION CONDITIONS

AND BEACH STAMUZATION MEASURES

This Appendix provides a review of the erosion-causing processes affecting the Hancock
County sand beach and an assessment of various measures available for reducing erosion
and the loss of sand from the beach system. The information presented is based on
an examination of historical information regarding the beach and a knowledge of coastal
processes and engineering considerations.

Background

The sand beach in Hancock County has a long and interesting relationship to the stability
of the shoreline and to recreational activities in the area. At the turn of the century,
a natural sand beach helped form the edge of the County shoreline. Almost complete
erosion of this natural beach, however, took place after construction of the seawall.
It was recognized that the stability of the seawall was in jeopardy without a protective
beach, so several efforts were undertaken to construct man-made beaches along the
seawall using sand sources located immediately offshore. The first beach was placed
in 1967 over a 6.1 mile stretch extending from Clermont Harbor to Bay St. Louis. Over
the following years, however, the effects of wind, waves, and currents gradually reduce
this beach. Table B-1 presents a summary of the key events in the history of seawall
construction and beach nourishment in Hancock County.

With the recognition that the sand beach provides both shore protection and recreational
opportunities, it is important to understand its interaction with the natural coastal
environment and to incorporate this understanding into improved design for both shore
protection and recreation.

Environmental Factors Affecting Sediment Transport

This section includes a review of the dominant forces affecting sediment transport along
the Hancock County shoreline with a view toward identifying appropriate measures for
reducing sediment losses.

B - 2

Table B-1:

History of Beach Replenishment
and

Seawall Construction

Date Activity Comments

1915-1928 Seawall constructed Seawall constructed in
segments. Total length:
11.5 miles, extending from
Jordon River to Bayou Caddy

1965 Hurricane Betsy Significant beach erosion
and seawall damage

1967 Beach nourishment Project characeristics:
length = 6.1 miles,
extending from Clermont
Harbour to Bay St. Louis;
width = 150 to 200 ft.;
elevations 3.4 to 5.0 ft.

B - 3

The two dominant agents which affect sediment transport along the shoreline are waves
and winds. The primary wave direction affective long shore sediment transport is from
the southeast (the direction of prevailing winds). The primary impediments to this
sediment transport are structures (including drainage outf alls) which extend
perpendicularly from the seawall into the Mississippi Sound. These structures form
compartments and cause the beach to orient into the waves such that the obliquity
between the wave crests and the beach line is greatly reduced and longshore sediment
transport is thereby limited. The drainage structures and other structures extending
perpendicularly from the shore have functioned as groins to reduce the longshore sediment
transport, as well as longshore sediment losses. The drainage outfalls function in a
manner such that when the beach is at its fullest, the outfalls protrude a lesser distance
from the beach into Mississippi Sound and are therefore less effective in reducing
longshore losses and transport. As more and more sediment has been lost from the
active beach system, the outfalls have protruded further from the beach face and
become more effective in stabilizing the remaining sediment.

The other primary factor resulting in a loss of sand to the beach system is the prevailing
wind from the southeast which, if the beach berm was wider, would cause sediment to
be carried to, and over, the base of the seawall. In some places, the steps of the
seawall, rather than acting as a barrier to blowing sand, would fill with sand to form
a ramp facilitating the movement of sand over the wall and onto the roadway. To
some degree this type of transport and deposition could be viewed as a tendency for
the wind to build a natural dune system. This transport, however, could cause a
substantial loss of sediment from the beach system if the beach was significantly wider
than at present.

Sediment Budget

The following estimates address the amounts of sediment lost from the Hancock County
beach as a result of longshore, offshore, and airborne sediment transport. These
estimates are schematically illustrated in Figure B-1. (In interpreting the loss component
quantities provided in Figure B-1, it is important to note that, with a wider beach

/* ) Jordon River

End Losses
.:IA
Cowond
Poi nt
Wind Losses : 2POO yd3/yr
Offshore Losses : 6,000yd,3yyr
End Losses : 4,000 yd*'/yr
Total 12,000yd3/yr

Propmed
Note: without Additional stabilization, Je ,'Exlension 170OLwall
Losses Would Be Greater with a 453.85 ehd
Nourished Beach. VT
10

Wind Losses
C\ermont
g 0jishore
"43900bor
Losses
'1Z

p
0
ff s6ore t
-5 Losses
0
0
.-,10.0.00
Bayou
Caddy
End Losses

FIGURE B-1: SCHEMATIC ILLUSTRATION OF SEDIMENT LOSSES

B - 5

and without any measures to stabilize the placed sand, the longshore and wind losses
could be expected to increase substantially.)

Longshore Sediment Transport

The orientation of the Hancock County shoreline is slightly different from the Harrison
County shoreline, where the longshore sediment transport is directed from east to west
due to the predominance of the southeast waves. In Hancock County, due to the
orientation of the shoreline, there is a transport "node" near the American Legion Pier.
North of this point, the net transport is toward Bay St. Louis, and south of this point
the net transport is toward Bayou Caddy. It is estimated that the potential annual
longshore sediment transport is approximately 100,000 cubic yards.

At the present time, the longshore sediment transport in Hancock County is greatly
reduced due to the fact that there is very little sediment in the active beach system.
Most of the sediment is stabilized by the littoral barriers which interrupt the longshore
sediment transport.

Offshore Sediment Transport

If a beach profile is considered to be approximately in equilibrium prior to the placement
of sediment to construct a man-made beach, then by definition the added sediment
represents an anomaly to this equilibrium and the beach profile will tend to naturally
requilibrate to some degree in response to environmental conditions. This requilibration
is expected to be rapid at first due to the initial degree of disequilibrium, but the
requilibration may also occur most rapidly during periods of high energy storm activity.
The offshore component of sediment transport from the above-water beach system is
most difficult to quantify. At the present time, the offshore sediment transport is
fairly low in magnitude because the beach width is quite narrow and therefore represents
a small disequilibrium of the overall beach profile. However, it is estimated that the
annual losses due to this mode of tranport amount to approximately 6,000 yd3 per year.

B - 6

Airborne Sediment Transport

The final component of sediment loss is due 'to the winds acting predominantly from
the south-east which, over long periods, can cause sediment to be transported primarily
as bedload from the broad berm and ultimately over the top of the seawall. (See Figure
B-2). Estimates of this mode of sediment transport indicate that, at present, the losses
are generally small - on the order of 2,000 cubic yards per year.

The winds affecting the Hancock County area are approximately the same as those at
Harrison County. The airborne sediment transport, however, is reduced greatly since
the quantity of transport depends significantly on the width of the beach berm. In the
case of Hancock County, this width is generally very narrow and thus the magnitude of
the resulting transport is small. At present, the Hancock County beach system is very
much sediment-deficient, and therefore all transport components of the sediment system
are relatively small. (See Figure B-1.)

Potential Beach Stabilization Measures

There are a number of approaches that can be considered for stabilizing the beach
system. These approaches can also result in improved beach characteristic's for
recreational purposes.

Reduction of Longshore Sediment Transport Losses

Any substantial reduction in longshore sediment transport losses must be achieved through
the use of various structural or engineered approaches. As noted previously, the drainage
outfalls which perform as groins and the other littoral blockages are quite effective in
compartmentalizing the beach and thus reducing the longshore sediment transport losses.
If, through renourishment, the existing width of- the beach is increased, and an increase
in beach stability is desired, then it will be necessary to increase the length, and
possibly the number, of the shore-perpendicular structures extending into Mississippi
Sound.

Wind

Profile Due to Wind Action Sand Transport

Design Profile Roadway

Seawall

FIGURE B-2: POTENTIAL FUTURE ALTERATION OF BEACH PROFILE BY ONSHORE WINDS

B -- 8

Other types of stabilizing structures could include offshore breakwaters as shown in
Figure B-3 and also artificial headlands as shown in Figure B-4. Offshore breakwaters
function by reducing the wave energy behind the structures, thereby causing sediment
to deposit and resulting in a protruberance of the shoreline. Offshore breakwaters can
therefore be employed to add variety to an existing, relatively straight shoreline
alignment. One characteristic of offshore breakwaters is that if they are placed within
a certain distance of the shoreline, sediment deposition may ultimately cause the shoreline
to attach to the breakwater (this feature is called a 11tombolo"). Usually, it is desired
to provide some additional stability to the shoreline by reducing the longshore sediment
transport but not to such an extent that a complete tombolo forms behind a breakwater.
By constructing the breakwater crest to an elevation such that at high tide waves can
break over the crest of the breakwater and cause sufficient sediment transport, tombolo
formation can generally be avoided. The cost of offshore breakwater construction in
Hancock County would be relatively low due to the very mild offshore slope.

An artificial headland is quite similar to an offshore breakwater except that the headland
is placed along the shoreline with the intention that shore attachment always occurs.

The wave patterns interacting with artificial headlands typically result in a "scalloped"
shoreline configuration known as crenulated shoreline, spiral bay, and by other names.
The shoreline variety formed by the artificial headlands may provide desired relief from
an otherwise straight shoreline. A supporting "stem" constructed of rock or other
material may be necessary to ensure that the shore attachment will not be lost in a storm.

Reduction of Airborne Sediment Losses

As noted previously, a relatively wide beach in combination with onshore-directed winds
can result in the formation of a ramp at the base of the seawall and a resulting
transport of sediment to the top of the seawall and beyond. Clearly, the most cost-
effective way to reduce airborne sediment losses is simply to remove the ramp as it
tends to form, placing the material back towards the Mississippi Sound; in other words,

B - 9

Shoreline without Offshore Breakwaters

Shoreline with Offsh re
Breakwaters

offshore Breakwaters

a) Offshore Breakwaters Located Sufficiently For from
Shore to Prevent Tombolos from Forming

Shoreline without Offshore Breakwaters
Shoreline with Offshore
Brecikwaters..-.*-

Tombolo

Offshore Breakwaters

b) Offshore Breakwaters Located Sufficently Close to
Shore that Attachment to Shore "Tombolos" Form

FIGURE B-3: OFFSHORE BREAKWATERS AND SHORELINE EFFECTS
h Of f shore

Stem
(Optional) Shoreline with Artificial
Headl9qq

Artificial -,@Shoreline without ZArtif iciol
Headland Artificial Headland Headb-4

Direction of Wave
Propagation

FIGURE B-4: ARTIFICIAL HEADLANDS AND SHORELINE EFFECTS

B - 11

to recycle the sand from the landward portion of the berm back to the soundward
portion prior to the sand having adequate opportunity to be transported over the seawall
and onto the roadway. This would require a simple "shaving" of the expanded beach,
removing a shallow veneer in the vicinity of the seawall perhaps with "pan" equipment
and tranporting and depositing this material near the waterline of the beach. It is
estimated that this could be accomplished with reasonable expense and effort, and that
a fairly shallow area would require management on at least a biennial basis. This
procedure is illustrated in Figure B-5.

A second possibility for reducing airborne sediment losses would be through the use of
structures and vegetation that would cause the sand to be deposited in dune-like features
seaward of the seawall such that the sand could then be transported back toward the
water or left as an inactive dune. Such a system suitable for use in areas not prioritized
for recreational use is illustrated in Figure B-6. A similar system for use in recreational
activity areas is shown in Figure B-7.

Protection of Seawall and Upland Without Beach Nourishment

A substantial portion of the seawall to the east and northeast of Bayou Caddy has
been used traditionally for fishing and the placement of a protective beach in this area
would necessarily affect this use. An alternative means of providing storm protection
for the seawall and upland would be through the construction of a sloping rock revetment
immediately on the Sound side of the seawall. The revetment could consist of several
layers of rock, with each successive layer coarser than the layer below and the size of
the rock comprising the cover layer would be selected to resist the design wave and
storm tide conditions. With this revetment, recreational fishing would continue, taking
place from the rocks rather than from the seawall.

Sand Removed from in Front of Seawall
and Placed on Outer Part of Beach

Roadway

.'Seawall

NOTE A "Wedge" of Sand b) Creation of Depression (Trap) Along
Seawall Base with Material Removed
Placed on Outer Part of Beach
Would Equal Two Years
of Wind Transport

FIGURE B-5: PREVENTION OF SAND TRANSPORT ONTO ROADWAY THROUGH CREATION
OF SAND TRAP AT BASE OF SEAWALL

Sand Deposits to be Removed by Front End Loader
and Placed on Beach, as Necessary

Pand Fence
Natural Vegation
to be Encouraged
Seawofl

Mississippi Sound

NOTE Break s in Sand Fences to be Provided at 100 f t
Intervals to Provide Access by Front End Loader
d
Pla@W@n 'I

@S(=
wwof I @4- 0

FIGURE B-6: BEACH DUNE AND VEGETA77ON SYSTEM (LOW RECREATIONAL USE AREA)

Railing
Boardwalk nd Fence mith Sand Removal

Could have Pork'
lin some of this

Mississippi Sotind
Seawall

FIGURE B-7: BEACH DUNE 'AND VEGETA77ON SYSTEM (RECREATIONAL ACTP41TY AREA)

APPENDIX C:

PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS

7
C0 Ct -,5 "fa 4 A Z4', at,

SAND BEACH MASTER PLAN
Public Opinion Survey

August 1985

To better understand the publics' perception of the sand beach,
the Public Relations Sub-Committee of the Harrison and Hancock
County TACs developed an opinion survey to gather information
on problems, preferences and ideas for improvements. 12,000
surveys were distributed through the area schools and Chambers
of Commerce. A return of 9% (1,111 surveys) was achieved.
The results of the survey have been tabulated by place of
residence for each question.

Gulfport, MS 39501 (601)
LF KFrIC.';-AI. 12314 rass lWad 864-1 167

SAND BEACH MASTER PLAN
Public Opinion Survey

Dear Parents.
This survey is being conducted to receh.,- your and your family's Ideas afidopinions about improving the public sand beaches in i@:arnson and Ha-
cock counties. Thtcugh this survey. your oninion will influence the course of the study. Please help us by filling out this questionnaire.
1) Place of residence (city. community. state)

2) On the average. how many times per month do you use the beach during the following periods of the year7
April -September: timcs per month
October - March: times per month

3) What are the primary recreational beach activities that your family enjoys?
Boating Walking
Piet Fishing Jogging
Wade Fishing Picnicing
Sun Bathing Sports
Swimming Wind Surfing
Wading Rental Equipment Use
Sightseeing Other

4) What is your family's opinion of the following in relation to the sand beach? Fiala acco(ding to the tol!owing scale:
I - Important; 2 - Not imporlant
Beautification/Appearance Litter Control
Restrooms Cabanas
Sidewalks Parking
..... . Protect Wildlife Public Piers
Boat Launches Showers
Bike Paths Purchase Refreshments
Other

E) Would you use the beach more often if the improvements you think important were made? Yes ____ No

6) Which beach areas do you normally use?

7) In your opinion. would it be appropriate to apply the revenues from existing taxes to finance the improvements you recornmondeL17

Yes---.-

Would you consider an additional tax. If needed. to finance the improvements you would like to see mad37 ___ Yes No

81 Would you like to be notified of the future public forums concerning the preparation of the plan? Yes No. 11 yes. please give
name. mailing address. and telephone number.

Name

Address

Phone

Please add any specific comments you may have on how to Improvo the beach.

SAIM PCAC11 MASTER PLAII
Ilublic Opinion Survey

what are the primary recreation beach it i lox I Gil I fj)ort !22,1 neach Pass a A) I I
!L
activities that your family enjoy47 ziji,-61 F, a C-6 I- otic-U- c1li !U oij Ur iii-of
235 333 109 out of Lzvii 1, a 90 lilt
97 ;@,; i -0 f
247

boating Go 109 34 33 91 40 377 34
Piec fishing 125 159 41 44 120 36 SZ2 47
Wade fishing 47 06 30 )4 54 20 217 25
Sunbathing 119 J59 05 35 150 76 $69 5)
Swimming 96 156 43 59 141 72 544 49
wading 105 146 52 35 124 66 511 46
Sight-teeing ion 157 41 32 132 30 477 4 3
Walking 146 233 go 53 141 60 711 64
Je9ging 38 79 20 20 39 10 222 20
P i c is i c I n g 62 156 44 3 1 116 26 4 r, 6 42
31 70 11 24 38 13
Sports 7 12 5 9 211 1
Windcurfing 2 4 44
Itental Equipment 7 12 2 4 7 2 35 3

Wh:tlisiyouc family's opinion of the
f I ow ng in relation to the sand beach?
reople for:
Oeautification/Appoarance 206 29) 100 87 230 67 978 $1
firstcoul"s 190 266 01 $1 101 4S ess 77
Sidewalk$ 66 129 42 31 116 40 444 40
rzotect wildlife 172 229 72 6L 170 61 744 67
"at launches 62 157 45 47 82 32 455 41
Dike paths 74 ISO 42 3t 87 36 466 42
Litter control 2ol 28L lot as 215 64 998 a?
Cabanas 62 121 56 is 71 14 400 36
ra r k i ng 105 250 79 74 162 69 oil 73
rublic piers 161) 206 02 51 144 S4 722 (S
Showers 95 160 4L 34 72 20 4Y8 43
Furchase refreshments 03 151 39 46 as 25 467 42

Would you use the beach more often If
the Impcovements you think Important were made?

no. of people that said yes 218 290 100 86 224 so 978 as

which beach areas do you normally use?

Biloxi's beach 190 30 5 3 3 10 250 23
Cutfliort's beach 10 298 19 10 14 is 166 31
Long neach's beach 3 25 90 14 3 25 1.19 12
rass Christian's beach 0 6 27 17 27 36 140 11
Pay St. Louis's beach 0 1 1 6 160 62 140 16
othec beaches 11 2 0 0 1 6 L6 I

in your opinion, wnlild it be appropriate
to arrilY tile revenues from existing taxes
to finance the improvements you would like to see?

no. of people fur existing taxes
to be used 194 270 96 67 207 71 077 79

would you consider an additional tax to
finance the Improvements you would like
to see made?

no. of people who would consider
additional taxes 97 130 40 39 148 51 488 44

HANCOCK COUNTY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Extend the beach so that there is beach all tile way from Clermont
Harbor to Nicholson.

Designated areas with children's playground equipment.

Playground, jungle gym/merry go round. Bike/Walking path, beach
road to dangerous for bikers and walkers.

Trash should be picked up and placed into trucks by sanitation
crews, not dumped into sand and then picked up.

Since I run on the beach (6 miles or so) at least three times a
week I'm probably more aware of its condition than most. The
beach in Gulfport is absolutely the filthiest, most poorly kept
beach in the country. The only way to improve the beach is; to
strictly enforce the Litter law, fines handed out.

Need boat launch at Legion Pier dredged.

Cleanliness is major concern.

Shade areas would be appealing, and ramps for handicapped would
be nice, too.

More enforcement of Glass ordinance oil whole beach front. Broken
glass is a-real problem along the entire beach.

Provide shade areas on beach.

Law to control speeding.

You have me and my family behind you 100%, so do whatever you
have to to clean up the beach.

Supply more trash containers, fines given for littering. Regular
cleaning of beach. Build shade structures or cabanas, more
parking, rebuild roads in front of beach. Why is tile water so
dirty?

More parking, no animals, no fires, enforce no glass law, clean
uppolluted waters.

Tile beach area is not patrolled sufficiently on holidays and
weekends. On days there are a lot of people I suggest patrollers
be out in force to catch people who litter.

Parking is needed badly. We use the beach a lot and cannot find
a parking place. The sand built up across the beach should be
removed for better grounds are parking areas to be built. I hear
complaints of too many young people hanging out oil the beach.
Well, I can't see where this is hurting anyone. At least they
are not killing or robbing people. The beach is a good place to
stay out of.trouble.

We need boardwalks wi th snack bars, operated by private
enterprises.

Public awareness of tile problems and strict penalties for the
people who break the laws. People get a great deal of enjoyment
from the beach but they should also be held accountable for it's
upkeep. Great place for teenagers to hang out but they should be
held accountable for their litter.

Do not commercialize.

I feel that there should be a certain part of beach in Waveland
that you can run and exercise your dogs.

Pull the beach back out of the water. Purchase a sand sifter. It
will be more efficient and faster then using county crews. Allow
commercial zoning. Repair anti maintain beach roads and seawalls.
Remove piles of half-buried objects and all hazards. Contractors
in the past have charged exhorbant fees in return for shoddy
work. In tile future oversee the work being done.

lie need trash bins and the sand needs to be grated to get rid of
dangerous fish bones and broken glass.

Fill in eroded areas.

I think the beach- could be cleaner. We could use some trash
bins.

A walking and biking lane separate from auto traffic is most
important particularly considering the auto traffic. I would
like to take @part in any committee work on respective beach
development.

I need to be proud of anything I'm involved in and at present I
am ashamed to have people see our beach in the condition it is
now. I believe if we would enforce the litter law it would help
a great deal.

once beach is renewed it should have erosion control done by
plantings, proper drainage from nearby streets and whatever will
help prevent wave action erosion. I would also like to see
revenues derived from tile tourists from New Orleans and other
areas, who come here for the day and don't contribute anything
but litter. Perhaps parking permits that they would purchase at
local businesses would help. Fines could be imposed by the Beach
Patrol if anyone parks on the beach or within 50 feet oil an
access street without a decal or temporary permit.

To improve the beaches would help the economy by bringing in
tourists and it would give the kids a nice clean place to go. it
would also make our citizens prouder of our home. Ile need
bathrooms with showers, garbage cans, public piers and cabanas to
improve our beaches.

Ile should have trash barrels and beach patrol.

I would use the beach several times a week if the beach was
replenished.

I would like to see a strict beach ordinance to prevent people
from throwing glass and garbage on our beaches. This is strictly
enforced in Florida and it should be done here. It would be so
much more enjoyable if it were cleaner.

Ile need more public boa.t slips. Keep beaches clean in Hancock
County. Improve beach facilities similar to West Florida with
fishing piers, restrooms and supply purchase facilities.

Stop sand erosion, clean up the beach and enforce glass container
law with most priority. Public awareness and a vigorous campaign
toward that goal should bring immediate relief. Return trash
bins to Waveland Beach and empty them regularly.

Keep it clean.

We need garbage cans on beach in Waveland. Ile a.l.s,o need to
enforce parallel parking and not allow parking in fron't of fire
hydrants.

Clean up the litter.

Improve the appearance by picking up the litter, bottles and dead
f ish .

Strict enforcement of litter law.

Pump in more sand.

Develop and plan to prevent beach erosion then replenish the
beach and set up a regular maintenance program to keep tbe beach
neat and clean.

Widen the beach as much as possible for protection from storms as
well as appearance and recreation.

I think that the public should be made more aware of problems and
planned actions to benefit users of the beach and the public
should be given more opportunity to get involved in beach
beautification projects. ..

Enforce present restrictions against any further improvements to
the Washington St. Pier.

We need walkovers with stairs to avoid traffic mishaps. Keep the
kids off the roads.

Enforce the no glass on beach law. Add more trash cans.

lie need parking to help prevent people from getting their cars
stuck in the sand. If we improved our beaches more people would
be.able to enjoy themselves. Refreshment stands would hell) from
having to get in your car to go up the highway.

Litter control and beach maintenance are primary concern.

The piers (private) along the beaches from Bay St. Louis through
Waveland detract from the beauty of the Bay not to mention the
debris caused by storms al6ng the roadway. Beach patrols should
be enlisted to help keep down litter and all cities should
provide trash recepticals for use. Adequate parking is needed in
Waveland and Bay St. Louis.

I think that upon entering public beach areas that a sign be
placed in proper places as to rules and care of the public areas
and that fines be adopted by the communities when there is a
violation of rules. A patrol should be established with properly
trained people who are familiar with local, state and federal
laws because our seashores are our country's borders.

Litter education in Gulf Coast Schools should be formulated,.,
quick, down-pat, and continuous procedure throughout the school
year. Some type of beach patrol should be evident durino
weekends and tourist times as a sign of local community interest
and respect for the beach and all who visit her or are indi(enous
to her.

How about an occasional palm tree in Bay-Waveland area? Noise
control. The inconsiderate use of "ghetto blasters" on or near
the beach is obnoxious.

Some plan needs to be made to keep the sand on the beach instead
of blowing away. I also would like to see some dunes and grassy
areas.

I believe the sand beach should be extended 1/4 mile from road to
water's edge. There should be a parking road the entire length
of Beach Boulevard between the sand and the present beach road.

My main concern would be to have enough trash barrels and
sidewalks or bike paths so kids can be out of the traffic.

Plant grass on it to cut down on erosion. The sand is pretty but
too much of it gets lost.

The appearance is the main reason we do not visit the area
beaches. We hesitate to take guests. other beaches provide us
with a place to walk, sunbathe and picnic.

Pump more sand in.

Keep glass and trash out of sand.

lie need strict enforcement of existing litter laws with a higher
fine.

We need stricter enforced speed limits and better parking.

Enforce no bottles and cans law. Better parking.

We need more personnel to see that ordinances are enforced, such
as no glass, no lUter, etc.

The beaches need to be kept cleaner. There need to be more trash
cans on the beach. The beaches need replenishing so the seawall
and the road doesn I t fall into the wa ter .

Improvement needs to be made on the efforts to enforce the speed
limit and there needs to be more parking.

Enforce glass laws and finish removing drainage pipes and
pilings. Need more trash cans.

Pump sand up to protect seawall and beach road.

I would like to see the beach patrolled by a 3-wheeler and strong
measures taken to keep g.lass containers off of the beach.

More sand beaches.

I think that the beach patrol is. really going to be a big help.
We need more input from the two cities to help keep up the beach
front.

I think that restrooms and showers would be very helplul.

Provide for and have regular garbage pickup and also daytime
clean up of litter.

Control litter.

The number one priority is to keep beaches clean of debris and
litter. The second priority would be to pump in new sand.

The seawall tax should be used for beach road, seawall and sand
beach. Beach maintenance should be consolidated and maintained
by one group not 5 supervisors.

we definitely. need more restrooms and public showers. I
thoroughly enjoy the beach and it is the main reason I moved to
this part of the country.

Have the sheriff, police and beat supervisors strictly enforce
the glass bottle law. The amount of broken glass on the beach is
awful. Have coastal board fine fishermen for throwing trash
overboard, which then washes up on our beach.

We have a seawall tax, let's use it. We should not let the roads
run off onto the beach as we did in the Bay-Waveland area.

I think the worst thing about our beaches is their unnatural
appearance; litter, sewer drain pipes, and lack of vegetation.

Ile need to have some sand on our beaches.

Formulate a continued maintenance program.

I would rather pay an additional tax to keep our beaches clean
and beautiful and uncluttered with commercial products being
sold. Cabanas, showers, etc., are eye sores and give the beach
an unkept appearance. Any revenue received from these endeavors
could never compensate for the peace, tranquility and natural
beauty that God has yiven us.

HANCOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS

I think shade shelters, picnic benches and grills would add to
the improvement of tile beach. Also tile streets on the beach are
in terrible condition.

Remove old pilings and piers along the beach from Lakeshore to
Cedar Point, and try to keel) the weeds trimmed down, so you can
see the beach.

Water should be c-leaned of pilings, pipes, rock piles,etc..
Trash cans should be re.adily available, signs posted on littering
violations. It would be nice to have a roped area for small
children to play in the water. It could be placed on weekends,
at least.

I find that there is inadequate parking and this causes large
crowds in one or two prime areas. There are some nice beaches
but no proper way to get to them due to all tile sand in parking
area. Restrooms would be nice to have also.

More protection from police to patrol beaches on holidays. Fines
on bringing glass on beaches.

Put more sand, enforce no glass!, no cans on beach after leaving
must be picked up. Set Iine at $50.00 to $75.00 for glass and
$25.00 for cans and paper.

More police. patrol, more litter barrels, picnic tables with
shelters.

Have some way to make people pick up their trash before leaving
the beaches that they use.

Have no dumping dead animals in the water because I almost
stepped on one and it was gross.

Please improve bathroom facilities at park locations.

More Sand.

Upkeep - beaches would not be in present condition had they been
kept up since pumped into the area. Beach Patrols - eliminate
trash and glass and people urinating on either side of beach
vicinity. More traffic control on weekends anti holidays.
Enforcement of litter laws.

The two biggest.problems, I feel, that now exist concerning our
beaches are (1) Itowdy and unruly teenagers and Lheir loud music,
and (2) trash and garbage lef t behind by people Using our
beaches, having no consideration for others. However, the
garbage and broken glass are far more important, we need trash
cans on the beaches and someone to enforce the litter law.

Need more police patrol. There are too many animals on the
beach. Need to pump in more sand and provide parking bays.

Just keeping the b6ach in Beat One clean would help.

Place more litter cans on beach, put enough shade huts on beach,
keep dogs off the beach and prosecute violators after lst
offence. Allow no glass on beach. Have the beach cleaned and
sand turned over every other day. Somehow, put better parking on
one side at least. Try to keep the boat launches cleaner even if
you have to fine them to do it. We surely need our beaches
cleaned up and improved.

It would be nice to have good side walks along the beaches.

More police patrol to control bottles and litter.

Reduction of pollution on beach, drainage pipes, bottles, cans,
anything else that caBses the problems we have today.

More police patrol to control bottles and litter.

You need more police to patrol the beaches at all times, during
the summer months.

Please improve restroom facilities at Buccaneer State Park.

By taking just sections of the beach for public, so maintenance
and patrolling can be effective.

If there were enough money available, I would like to see a bike
path from St. Charles Avenue to Buccaneer Park at least on the
land side of Beach Blvd. Parking bays on the water side, deep
enough so traffic will not hinder tile entrance or exit from
parked cars and users of the beach would not have to cross the
road unless they lived nearby.

Remove the trash, especially bottles and cans, reduce all
drainage going into the bay, it is destroying the water. Provide
trash receptacles on the beaches. Provide public piers, build up
the beaches by dredging.

The beaches in Hancock County have croded to the point that they
are no longer in many areas. I think to begin with, simply
keeping the beach areas pumped in and keeping what we do have
clean would be a great improvement over the present beaches.

Pump in more beach.

The beaches need to be replenished with sand. The beaches have
really gone down over the last 5 years. If something is not done
I am afraid in a few years there will be no beach at all in
Waveland.

Take the beach out of the hands of the Supervisors. The City
should be able to handle it much better. Continuous cleaning of
the beach and strict enforcement:- of the present laws. Construct
a different type of embankment to keep the sand off the road and
on the beach where it belongs.

The most important improvement necessary is to pump the beach
back in and then to maintain the sand distribution. This is a
constant, necessary, job. I believe with proper waste cans at
regular intervals along the beach and proper beach maintenance
the litter problem would disappear. The Coleman Ave. area and
the Washington St. area and Buccaneer Park beach area would be
the areas to be developed to accomadate tourism. Restrooms,
showers, refreshment stands, public piers, etc. Bay Waveland
area is blessed with a natural tourist attraction. Developed
properly, it would benifit all.

Special attention should be made for parking areas and litter
control.

Parking areas and bike paths on the beach side would be great. A
public pier charging a fee for fishing.

Before our beaches can be improved, you have to deal with the
"litter mentality" - it's OK to dump anything anywhere!!!

Enforcement of our existing litter laws, pertaining to our
beaches. Placing litter barrels at strategic points. Regular
police patrols to discourage mass gathering- of teenager after
eleven P.M.. This in itself, wbuld reduce the littering and the
speeding cars along Beach Blvd.

Restrooms are needed and we pay a seawall tax, so why can't the
money be used for this. Also, their should be more fences put in
to hold the sand down.

People should be more aware of keeping the beaches clean from
litter. They should use the trash cans provided by the beach.

Why not use the Sea Wall Tax for these improvements?

Better litter control (removal of dead fish). Stiff fines for
littering. (out of state visitors from LA. do not buy anything
from MS but leave their litter)

Jet ski rental.

Make beach available through platforms to wheelchairs.

At the P. C. Harbor there is so much rock, I think they should be
taking it up.

One authority, control all recreation (state park rangers).
Buccaneer Park officials best equipped to handle the entire beach
area in our best interest.

Keeping dogs and cats off the beaches. Glass bottles should all
be put in trash drums. People should also stay in their own
places. Don't throw paper and beer cans all over. Plant some
shade trees and more picnic tables should also be put up along
the beaches for people to use.

More sand on the beaches, dig the beaches deeper.

I think we should be ashamed of our beaches. I think it is awful
to let such natural beauty be wasted as it is. All one has to do
is drive into Florida to see what a beach should look like.

There is so much debris and garbage along the beach and the green
guck that spoils the wading and the looks of the beach and I do
not know the answer.

I would like to see the sand replaced. The water is to shallow.
The sand needs to be cleaned. Also they need more law
enforcement on littering.

Give a bingo (prize) or dance or have a fish fry that way the
poor people that can't afford any more tax increase don't have to
pay for it. People that can afford it will go. Ask people to
bring a gift for the.prize bingo and help out. Because the Old
people can just get by now.

They should not have beer, whiskey, and other beverages, need to
keep glass off of the beach. Need paper off the beach.

The beaches need to be cleaned.

We are for the upgrading of the sand beaches but we've noticed in
some areas that to many or to gaudy cabanas, refreshment stands
or other add-ons have taken away from the beauty and natural look
of the beach. You get the feeling of being at an amusement park.

Clean the water so it'll be blue or at least bluer than it is.

Make the water cleaner, and get all glass and other things out of
the sand.

Cleaner beaches, specific picnic areas.

Cleaner, no dogs unleashed, fisherman not camping on beach or
streets. Enforce present laws, fishermen not throwing trash or
fish on beaches which are smelly, and harmful.

Parking bays beach side of highway, paved shoulders of roadway
rather than soft sand. Replacement of corrugated drainage tubes,
with concrete.

Widen the street to allow for parking, riding bikes or walking.

Improve pollution control.

Litter, glass, etc., need laws enforced.

Put up monkey bars and swings.

The biggest problems would be to clean our beach up and keep it
that way. Also there needs to be some parking improvements.

I would like the police to patrol the beaches and streets by the
beaches because there is a slight problem with some of the blacks
on the beaches.

I hardly go to the beach because of the trash and holes in the
water and on the beach. All the dead and*decaying animals on the
beach are disgusting.

Most people do not want to go to the beach because the water is
so dirty. Ile would like-to see you try to let our children swim
in clean healthy water.

Keep dogs off the beach.

I do not go to the beach because of the mess the beach is in.

I would love to see improvement on the beach, but we will have to
pay more tax, and other people from New Orleans, and around, take
up the beaches, and when we get ready to go to the beach, we
don't have any room to picnic. I think out of town people should
have to pay to go in picnic area.

They need to keep someone out there to keep the bathrooms clean,
and they need to build a little pool for the little children so
they won't have to cross the street to get in the water. And
they need a recreational hall for the children on the side that
the local people use.

Somehow limit the traffic on the beach road. Enforce the litter
laws on beach with fines or tickets by a beach patrol.

For one thing, they need to keep the bathrooms clean and put out
fences so that'the little children won't get run over and keep
from people hogging the beach for themselves.

The state has lost so much money over the years, that the
smallest thing will not count if the water can not be cleaned up.

Put more sand oil the beaches, dig the beaches deeper.

Use the money from the Sea Wall Tax.

Better Roads.

Enforce the litter control, have a special work force to keep
beaches clean and repaired. Plant some palm trees, put some
water spouts for drinking, put up some nice rest areas, and
please fix the roads. If a place to purchase refreshments were
to be built all proceeds from all sales should go in a special
account to help pay for all repairs and improvements that will be
made.

Phones in case of emergency, restrooms, and put a fine on
littering.

I wouldn't mind additional taxes to pay for beach repairs and
upkeep, if that's what the monies would be used for!!!

I think animal should not be allowed on the beach. More control
on the speeders on Ifighway 90, it's dangerous down there.

Improve the beach.

Have a park where little kids can play, have a $500.00 fine for
littering on the beach, cleaner piers for shrimpboats.

One hazard is the presence of 3 wheelers and 4 wheelers in areas
that family waders, picnicers and sunbathers use. The two
recreations do not mix.

Large markers to show depth of water for swimming.

Have people clean up mess, have concrete parking along beach, a
new road along beach, and to have dead fish cleaned up.

The beaches in this area have never had a year round maintenance
crew. After you fix it up you should have this crew.

If sold, refreshment profits, be put toward improvement. Litter
control a must. At some points on the beach, tile water should be
deep enough to swim. Palm trees would enhance the area and
welcome shade to those people who burn easy.

This family enjoys the wave pool and picnic areas at Buccaneer
Park.

I would like to see a 1 i in i ted vending business on the beach of
beach goods, but most important I would like to see more sand
pumped in and it kept cleaner.

More beach area, clean up the water, keep glass ant.] cans off
beach.

I just visited the pier in Biloxi, it had restrooms, refreshment
stand, picnic area and bait shop. It was clean and managed, in
my opinion, excellent. If this type of pier or piers were
constructed in our area, it would increase our business and
employment opportunities.

I don't know ho.w it could be implemented, but we residents should
be protected from out-of-state visitors who litter our beaches
and leave us the mess. They don't pay to clean thein and many of
them don't care. Perhaps they should have to purchase a beach
permits, sometimes when it hits the pocket book, people act
accordingly. It would be nice to have an area for handicapped
people,.maybe sidewalks from the seawall to the waterline and
ramps to the piers.

Enforce littering law, raise fines if necessary, keep animal on
leash at all times, patrol beaches more.

A strict enforcement of the no glass container law.

Prohibit dogs and horses, more trash barrels and empty dail.y.
Lower speed limit on Beach Blvd., clean the water in the bay,
fill in tile deep hole, remove all tile old pilings and those sewer
pipes along with all the trash, rocks, and broken glass. Have
emergency first aid stands and have beach palcolled more often.
Last but not least, lighting at night.

By doing all the above, plus keeping it clean once they fix the
repairs.

No dogs allowed on beach would be a nice start. Get rid of
pilings. Need to pump in more beach. More parking, sift tile
sand to get out all glass and rocks.

All we want is a clean beach. New garbage cans and the beach
cleaned on a regular basis.

HARRISON COUNTY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Financing should come through taxing those businesses and/or
people who u 'se and benefit from usage of the beach (11otels,
Motels, Restaurants, Beach Vendors, Gas Stations, Specialty
Shops, etc.). The General Public should not pay for these
improvements, except through the higher prices these businesses
will have to charge.

Restrooms and parking are essential.

Clean it up! Fine more heavily for littering.

Let more natural grasses grow to control blowing sand and keep
dead fish and litter cleaned up!

I can somewhat sympathize with tile hotel owners here, but the
primary thrust Of the beaches should be to satisfy local
residents here first, instead of just bringing in tourists. To
do that, we should involve ourselves more with quality of life
and less with quick dollar schemes. For example, bike paths here
are non-existent, that would be a big lilestyle-conscious
improvement, on the other hand, adding more ships in the small
craft harbor will only pollute it, that's a quick dollar idea to
attract more out of town yachts, bad idea.

Plant a barrier of sea oats or similar flora just south of the
seawall which would create dunes to prevent sand loss to the
h ighway.

Keep shoreline policed from washed up trash. Put out more trash
containers. Trash that collects on tile beach is a real problem.
Tourist, Airman and civilians need to be aware that it is their
responsibility to try to keep the beach clean and put their
litter in a container. I've been to Gulfshores and Pensacola,
their beaches are clean an(] much more crowded than Ours-. It's
clean because those people care, and our people don't seem to
care.

I manage a small motel on the beach. During the summer season
daily we have several inquiries for a place to change and shower
off sand before people drive home. Many requests are for use of
restroom facilities. A bath house, where people can change,
shower, put personal items in lockers, and rent towels WOUld be
tile best thing that could happen. A reasonable fee for usage of
such would not be out of the question.

Enforce existing beach ordinances and fix and maintain piers.

I wish there were engineering chancjes that could be made that
would eliminate grass clippings, leaves, etc. from being washed
down the drainage pipes to the beach which invariably find their
way up on the beach. This really spoils a normally nice-looking
beach.

I feel that improvement should be made in areas other than the
sand that we see. I would like to see the water itself cleaned
up and the bottom cleaned of debris so safe watersports can take
place.

I think our beaches are beautiful.

Boat rentals and entertainment for visitors should be made
available all along the beach. The highway turn off should be
improved. Take bikini sales and place them at Small Craft Harbor
or by light house. As chairman of the Biloxi Development
Commission, I would be willing to serve on a board to help
implement these projects.

The beaches are the mainstay of tourism. If they are not kept up
and constantly improved and maintained we will have no
convention/tourist trade, you must spend money to make money. A
side walk needs desperately to be constructed on the north side
of Ilwy. 90 from the coliseum/convention center to Broadwater
Beach.

When low tide, there should be man power to clean bottom of
trash, etc.. So many people cut them selves on glass and cans.

Public Restrooms, Board walks, Cabanas & Oasis, Replenish erod@Lng
beach area. most improvements tieed to be made in front of our
motels this is where the heaviest use of the beach takes place.

If we are to be a serious resort destination, we have got to take
care of our #1 attraction, the beach. Please consider what WOUILI
happen to our economy if the tourism industry closed becaUse
people stopped coming to our beach. Right now, however, tourism
is not considered an industry, so maybe you should start there.
Wouldn't we be eligible for Harrison County Development
Commission funds if we were a true, dedicated, recogniZed
"industry."

More parking, showers and restroom facilities.

Clean up old tires etc in shallow water, this can be accomplished
at low tide when sandbars are plentiful. Let grass grow to stop
sand from blowing into road, since this would save tax money and
beautify coast. why bulldoze at all?

Board walk between Edgewater Mall and Beauvoir (at least) or in
front of most motel areas.

Keep up the great work-& add more parking.

I feel we should view the sand beach as -an income generator for
our tourist industry. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think
permanent residents use it for anything else.

Dogs should be kept off the beach or owners liable for picking up
refuse.

Making sand dunes with shrubbery along the road sides. I feel,
this would hold the sand on the beaches alot better, plus the
beach would be more private for sun bathers who feel they have no
privacy from all the perverts that ride up and down the beach all
day getting their kicks off on women.

Enforce the law at roadside and on the sand beach.

Need Public Boat Launch Facilities in West Biloxi Area. Ban on
commercial fishing vessels clumping dead fish overboard and strict
enforcement. Better enforcement against glass bottles on beach.
Promote keeping beaches clean.

Improvements should be financed through existing seawall tax.
The items discussed in the Biloxi master waterfront plan are
ambitious, but possible. The beach is a very important factor in
our tourism industry, as well as a source of enjoyment to local
residents. In my opinion, the top priorities should be,
Appearance, Restroom/showers, and public piers.

Use the 2 cent seawall tax to improve it. Something needs to be
done about blowing sand and erosion. Do something about the
pollution.

Continue to investigate way to eliminate beach erosion from the
southerly winds. Ticket people who park illegally on the beach
and on the medians.

I would like to see a little better cooperation between the
Highway Department and the Chamber concerning removal of excess
sand on Highway 90. This past Memorial Day was a classic
example. We had miles of sand piled up along both sides of U. S.
90 at the beginning of a very major tourist holiday. It would
probably benefit the appearance of the whole coast if the sand
removal project could be accomplished a week or so prior to any
major holiday (to allow time for rains, etc.) and not on the
holidays themselves.

Need to pump sand to widen the beach. Enforce the glass
container law. Closer enforcement of proper parking.

We need a police patrol to insure against litter, glass
containers, bon fires not cleaned up, etc.. It is my opinion no
additional tax would be needed if present tax moncy were used
properly. I understand the 3 or 4 cents per gallon of (jas is
seawall tax to be used for beach maintenance. If it is not being
spent on the beach, where is it? If eroding sand is not replaced
soon, highway 90 will be in the Gulf.

jogging path wider, running on seawall is OK but can be
dangerous.

we are deeply grateful Mississippi has had the foresight to keep
the beaches intact for all the people. Our prayer is that
officials stand firm on no construction. We have visitors from
all section of the U. S. and the one thing that impresses them
most is the open beaches and the palms fluttering in the breeze.
People, large and small enjoying Mississippi treasure. It seems
pertinent that environmental education be stressed in our
schools, not only on the beach but on the water. We spend many
beautiful days fishing in the sound and are distressed by see.ing
people throw everything over the side of their boat. It is not
unusual to bring up a plastic bag or rings from "six packs" on
your hook. lie can blame tourist for littering our beaches, if we
want to fool ourselves, but there are not that many tourists
fishing. Bottles should be prohibited and beach patrol,
enforced. it seems salaries would be contributed to by fines and
less labor necessary to clean areas.

More recreational facilities, public restrooms and cleanliness.

I think that it is very dangerous walking across the highway to
use the restrooms. Something should be done about it. It's
dangerous for kids, families, and tourists to have to run across
Highway 90 to use the restrooms. It causes traffic problems too.

More emphasis on beach activity, restrooms and showers are
needed. If you curtail beach vendors you curtail fun. Control
with the vendors fees but authorities should not restrict these
vendors because of numbers or unfair to the permanent business
located near the beach.

The biggest problem is broken bottles and rusty cans.

Cleanliness, all year. Programs to enlist the aid of.school
children (prizes, contests, ideas) to take pride in our beaches,
plant the seeds for future generations.

I prefer to spend the tax money developing our attractive beetch
for people to see while driving down Highway 90, and for the
amount of use we are experiencing today. I see no reason to
clutter the beach with showers and baths. Bike paths would cost
to much for the little use that would be made.

Remove the old pilings that dot the beach. Clean the debris at
low tide. Install lighting on the piles for night activities.
Encourage private investment in boat rentals for fishing or
motoring to Deer Island. The development of the beach WOUld
expend the tax base to help off set development cost. The
"Seawall" tax should be received to ensure that the monies
collected is going to where it was intended. The Coast needs to
develop a family oriented atmosphere.

The beach is nice as is. I t would be good to have extras
mentioned above but I do not feel it is important. I do not go
to the beach alot, but when I do the litter control has always
been excellent.

Do not allow too much regulation, let people enjoy the beach
without having to deal with government.

The out of state use of the beaches, especially in Pass
Christian, brings in absolutely no revenue. Something needs to
be done about this situation. The litter control is excellent
after the litter has been left, but the problem of proper
putting it there to begin with must be addressed. Fines for
violations should be enforced by fines, that are made to be paid.

The beach is OK for sun bathing and sports, but to enjoy water
activities I think most people go to florida where the water is
cleaner. More attention should be paid to the water than to the
beach itself.

I think this survey missed the most important question. Local
residents know better than to go in the water. Makifiga "pretty
beach" will not solve the basic problem.

Showers are not necessary. cabanas are not necessary. I would
suggest, if possible, purchase of properties east of the Biloxi
harbor to be made into parking.

Preventing individuals from using glass bottles/containers. I
spend most of my beach time picking up glass.

Remove old piling for which there are no planned uses.

Beaches behind Shoney's are unclean, trash and glass in abundance
in water and on beach.

I would like to see natural vegetation on the [)each, not palm
trees. Safety is important, especially at night. Piers with
fish cleaning.tables, so people won't clean their fish on the
benches.

I think if the beachs were cleaner it would bring more tourism
into the city, therefore I feel if there were constant workers
who did nothing but pick up trash, especially during the shrimp
season when we have all the matter float up on the beach, that
would be a tremendous start. Also, I think if there were just a
place for elderly people to go on the [)each, a good inany senior
citizens can't got around very good, so that leaves walking on
sand out of the question. There should be a walkway for our
seniors so that they may also use the beach. If we had vendors
on the beach for refreshments that would be terrific. If you
want something to drink or eat you have to go into a restaurant
and usually your not dressed to go into one.

I feel that a public pier similar to West Side of Gulf Park would
be nice (but not necessary), I like our beach uncluttered and
would not like to see it commercial.

In the Long Beach area I would like beach maintained free of
commercial establishment, the beach sand maintained free of
debris, and install a restroom area.

Long range plans should provide boating and other concessions to
interest condo and resort guests.

The Least Tern Protection areas should be removed and converted
back to beach area for tourists. All the islands are full of
Least Terns, if they were ever an endangered species, they most
certainly are not now. Many tourist complain about this.

The Sand Beach could be maintained for less money, if the sand
was not constantly churned by those cleaning machines. We are
creating dust bowl conditions. Settle the sand and cleaning up
litter by hand would allow grass to take hold and would help the
sand to stay put. There would still be enough room Eor
sunbathers and games to take place.

Living in Long Beach our beach. is not commercialized, I simply
would like to see it kept clean and not being exposed to
profanity and trashy people. Very simple requests, I think.

Add more palm trees, shaded tables, clean restrooms, locked after
dark, outdoor showers, allow no new business on the south side of
berm, enforce strongly laws on litter and destruction. Allow all
vendors with approved merchandise. Put electric lights and
restrooms on piers.

More pav.ed parking areas, sitting piers, wood walkways and piers,
showers and restrooms facilities in obviously frequented public
areas. Possibly even life guards.

Legislature being asked to declare tourism an industry. When
this is done a great deal of the seawall tax should be used for
beach projects. It is my opinion that seawall tax should not be
used for industrial park construction and maintenance but Eor
repair of seawall and beach maintenance and beach projects.

Pedestrian overpasses (over Highway 90) connecting the beach
with the motels are desperately needed. These should be in the
following areas: Holiday Inn, Gulfport, Best Western, Hilton,
D'Iberville, Between Cowan and Teayarden. If not overpasses, at
least cross walks with lights and lines.

For tourist benefits, Chamber of Commerce should be open 7 days a
week,.'being weekends are very busy.

.23

Step up the litter enforcement, especially glass containers is my
number one concern. Public piers with boat launches, restrooms,
showers and cabanas in clusters at the major points of public
usage along the beach i s a good idea. Clean up of these
facilities would be expensive, so maybe a user fee could be
enforced.

Stricter control over the litter, especially enforcing glass and
cans thrown around, by use of more beach patrol personnel,
increase the number of litter containers on the beach. More
personnel needed b the County to keep beaches clean of debris and
trash especially on Deer Island. one suggestion might be to use
prisoners or minor offenders of the law, or even a summer program
for high school student to keep Biloxi Beautiful. Secondly,
shelters or picnic tables, possibly concrete which would be
vandal proof, grills would be an excellent improvement to the
coast area.

Closer cleaning at Waterline, Highway crossovers for pedestrians.

Desperate need for public restrooms, more diagonal parking as is
to the south of Hilton Hotel.

It appears to this observer, that existing funds could be better
utilized if resources (people) were pooled, priorities
determined, and permit one agency to oversee all phases of beach
operation, protection, and the like.

The area around the new I-10 loop needs to be seriously looked
at. I know that there has already been several recommendations
for this area and also question as to who would be responsible
for its development. This area should be given primary
consideration as it will be the receiving area for much in-bound
traffic. My specific concern is that it doesn't become a
derelict area that occurs under so many interstate structures.

The first thing we need is to try to bring more business into
Biloxi, especially on the sand beach. We can attract more
tourists and local people by growing more palm trees on the
beach, benches under shade of the palm trees. Set up some
showers for swimmers and issue more permit licenses for food on
wheels. That means we create many more jobs for our community.

The beach would improve itself if not graded so much. The sand
would bleach out white, sand dunes would form, sea oats could
grow and grass would hold the sand off the road. There would be
enough sand by the water for everyone.

The people of Harrison County are taxed enough. Some Government
Office get the seawall tax. This seawall have been paid for many
times over!! What is this money used for? If we are going to be
taxed for the seawall, why not use this money for improvements of
the beach.

Look at the possibility of private enterprise being responsible
for restrooms, showers litter control, etc. in exchange for
vending rights.

Specific plan to handle drainage, sand erosion and vegetation.

Continue to improve the entire Sand Beach.

I see no reason why additional taxes should be required after
years of seawall tax being paid in. If additional funds are
required, which will be, then there are part of Biloxi's
Waterfront Master Plan that should be integrated with the Sand
Beach Master Plan and funded from bond money accordingly.

Your doing good Jeff.

Enforce litter laws on the beach. The litter is a disgrace and
it blows into the highway and lawns along the beach. A well lit
(street lights) would improve the beach area.

Add bath houses, bathrooms, pavillions, decks, landscaping and
snack stands, beachside camping for RV's, etc.. Several
protected swimming areas with Lifeguards, pavillions, etc., large
and long government owned fishing piers, with fishing tackle
rentals and snack bar.

The reason we no longer use the beaches is due to dirty water and
trash washed up on the shoreline are.as and lack of available
parking.

Remove drains which act as jetties and interfere with littoral
drift. Beach would be self cleaning through action of tides,
storm surge and littoral drift. Get machines off beach, they
destroy the dune formation process. Leave vegetation and
driftwood alone. Use prisoners to pick up trash. Prohibit
parking on U. S. 90 right of way, extremely dangerous. Require
parking north of Ilwy., if necessary lease property to use as
parking space for users of beach.

Until you control the raw sewage from being drained into the Gulf
I would not support the spending of tax money to improve the
beach.

Keep pushing on this.

The area next to the Gpt. Small Craft Harbor always get left out.

Please pump sand in, to make beach larger.

What-are you doing to improve the quality of the water? The
water is in much worse shape than the beach.

Combine by code the Parkway and the Sand Beach maintenance into
new organization. Vendors to pay fees to the new organization.
Vendors or their organization responsible for providing clean
restrooms with approval of location and type/design resting with
new organization.

More frequent patrols and much stricter enforcement of litter
laws, including stiff fines. Outlaw rental of motorized
recreational equipment along the beach, such as "Jet Skis".
Aside from being dangerous to swimmers and inexperienced
operators, they are a- noisy nuisance. Outlaw vendors of all
kinds on public property, i.e. U. S. Ilwy. 9'0, seawall, etc.

A law prohibiting glass containers on the beach is greatly
needed. Warning signs could be painted on the sea wall with
little or no maintenance.

The beach is plain dirty, the water is not fit to swim in if
something is not done soon the tourist business will disappear.
Activities are needed to keep interest up other than the beach.

I have had a long time interest in the coast getting its full
potential from the Sand Beach. As it is we have so .much to
offer, but with certain improvements we could offer so much more.

Impose stiff fines for litter, especially glass and cans.

our beach fronts are very dangerous at waters edge. Cuts and
bruises from rocks and bottles 'not only happen daily, but keep
many from using the beaches. once cleaned up the job of keeping
it clean would not be too big. Those rocks at waters edge should
go.

The sand beach has got to be Harrison County's number one tourist
attraction. Ile are losing more and more tourist to the Alabama
and northern Florida beaches every year. I recommend more
emphasis on litter control in the short term plan and a major
Sand Beach renovation for long term.

Wish water were cleaner.

What is happening to the existing "Sea wall Tax" revenues?

Charge for parking, Coast residents $1.00 all day, Miss.
residents $2.00, non-residents $4.00. Not to be put into meters
but to have booths to collect the money, this way they could
help handicapped and elderly out of their car.

Showers and restrooms should not be built anywhere south of Ilwy.
90. 1 will be happy to discuss my reasons for stronjly believing
this .

Highway 90 needs more turn lanes. We are constantly almost run
over even after using a blinker to notify oncoming cars of our
impending turn onto our street. Also the sand needs to be
removed f rom turning bays in the median on a regular basis if not
at least after a bad rainy day. Beach highways need better
drainage.

HARRISON COUNTY SCHOOLS

When (lead fish wash ashore, authorized people should pick them up
and throw them into the trash. There needs to be a lifeguard.
You never know what's going to happen.

In other areas I have visited there are vendors for everything
under the sun, litter everywhere and total wrecking of a natural,
beautiful beach. I would hate to see this happen to our area.
Ile need no raw sewage in the water, no pollution in the water, a
better way of corntrolling traffic on Highway 90 during the
tourist season, better marking of shortcuts to I-10 and stricter
enforcement of beach laws.

Ile need strict fines on litter and more beach patrol.. I believe
the financing should come from sea wall taxes which have been
paid for ten years.

Ile need rental chairs and public bathrooms. If we shape up our
beaches tourism will be 100% better.

I think maybe they should fine people for littering the beach,
including the area where the birds nest. Protecting our wildlife
is important. I think they should keep those boats (rom turning
up the sand because it makes our beach water black and dirty
looking.

I would like to see the water cleaned and holes that cause fatal
accidents to be filled. I would also like to see a certain part
of tile beach set off for small children and approved lifeguards
appointed to different areas of the beach durinj holidays and on
weekends.

Glass containers shouldn't be allowed, as well as (logs. Also
when people fish off the beach, they should riot leave their
unwanted catches lying along the beach. The bones are dangerous
from tile fish, because a barefoot person could suffer a serious
injury; and the smell can be very bad.

It needs a playground.

Ile do not ever go to the beach for fun, but we have taken out of
state people to view it and they feel the same way we do. it
needs to be cleaned up with more police patrol.

We do not go to the beach.

The areas in the harbor where small boats are docked need to be
cleaned and dredged.

PLease have new swings and amusement equipment installed for
children.

11ave a strict law against all glass oil the beach an(] animals. I
have walked the beach many times and picked up enormous amounts
of glass along the water's edge. It seems like something could
be more enforced about the issue.

Enforce the litter laws and stop boats from throwing off trash.

If out of state tags were charged $5.00 per day to use our
beaches no additional taxes would be needed. Harrison and 11ancock
beaches are getting worse than Florida during the summer. Local
residents don't enjoy them because it is almost impossible ' to
find a place to park on weekends and holidays so why should we
pay additional taxes for the pleasure of others?

Do not allow glass containers on the beach. Require out of state
motorists to have a decal that local motels and service stations
give to customers to say that Louisiana people can buy one tank
of gas or spend one night a year or charge a tee on a yearly
basis.

Make the laws concerning the beach more publicly known and then
make it stick when you catch someone breaking them. Put up
cabanas containing showers and dressing rooms and charge for
them. People don't mind paying for a little privacy.

The beaches need to be cleaned up around the piers, the erosion
to the highway surface needs attention, and some system for
highway drainage in the low spots along the beach needs to be
developed.

Public officials can see with their own eyes what needs to be
done on the beach, but raising taxes is not the answer. Our
streets.and schools need to come first. These areas have been
neglected long enough. our beaches can wait.

I think there should be parking meters in front of each parking
space. This is the way it is in Florida. Mississippians have to
pay for the clean-up and maintenance for the beach for the out-
of-towners. if parking meters were there, it would help defray
the costs. Make the ones using the beach pay for it. There is a
lot of Mississippians that don't use the beach. Why should they
be taxed?

I believe the (rass that is growing in certain areas on the beach
13
is very unattractive. Also I would like to say the beach area of
Gulfport Harbor looks great.

Broken bottles seem to be the major nulsance on the beach. I
would really like to see a strictly enforced ordinance to keep
all glass off the beach.

I feel like it is necessary to clean up the bathing area. Also
restrooms are a necessity for every beach goer.

CLean up the water and beach line.

I hardly go to the beach because all the tables and the shelters
have been taken down. That fence is very ugly.

We need more palm trees on the beach.

We need better control to enforce existing regulations. Also
have people that build bonfires clean up their mess afterwards.

There should be clean water, clean sand and no dogs.

Stop septic and waste water from entering the Gulf.

I would recommend a strict enforcement of no glass on beaches. I
would also like to see designated areas on the beach for camping
with tents maybe with a 14-day limit on them.

The water is filthy. There is broken glass in the water as far
as 4 feet deep.

Keep policeman or some type of law in these areas at all hours.
Fine the people who litter and throw glass and trash over the
beaches and the highway, and stop the sewage from going into our
Gulf waters.

I would like to see them enforce the glass law on the beach.
There's so much broken glass from beer bottles and drink bottles
it's actually dangerous for kids to play and swim. If you can't
enforce the glass law the beach communities should have their
business people consider only stocking their drinks in cans and
plastic bottles. If people can't buy them in glass containers
they can't smash them on the beach. The drink companies make
returnable glass containers. Let them make returnable cans.

In my opinion the more beautiful we keep our beaches, the more
pleasant our trip is to the beach. A more beautiful beach would
generate more income from increased tourism. I strongly believe
in keeping the beach free of litter, especially glass bottles and
cans.

There has to be something done about cleaning the water.

We were here visiting. When we walked the beach on Ilwy. 90 the
litter was awful. The Base Commander prefers that military
families not use the beach because of pollution.

I think it's just a shame that: there is all that beach and it
looks so terrible. Nobody seems to care where they put their
trash. I think more beach patrol ar.e near-led and a fine for
littering should be strictly enforced. A few $100 fines given
out and made to be paid would make people think twice about
littering.

There needs to be no glass or pets. The sand needs to be cleaned.

We did not use the beach at all during our 5 years at Keesler due
to the litter and, foremost, the water itself.

The beaches would be so much nicer if the glass and dangerous
materials could be removed from the sand.

Litter control and the enforcement of the no glass containers
rule should have top priority. Showers and restrooms should come
second.

Put more trees for shade.

The beach needs cleaning. The broken glass needs to be picked up.

Our beaches should be made to attract tourists. Flowers and
restrooms are a must. People also get turned off by alcoholic
beverages being consumed in large amounts and obnoxious comments
from the drunks. Beaches should be for everyone-not just one
select group of people.

Keep it clean.

Until we no longer have waste in our water, we won't be able to
use our beaches with comfort.

our beach and the water are a disgrace.

I know it would be difficult, but one of the main problems, I
feel, is the Biloxi beaches had is trash in the wading areas and
along the shoreline.

The water is disgusting.

Clean up the water. The beach is nice from a distance, but
filthy close up. It's not very healthy.

There should be some kind of patrol on the beach to assure that
people don't litter or break bottles. All glass Should be
cleaned up from the beach for the safety of the people who use
the beach area.

Clean up glass in the water and on tile beach.

During a recent trip to Gulf Shores, Al, I noticed that the
public beaches had an ideal setup. They had a wooden boardwalk
along tile north side of the beach and about every 500 feet a
covered pavilion with b(--.,nches for the sunburned. I'liere were also
several outdoor showers where people could wash away sand getting
into their cars. These such improvements would draw more people
to our beaches, locals and tourists.

Stop, at once, bjusiness and private disposal of waste water and
products into storm drains. ALl places should be required to
hook into tile sewer system. This would help a great deal in
making the water more sanitary.

I believe that inmates of local city and county jails should be
used to clean up beach areas. People who receive DUIs should
have to help clean up also.

We need playgrounds on different parts of the beach for the
little kids.

We need bathrooms.

Restrooms are a must. Additional lighting would be helpful.

The beach is O.K., but the water is filthy. It's the main reason
why we don't go to the beach.

CLean up the water by finding an alternative sewage.

Clean up tile water.

I believe more time and effort should be put in cleaning the
water than putting any more money into tile sand beaches. Then
maybe more people would take their families swimming.

We need bathrooms and more shady areas.

Put the tables back oil Lhe beaches with shelters over them like
before. I think more people would use the beaches. Ile need the
swings back.

I do not think that any additional taxes are needed to finance
improvements for tile beach. We pay plenty of tax when we buy
license plates and our roads are not kept up accordingly to the
rate of tax we pay.

The sea wall tax should cover basic improvements, however a one
to two percent tax for short term duration would be acceptable
for immediate improvements. Short term would be no longer than 2
or 3 years. Dredge area to improve swimming and accompanying
boardwalk with food, rest areas, games,etc, to provide revenue
for maintenance of this area. Also this area should have a
lifeguard.

The only way to improve the beach would be to improve the quality
of the water. Remove all buildings frorn. the beach side of HVIY.
90 and put sand dunes in their place.

Clean the water. Stop dropping sewage in the Gulf. There need
to be more launching ramps on West Beach Biloxi.

Put the tables back on the beaches with shelters over them like
before. I think more people would use the beach. Put the swings
back, also.

The amount of trash found immediately offshore is shocking.
Could not workers from the county jail be employed to police this
critical offshore portion of the beach during the winter when the
tide is low?

Halt the procedure of dumping sewage in the water.

The beach needs to be cleaned up.

Pick up glass, fish bones, sharp sticks and shells. Put picnic
tables out to eat on.

Beach improvements should come from existing revenues. YOU COUld
charge for usage of beaches like l4ew Jersey does.

Playground equipment. could be used by our kids while we're at the
beach.

As was done in the 1950's-windrowing should be used to keep the
sand from blowing on the highway. It was successful then and
would be now. This should be clone especially during the winter
months when the beach is not used extensively and not so much in
the summer so the sand could pack making it easier to walk on the
beach.

Keep the Long Beach area as attractive as the Gulfport area. The
Gulfport area is kept much cleaner and the sand is sifted much
more often then the Long Beach area.

I think that the people from Louisiana who use our beaches on the
weekend and summer months should share the cost of upkeep and
maintenance.

Our family would like to see our beach area maintained in as
close to natural state as possible.

The birds should revert to the islands, a natural habitat. The
beach is not nature's plan for the birds.

Enforce glass ordinance.

11ave bonfires strictly monitored.

Prevent further commercialization along the beach front and the
accompanying degradation of the natural state of the beach.
Erect sand fencing from November to March to retain sand on beach
and to keep it o f f11WY. 90. This me t hod has been used
successfully along the Atlantic Coast.

They need more restrooms and more picnic tables on all beaches.

Enforce litter laws and improve the drainage system. Water that
pours into the Gulf through the drain systems is almost always
dirty with bottles and trash of all kinds.

We need more picnic areas, more bathrooms and showers, and more
boat launches.

We need to clean up the water. The trash floating around is
terrible. We need to figure out how to get the Louisiana folks
that come over for the day to spend money in our city to supply
some of the revenue for making the improvement mentioned above.

Build more shades or plant something that will provide such an
effect. The sewers are an unattractive site.

Improve the beach patrol to prevent littering and secure public
safety. The litter at Henderson's point needs cleaning up.

Do something about the traffic along the beaches.

Enforce no glass and no littering ordinance.

Clean the water. Enforce no glass law on the beach.

Make a smaller area in one part of the beach for the Least Tern
birds; they don't need miles and miles of beach. People come
down to enjoy our beaches. If they don't have anywhere to go
because of the birds, the people will start to go somewhere else.

Arrange to have litter barrels on the beach emptied by Monday
afternoon following the weekends during peak season. There needs
to be stricter enforcement of articles on beach such as glass
bottles and other breakable items. There should be no pets on
beach.

We've already been charged a seawall tax for the last 20 years or
so, that has been used for many other things not even related to
the beach. If the seawall tax were to be used exclusively for
beach maintenance and improvements, there would be no need for
additional taxes.

We need better quality and more frequent beach patrol, better
maintained,wildlife, improved 'Litter control, and the fishing
boats need to be further away from shore.

Build a bridge to Ship Island.

We need enforced litter control programs.

We need showers, restrooms and refreshments.

Pavilions can be used to hold birthday parties.

Enforce the no pets and no glass ordinances. I don't know what
needs to be done, but the water is so dirty we do not swim.

Tear down the Long Beach Yacht Club and re-build the children
playground. I bet there are more families living in Long Beach
with small children than there are families that own yachts.

I think we should establish fines for glass containers being used.
on the beach and fines for littering. I also think we should do
whatever possible to get rid of all the Least Terns trying to
nest in areas not designated for them.

There should be areas for large concentrations of people and
duned areas for nature lovers. Planting grass would improve sand
holding abilities. Restrooms, parking lots, cabanas and showers
in picnic areas would localize concentrations of people making it
easier for litter control.

The main problems with our beaches is the water. The water has
never been deep enough or clean enough to swim in.

Add more shaded areas with tables for picnic,s with trash cans.

The water is unclean for swimming. What a waste.

Beautification of any kind is fruitless unless, existing laws
against litter are enforced or new more strict laws are
implemented. Litter along the beach is worse than ever.

We need more security control.

Just clean it up.

There are just too many tourists on the beach, especially during
the summer months, for the long time local residents to find a
place to park and enjoy the beach that Our taxes maintain year
round.

We need bet-ter litter control.

We need to stop building across Ilwy. 49. The water and sand need
to be cleaned.

If our beaches were improved it would greatly be appreciated
among the local people an(] it would increase tourism.

There needs to be a higher priority to clean up the dangerously
polluted water. Instead of new taxes perhaps they can reallocate
existing revenues to take care of these problems. Look into how
the seawall taxes are being used. Existing efforts in pollution
control in both residential and commercial activities must be
vigorously pursued. Consideration should be given to charging
user fees such as $5.00 per bonfire or small charges for showers
and bath house facilities.

I enjoy looking at the beach, but every time I decide to get any
closer and walk on it or wade in the water, I become discusted.
J
When you get close up there is still a lot of litter in the sand
and the water is horrible. I would not even consider swimming in
our water at this time because every time I have allowed my
children to swim in the Gulf they have developed throat and ear
infections.

Safety signs could be put up as to how far children can wade and
be safe. The water should be tested often and the public should
be aware if the water is not safe to swim or wade in.
Remodel and light Courthouse Rd. Pier, Moses Pier, and Westside
Pier.

Clean the beach up. There is too much glass. The water is
horrible.

Ile definitely need more parking. Benches should be erected every
so often. A boardwalk Would be nice.

We need more picnic facilities.

There needs to be some concern about the sanitation of the water.

Restrooms are very much needed. I don't care for the beach being
used as a bath or pool for dogs. More trees are needed.

There should be a stiff fine for people who do not clean up after
themselves and who use glass containers on the beach. Use high
school and college youths to patrol areas with authority to give
citations for unwanted use of beach site. It would provide
responsibility and jobs for many young people.

Do away with fines for pets; some humans make a much larger mess.

By improving the beach I believe you would add immensely to the
attraction and would pay for itself in tourist revenues.

Clean it up.

We need cabanas and sheds for shade, picnic tables with grills,
and playground facilities for children.

People would take better care of the beaches if the town did.
You have a lot of tourists and a busy traffic road. Restrooms
and showers would please the people, especially the people from
out of town. They might stay longer too.

The addition of restroom facilities and litter control would
improve the revenue of the city by more tourists. Biloxi beach
is one of the most beautiful I have seen, but it is also one of
the most polluted.

Enforce litter control. Violators of no littering ordinances
should be fined heavily.

There should be special areas for jet skis because of children's
swimming. Speed boats should stay from shore and around piers
where people are fishing. A lifeguard is needed in heavily
swimmed areas.

Clean up the glass and water.

There should be better enforcement of restrictions concerning
glass. Consider putting a boardwalk that would accommodate
fishing, bicycles, walking, skating,etc. There need to be some
areas with deep water and lifeguards for swimming.

Clean the water.

You need clean water and white sand.

Clean the sand and water so people won't cut their feet.

More lighting is needed for people that like to sit on the beach
at night.

Reduce the number of vendors on the beach. [lave specifled
swimming areas with cabanas, restrooms and showers. Keep Ithe
bottom of these areas free from dangerous debris.

Leave it alone.

We need more public fishing piers.

We need to keep the trash in the garbage cans. People need to
practice water safety.

The water quality is terrible. The sight of the culvert emptying
into the sound does nothing to make me want to use the beach.

Clean up the watex and station lifeguards. Tile beach water
closely resembles a sewer. Our greatest attraction on the Coast
is such a disappointment.

The beach has improved, but there's still a lot of trash. If
only the water wasn't so bad by the shore.

In front of Paradise Ave. there are concrete stacks and they are
very dangerous to the city. Would you do something about it
before someone gets hurt?

Keep the beach cleaner and get more trash cans.

Tourism is one of our most important industries. Th-is greatly
aids our community by (1)increasing jobs, (2)larger tax based on
increasing business and revenue. If we don't improve our
resources to compete with neighboring Dauphin Island, we can kiss
our lovely revenues "good-bye" and expect the taxes to be spread
among fewer tax payers.

The beach area should be extended and kept at a certain houndary
line. I would like to see recreational areas established with
restrooms, rentals and refreshments available in one location
with adequate parking off of ilwy. 90. 1 would like to see the
Least Tern Area abolished.

I would like to see more public work details from the ranks of
the DUI's and convicted men. Beautification an(] recreational
maintenance must be actively on-going for tourist attraction and
local pride. If the quality in a "Sand Beach Master Plan" should
surface through wise unselfish planning with recreational and
esthetic benefits for all protected by law, I feel t1fat my family
and I would eagerly enjoy and participate.

Gulfport beach needs more parking locations. Also the sand spurs
are annoying on the beach.

Take the glass out of the water and off the sand and other
objects. We need new trashcans. New barbeque pits Would stop
the people from building fires on the beach. It should have a
beach patrol. No glass allowed on beach, if caught will be fined
$100.

Clean the beaches. Build another park. Try not to let people
pollute the water.

Find where existing tax dollars are going. We obviously are not
getting them even though this is not a high tax area. There
should be enough dollars to not only improve the beaches and make
them more attractive to residents and tourists but the latter
would return dollars to help pay for improvements, especially
with concessions sold..

They need to clean the seaweed and dead fish from the water.
Blow up the islands. The water would be more like Alabama -and
Florida beaches.

Something needs to be done about the appearance of the water. We
need more picnic areas.

I would like to see some portions of the beach patrolled more
thoroughly by the police.

I work on the beach and I think that the driftwood needs to be
cleaned up. More beach patrol. The parasail needs to be farther
out. Someone is going to get hurt. No more rentals than are
now. Dead fish need to be cleaned up.

Keep area nearest water clean of debris, dead fish,etc. Have
more covered area's from which you could retreat from the sun.

Do something to make the water cleaner. We would be willing to
pay more tax to accomplish this. Use less beach space for the
birds. We feel both the above hurts tourism.

I feel that restrooms and showers would improve the appeal of the
beach but these facilities would be a detriment if they could.
not be kept clean and free of abuse. I question whether this can
be done without almost constant maintenance.

Have it controlled in some way to help improve the litter and to
clean the shore of the trash and litter from the water.

Need to clean the beach and try as much as possible to keep it
really neat and clean for tourists and our own people. Put inore
playground equipment for children. KEEP THE BEACH CLEAN.

If the water was as clear and clean as the water in Florida or
California I wouln't.mind improvements, but the way it is now any
improvement would be useless. [lave you seen the water?
dirty,brown,scumy--YUKIYUKI

The palm trees and cactus plants improve appearance 100%. More
of these would be a nice improvement. Some people complain about
vendors. I think vendors, sailboats, etc. add to the beach,
making it more lively and attractive. It is looking better all
the time. I remember when it used to be plain and (lead looking.

Ile need more police patrols to keep off undesirables so decent
people can use the beach without any fear for their children's
safety.

Put more playground equipment for children, more showers, beach
walls, clean the sand on the beach. Standing by the water's edge
I saw soda and beer bottles washed up. Diapers and boxes of all
kinds were there too. These were things that people take on
their boats and throw overboard, The Coast Guard should take
notice and start fining $1000 to anyone throwing junk off boats
or people on beaches leaving garbage or throwing stuff on
beaches. They have people watching out for the ones who abuse
alcohol. It's bad enough that regular people have no concern for
others than these drunks who never even-care about themselves.
Parents should start suing the city if their children get hurt at
the beach while they are with them. Or we should not go at all.
I would not advise at this time any of iny relatives up north to
vacation down here for it-is ugly.
They need to get the black stuff out of the water. They need to
clean the sand up. They need more garbage cans. They need more
tables and little huts.

I do not have much to do with the beach so you can do what you
want to do.

Gulfport Harbor is the only place we have swings. I think
tourists like to have the sets for when they come for sunbathing
they can watch their children swing.

There is no way to improve the beach unless you can make the
water better. I do not go to the beach except maybe once a year
because I think the water is polluted. If you can clean up the
water I will start going to the beach more often.

Someone is needed to clean the beach and keep it clean.
Children's safety should be kept in mind. More tables and huts
are needed.

More litter control is needed. There should be a law that all
pets had to be on leashes.

I realize there's not a lot we can do to clean up our ocean
water, but there's no limit to what we could do for our beaclies.
The better the beaches the more tourists we'd have, which brings
in more money. The little kids swings are made of metal. They
should be made of plastic. I have seen a couple of small children
get badly hurt from those heavy metal swings.

I know there are signs to control litter, but they don't do much
good.

Gulfport Harbor is the only place on tile beaches we haVE! to
swing. I recall the extra pleasure we had gotten to go down in
the evenings to watch the sun set while the children played oil
the swings.

There is a need of cleaning or clearing tile water of pollution,
and the sand in some areas is not white.

The worst thing is the obvious contamination of tile water. 1,his
will eventually have to be improved to avoid 'the elimination of
sea life anywhere near the shore and health risks to humans.

I think a law should be passed to fine trespassers on the nesting
areas. More bungalos for shade should be built. Also tables and
beaches. All the parking should not be reserved for cars
belonging to boat owners since about 60% of the boats tied at our
piers are from out of town. The citizens of Gulfpor-t have gotten
a raw deal on that.

Cleaner water.

There's so much broken glass, I make our children wear shoes to
the beach. Such a shame people break bottles all the time.

Clean beaches after storms and- clean up dead fish, dead birds,
bottles, food and beer cans.

Beaches are looking a little better. The water looks terrible.

More signs need to be posted letting the public know that it is
against the law to damage piers(including lights). Why can't the
boat ramp and depth of area be improved at Courthouse Pier?

Cleaner water beautifies sites for tourists and the people who
live here.

The seawall tax has been misused. If the seawall has to be paid
for, the taxes should be channeled to the beach area. In return
it would bring in more revenue and further more taxes. The beach
is our asset and should be expanded for tourism with more fishing
reefs, more piers and more live bait shops. Ile are not serving
the needs of the people.

Our beaches are very nice and extremely important to tile economic
growth of the Gulf Coast. We must make and keep the coastal area
attractive, clean and convenient, if we are to attract tourists.

It would be nice to have picnic areas with some shade, tables,
barbeques, waste disposals and restrooms. We also need soine
lifeguards. Also a nice idea would be to have ramps overhead so
that people could cross the highway easily and not have to
contend with tile traffic. Another good idea would he to put up a
couple of lookout towers so one could get a better view of what
is further out. Also bicycle paths would be nice.

Install a retainer fence to keep sand from blowing onto highway.
Enforce a no drinking of alcoholic beverages on the beach law to
cut down on can and bottle litter.

We need more lawn chairs, better litter control and better
parking.

Clean the water up.

We need a playground on different parts of the beach for little
kids.

ALl these improvements would make the beach nicer but as long as
the water is so filthy one will not use the beach more than once
or twice a summer.

Improve shoreline cleanliness if possible.

CIVIC CLUBS/DROP-OFFS

If some vegetation were allowed to grow, tile vegetation would
help stop sand from blowing away. If some semblance of a natural
beach could be established, it would improve the appearance and
make the beach more stable.

Have uniform beach patrol to control littler and others disturbing
the peace.

Areas used by locals don't dictate the same services as areas
used by tourists. The section by Pass Christian attracts
primarily Louisiana traffic. In that area, restrooms,
refreshments and showers would be appreciated.

Specific trash and dead fish need to be picked up at water's
edge.

Boardwalks along frequently used sections of the beach are
needed. During the summer outdoor cafes in temporary structures
would be nice.

I would like to see more restrooms and showers on the beaches.

Get rid of birds and let people back on.

We need more boat slips.

Have stricter laws for shrimpers discharging trash and dead fish
in the water. Set up fines if they are caught.

I know that it is impossible, but it would be nice if there were
some way to charge a small fee for using tile beach.

PUBLIC MEETING EXIT SURVEYS

November 12, 13, and 14, 1985

One important objective of the November public meetings was to document the publics'
response to the preliminary Master Plan concepts presented during those meetings. In
particular, public response was sought regarding four major concepts: 1) the basic plan
concept of balancing higher use recreational activity areas with preset-vat ion/conserva Lion
areas; 2) the establishment of three management categories to designate different
0
shoreline segments for different types and intensites of use and, where appropriate, to
indicate where new facilities for beach users should be located; 3) the introduction of
beach stabilization and erosion control measures; and 4) addition taxation to support
beach improvements. At the conclusion of each public meeting, attendees were asked
to complete an exit survey addressing each of these four concepts. As shown on the
following page, the tabulated results indicate public endorsement of the approach and
concepts contained in the Preliminary Master Plans for both Harrison and Hancock
Counties.

EXIT SURVEY RESULTS

1. Do you agree with the overall concepts of the plan presented here tonight? Yes

Meeting Total Total
Location % Respondents Slarvevs

Biloxi 29 1002 29 31.
Gulfport 40 82% 47 51

Hancock 68 71- 75

TOTAL 137 91% 150 157

2. Do you agree with the establishment of Beach Management Categories 1, 11 and III
presented in the plan here tonight? Yes

Biloxi 30 97% 31

Culfport 39 852 46
Hancock 65 88% 74

TOTAL 134 892 151

3. Since something needs to be done to prevent beach erosion, do you arree with the
introduction of beach vegetation and other control measures (e.g. san& fencing) to
reduce beach loss and associated maintenance costs? Yes

Biloxi 30 100% 30
Gulfport 50 98% 51
Hancock 75 100% 75

TOTAL 155 99Z 156

4. Would you consider an additional tax to finance the improvements discussed here
tonight? Yes

Biloxi 23 762 30

Gulfport 25 56:1. 45

li3neock 58 79% 73

TOTAL 109 73% 148

5. How did you hear about tonirlit's meeting:

Biloxi GiMport liaticnek

Television 16 20 46

Newspaper 20 51 71
Radio 6 4 10

Other 11 3S 116

APPENDIX D:

SAND BEACH TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

AND

EXECUTIVE POLICY COUNCIL

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

John Scafide, Jr., Chairman - Bay St. Louis
Bobby Boudin - Hancock County Civil Defense Director
Millie Bradtman - Bay St. Louis
Mike Carron - Bay St. Louis
Donald Caserta - Waveland
Lisa Cowand - Bay St. Louis
Ellis Cuevas - Sea Coast Echo
Jimmy DeBlanc - Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission
Nancy Gex - Waveland
Clarice Gustin - Chamber of Commerce (Former Director)
Gwen Hogan - Bay St. Louis
Robert-Kane - Bay St. Louis
Jennell Kern - Bay St. Louis
Ray Kidd - Waveland
Buddy Klien - Waveland
Frank McNeil - Bay St. Louis
Libby Milner - Chamber of Commerce (Director)
Don Murray - Bay St. Louis
Mike Necalse - Chancery Clerk
Sybil Paul - Bay St. Louis
Mary Perkins - Bay St. Louis
Vincent Schott - Waveland
Louis Smolensky - Waveland Councilman
Dorothy Sutton - Waveland
Richard Thomas - Bay St. Louis
Sue VanZandt - Bay St. Louis

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Hancock County Board of Supervisors
Bert Courrege, District I
A. Dolph Kellar, District 2
Roger Dale Ladner, District 3
Sam Perniclaro, District 4
James Travirca, District 5

Mayors
Vic Francklewicz, Bay St. Louis
John Longo, Waveland

Chairman Ex Officio
Dr. Richard Leard, Bureau Director, Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, Bureau
of Marine Resources

APPENDIX E:

EXECUTIVE POLICY COUNCIL RESOLUTION

ADOPTING MASTER PLAN

Hancock-Harrison
County
Sand Beach Master Plan

L Ar"111-

RESOLUTION OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

ADOPT SAND BEACH MASTER PLAN

THERE CAME ON for consideration the matter of adopting the Hancock County

Sand Beach Master Plan.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Technical Advisory Council has formulated and adopted a long

range master plan for the protection and utilization of the Hancock County

Sand Beach and related areas; and

WHEREAS, adoption of the Master Plan by we, the Executive Council is

necessary and essential to complete the planning process; and

WHEREAS, implementation of the Master Plan is contingent on the adoption

by the Municipalities and the Board of Supervisors;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sand Beach Executive Council does

adopt the Hancock County Sand Beach Master Plan and recommend that the Board

of Supervisors and the Municipalities adopt the Master Plan, and further that

the Technical Advisory Council assist the Executive Council in the

presentation of the Master Plan to the Public, Municipalities and the Board of

Supervisors for their approval and adoption.
@k-@arrison
ou t
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(308OP)

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT * 1020 32ND AVENUE * GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI 39501 (601) 868-2311

WHEREUPON it was moved by Council Member Cb!irl-e-Se- and seconded by
Council Member kad'ie-P., -, that the foregoing resolution be adopted and

the motion having received unanimous affirmative vote of all members of the

Executive Council, the Ex-officio Chairman declared the motion carried and the

Resolution, this 21st day of May, 1986.

SIGNED

Vic toit,.Franki ewic z To-h Longo

Bert Courrege D ph Keller

I-o Dille'][Tadner Sam Pevciaro

ames Travirca
]p n
ijox
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Tr
a

(3080P)

US Department of Commerce
WOAA Coastal Services center Library
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405-2413

@ 11111 111 11
3 6668 14101 9119