Abstract
This pilot study will take an in-depth look at a total of 40 Class I permits for single–family home dock construction between 2010-2015 on the bayside along North Beach, Key Biscayne and the Venetian Islands, in Miami, Florida. The impacts to benthic resources, seagrass and hardbottom communities will be measured in two ways: The total area of the docks will be quantified before and after any coastal construction per the conditions of the issued permit. The total area comprised of benthic resources potentially impacted by the over-water structures will also be measured before and after any coastal construction. The total benthic area preempted by the over-water structures and the total area of benthic resources potentially impacted by the structures will be compared to determine if, through the Class I Permit regulatory process, impacts to benthic resources are effectively minimized and avoided while also providing water access. Both sets of calculations, the proposed and actual dock structures and benthic habitat impacts, will be compared against each other to determine if either category increased or decreased after the evaluation review of the permit. The results of this study will be used to create a protocol for determining the amount of impacts avoided through the regulatory process. All results will be illustrated using ArcGIS.