Bill Keith Preserve Shoreline Restoration

The City of Fort Lauderdale engaged WGI to design a shoreline protection project to reduce erosion along the southern extent of the Bill Keith Preserve Park adjacent to the New River. The shoreline stabilization concept was designed based on a coastal engineering assessment to address wave attenuation, currents, vessel generated waves, sediment transport, and sea level rise.

Shoreline stabilization was strategically placed in locations vulnerable to loss of sediments. With resiliency and sustainability an ever-increasing concern among South Florida communities, riprap areas were designed taking into consideration projected sea level rise while avoiding impacts to existing mangroves along the shoreline. WGI environmental scientists took the lead on working with federal, state, and local government regulatory agencies to obtain environmental permits for the project.

An underwater submerged resource survey in addition to a shoreline assessment documenting protected species (e.g., seagrass and mangroves) was performed to support the permitting process. The presence of sensitive cultural and archeological resources located within the upland areas of the Bill Keith Preserve Park presented additional permitting complexities.