Beach Outfalls

Currently, the City of Naples Drainage Basin II system collects stormwater and discharges through ten (10) beach outfalls located within the intertidal beach “swash” zone.  These outfalls serve a drainage area of approximately 395 acres.  The City has undertaken a proactive stormwater management program to implement projects and sustainable programs to improve water quality, flooding, and coastal resiliency.  In 2007, the City updated its stormwater masterplan to establish numerous goals and objectives and identified over $70-million in projects and programs aimed at managing stormwater as a resource, maximizing the treatment of water prior to discharge and improving flooding.

There have been long-standing concerns from the State’s regulatory agencies, City officials and staff, environmental groups, property owners, residents, and visitors that the beach outfalls adversely impact beach erosion, lateral beach access, sea turtle nesting habitat, water quality, and beach aesthetics.  In addition, the City has experienced significant flooding of Gulf Shore Boulevard and properties during high frequency rainfall events.

In 2012, the City adopted Resolution No 12-13028 and amended their stormwater masterplan to require the removal of the City’s stormwater beach outfalls.  These actions were taken in response to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) mandate to remove the outfalls as a condition of the County's beach nourishment projects.

In 2013, an assessment was conducted to identify alternatives to reduce the impacts of the outfalls on the beach while maintaining the same level of service as compared to the existing conditions.  These alternatives included the following:

1. Integration of beach outfalls with planned beach re-nourishment
2. Integration of beach outfalls with Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system
3. Consolidation of beach outfall pipes with discharge through two beach outfalls
4. Redirection of beach outfall flows via pump station to the Bay
5. Consolidation and extension of beach outfalls deeper and further into the Gulf of Mexico (subaqueous outfalls)

Based on a combination of design, permitting and environmental considerations, and in consideration of Sarasota County’s recent success in the treatment of water quality and reduction in flooding by consolidating, treating and conveying stormwater discharge offshore through a pump station to an 18-inch offshore pipeline (Erickson, 2015), the City Council directed staff to pursue the subaqueous, Gulf outfall alternative. 

_{Note. From "City of Naples, Florida Sustainable Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements for Improved Coastal Resiliency", by Karyn Erickson, Christin Perkinson, and Gregg Strakaluse, p2.}