EVALUATION OF BENTHIC COMMUNITIES ADJACENT TO A 

 RESTORED BEACH, HALLANDALE (BROWARD COUNTY), FLORIDA 



by 



G. Alex Marsh, Thiliv E. Bowen, Donald E. Deis, 

 David B. Tuvbeville, and Vlaltev E. Courtenapi , Jr. 



I . INTRODUCTION 



Some beach-front development practices have resulted in 

 severe shoreline erosion along the Florida coastline. The problem 

 is especially serious in southeastern Florida where over half of 

 the 103.7 miles of recreational beaches in Palm Beach, Broward, 

 and Dade counties have been listed by the Florida Department of 

 Natural Resources as being in a "critical state of erosion." 



The problem has required periodic nourishment proiects, 

 generally involving the dredging of sand from offshore deposits. 

 The ecological effects of one such proiect was investigated by 

 sampling sandy-bottom and reef-dwelling communities adjacent to 

 a previously restored beach at Hallandale (Broward County) , Florida. 

 Results were, compared with samples from similar communities in 

 nearby Golden Beach (Dade County) . 



Sherk and Cronin (1970) provide a bibliography on the 

 environmental effects of dredging and filling, although most of 

 the reports focused on bays and estuaries. In Florida, the effects 

 of shell dredging, channelization, and landfilling in the Boca 

 Ciega and Tampa Bay areas have been well documented (Simon, Doyle 

 and Conner, 1976; Simon and Doyle, 1974a, 1974b; Taylor, Hall, and 

 Saloman, 1970; Taylor and Saloman, 1968; Sykes and Hall, 1970). 



There is less information on the effects of offshore 

 dredging for beach nourishment. Holland, Chambers, and Blackman's 

 (1973) study of fish populations before and after a restoration 

 project at Lido Key (Pinellas County), Florida, showed a temporary 

 increase in fishes along the beach and near the borrow area. 

 Saloman 's (1974) study of an offshore borrow area created 3 years 

 previously near Treasure Island (Pinellas County) , Florida, 

 revealed a decrease in the diversity and abundance of benthic 

 invertebrates within the pit relative to adjacent areas. Marsh, 

 et al . (1978) demonstrated greater abundance of benthic fauna in a 

 borrow area off northern Broward County than on nearby undisturbed 

 bottoms . 



At Hallandale Beach, in southern Broward County, 268,000 

 cubic yards of dredged material was pumped ashore between 21 July 

 and 21 September 1971. Courtenay, et al. (1974) subsequently 

 surveyed the fishes and nearshore reef communities in this area 



