Federal participation by the contribution of Federal funds in amount of 
one-third of the first costs and periodic nourishment costs for a period 
of 10 years. As no local agency indicated ability to comply with require- 
ments of local cooperation for protection of Atlantic Beach, they did 
not recommend a Federal project for that shore. The Chief of Engineers 
concurred in the views and recommendations of the Beach Erosion Board. 
VIRGINIA AND BISCAYNE KEYS, FLORIDA 
The purpose of the investigation was to determine the best method 
of preventing further erosion and of maintaining and restoring the ocean 
beaches. The study area comprises the Atlantic Ocean shore between Govern- 
ment Cut, the jettied entrance to Miami Harbor, and Florida Point, the 
south end of Key Biscayne. The total length of shore frontage studied 
is about 8 miles. The problem area comprises the shores of Virginia and 
Biscayne Keys with a total length of about 6 miles. In 1960 the permanent 
population of Dade County was about 935,000. The entire shore frontage 
of Virginia Key and the northern half of the frontage of Key Biscayne are 
publicly owned. The study area is characterized by low sandy barrier beach 
islands. Tides in the area are semi-diurnal with mean and spring ranges 
of 2.5 and 3.0 feet respectively. A reported high water mark of 9.1 feet 
above mean low water occurred during a hurricane in 1926. Waves approach 
the shore from directions from northeast through east to southeast. The 
directions of waves are such as to produce a southward predominance of 
littoral drift during the winter and a northward predominance during the 
summer, The fetches in the wave generating area are limited by the islands 
of the Bahama group. 
The District and Division Engineers developed plans for restoring and 
protecting the shores of the area, and made economic analyses of proposed 
protective measures. They concluded that practicable plans for the restora- 
tion and stabilization of shores within the study area are as follows: 
a. Virginia Key - Restoring and widening approximately 1.8 miles 
of shore by direct placement of sand fill, three groins for deferred con- 
struction, if needed. 
b. Key Biscayne - Restoring and widening approximately 4.3 miles 
of shore by direct placement of sand fill, two groins for deferred con- 
struction if needed. 
The plan for Crandon Park, the county-owned shore of Key Biscayne, comprises 
beach restoration and widening along 1.9 miles of shore and one groin at 
its north end. This plan could be constructed separately or as part of the 
plan for the entire key. Both plans include periodic nourishment to stabi- 
lize the restored beaches. The District and Division Engineers found that 
restoration and protection of the shores of Virginia and Biscayne Keys are 
83 
