the same, or greater, capability of transporting nearshore sediments, (3) a 

 geographic location that is regularly influenced by water masses and marine 

 life of estuarine, coastal, and oceanic origins, (4) a native infauna that 

 is diversified, abundant, and well adapted to substrate disruption and 

 movement, and (5) a fauna that is composed of subtropical and temperate 

 species whose active reproductive periods are limited by low water 

 temperatures normally recorded in only 1 or 2 winter months. 



As for features of the dredging project, numerous small borrow areas were 

 used, instead of fewer larger ones, and they were dredged only to a depth of 

 about 5 meters or less. At this level, no strata of silt, clay, or rock were 

 uncovered so that sediment type in dredged areas remained very much like 

 sediment in undredged areas. Also, dredging occurred in fairly shallow water 

 where sediment transport supplied the volume of sand required to rapidly fill 

 the borrow pits. In this connection, it is important to mention that because 

 of their fast filling rate, and the normally low concentration of suspended 

 solids in overlying water, no biologically detrimental quantities of silt and 

 clay size particles accumulated in borrow areas off Panama City Beach. If 

 anything, during the recovery period, data support the theory that within 

 borrow pits a relative decrease in turbulence and a slight increase in organic 

 deposits may have been responsible for figures showing a higher diversity and 

 abundance of infauna in some dredged areas compared to figures for bottom left 

 undisturbed. 



In general, results of coastal restoration studies at Panama City Beach 

 agree with findings for similar projects in comparable surroundings (Thompson, 

 1973) , and along with more recent work (Turbeville and Marsh, 1982) , provide 

 additional information that can be used both locally and elsewhere to more 

 accurately predict and evaluate environmental effects of beach nourishment 

 operations. Nevertheless, since each coastal and estuarine area has certain 

 unique features, it is important to continue a close association between 

 ecological research and coastal engineering. Ideally, the research should be 

 conducted to collect base-line data, proceed during all phases of construction, 

 and continue after project completion for a sufficient period of time to obtain 

 short-term (1 year) and long-term data (2 years or longer). In all instances 

 major research emphasis should at least include: (1) factors related to 

 geographic and meteorological conditions, (2) sedimentology , (3) water quality, 

 (4) hydrodynamics, (5) resident and migratory biota at the bottom and throughout 

 the water column, (6) interactions between biotic and abiotic elements, and (7) 

 socioeconomic circumstances. By using such a research-oriented approach in 

 future engineering projects, many important coastal resources could be protected, 

 or even enhanced, and most environmental problem areas would be identified and 

 avoided. 



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