It is based on comparisons of hydrological, sedimentological, and biological 

 data from collections at stations A and B in base-line studies that began in 

 1974 (Saloman, 1976), and from control and experimental samples taken by NMFS 

 in undredged bottom and borrow areas over a 20-month period between April 1976 

 and November 1977. 



II. STUDY AREA 



Panama City Beach is located on the northwestern gulf coast of Florida 

 about 145 kilometers east of Pensacola. The study area covers 35 kilometers 

 and extends from West Pass at the entrance to St. Andrew Bay, to Philips Inlet 

 (Fig. 1). The beach's sugarlike sand and exceptionally clear water are major 

 attractions for about 2 million visitors annually. Tourism is a great economic 

 asset and most of the beach has been developed to accommodate tourists and 

 provide various types of recreation. 



Regional meteorological and oceanographic conditions were described by 

 Salsman and Ciesluk (1978). Climate is humid and subtropical. Average summer 

 and winter air temperatures are 28° and 12° Celsius, with about the same water 

 temperatures at respective seasons. Winds are 20 kilometers per hour or less 

 at most times, and rarely exceed 37 kilometers per hour. From spring through 

 late summer, the net wind direction is southerly, but between September and 

 January, the direction shifts to northerly. Waves are usually about 0.9 

 meter; tides are diurnal, and tidal amplitude is normally about 0.6 meter; and 

 tidal currents are generally below 4 kilometers per hour. However, during 

 tropical storms and ahead of cold fronts, strong winds off the gulf produce 

 waves, tides, and currents far greater than average. Even in less severe 

 weather, beach sand is easily eroded because of its fine texture (0.1- to 0.2- 

 millimeter median diameter). Seaward, a series of parallel sandbars protects 

 the beach to some extent, but beyond, the featureless bottom slopes rather 

 quickly to a 15-meter depth at 1.6 kilometers from shore. At greater depths, 

 sediments are somewhat coarser and widely scattered limestone reefs appear in 

 low relief. 



III. SAMPLING STATIONS AND RATIONALE 



The sampling data in this report were collected in about 9 meters of water 

 at stations located offshore of Panama City Beach. As a matter of convenience, 

 and for clarity, these stations have been separated into three groups since 

 there were differences in their locations, sampling procedures, and objectives. 



The first group includes stations A and B (Fig. 2) of the preconstruction 

 investigation of 1974-75. Station A was located seaward of the Fiesta Motel 

 about midway between West Pass and Philips Inlet. Station B was seaward of the 

 Roundtowner Motel, which is just east of Philips Inlet. The sampling schedule 

 at these stations consisted of an initial collection in November 1974, and 

 subsequent quarterly collections in February, l>lay, and August 1975. Both were 

 sampled before beach nourishment to determine seasonal environmental conditions 

 (base-line data) in the zone designated for dredging (Saloman, 1976). 



