Bay County panel weighs riprap and seagrass options to stabilize Isaac Byrd Park shoreline

Bay County Park Advisory Board members reviewed options for stabilizing the shoreline at Isaac Byrd Park during their June 11 meeting, considering natural restoration with seagrass plantings, hybrid riprap-and-seagrass approaches, and conventional riprap structures presented in a Kimley‑Horn proposal.

A county presenter said options included a riprap wall with seagrass behind it and a breakwater concept; board members raised concerns about erosion, the durability of past concrete riprap, and the site’s exposure to north winds and winter storms. One member cautioned that older concrete rubble used as riprap tends to settle and be less effective than larger granite rock, saying, “the more wave action, the more likely that rip rap settles.”

Why it matters: shoreline stabilization affects park infrastructure, safety for people who fish or use launch areas, and marine habitat. Members discussed environmental constraints: state Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers must permit work in the water or on the beach, and existing seagrass beds could limit where riprap may be placed.

Board members recommended a measured approach: staff will meet with an estuary program executive director and a Florida State professor to explore seagrass‑based and other conservation options and will run proposed methods through the county engineering department for feasibility and permitting considerations. Staff also said a submerged‑land survey and aerial imagery may be needed to demonstrate historical land loss if riprap placement is pursued.

Next steps: staff will pursue meetings with conservation and academic experts, confirm permitting requirements, and return to the advisory board with recommendations and grant‑funding options; members were asked to send suggestions by email.