faults, which created an overriding
necessity for the project. The new
power cable system consists of four
25-kilovolt cables that were embedded
in the submerged soils by directional
drill and hydro plow.
“This is not a common project by any
means,” Ash said, noting that the
project is in the Pine Island Sound
Aquatic Preserve, the Charlotte Harbor
National estuary, and an Outstanding
Florida Water. Pine Island Sound is also
designated as an endangered species
manatee and small-tooth sawfish
habitat. “Over two years, we worked
with 16 regulatory agencies during the
permitting phase alone.”
A deeper dive
Ayres conducted the feasibility study
to determine the alignment with the
least environmental impact and highest
probability for obtaining permits. This
route was used for the construction
plans. The project required an individual
environmental resource permit from the
10│ TRENDS
Florida Department of Environmental
Protection and an individual permit
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
regulatory program before construction
could begin.
“It was important for the cable
alignment to have the least
environmental impact so that the
regulatory agencies would deem it
permittable,” said Ash, who conducted
sea grass surveys in order to minimize
the environmental impact. Seagrass
surveys involve snorkeling the seagrass
beds, determining the species of
seagrass and its density, and GPS
surveying the limits of the beds.
Additionally, identification of any faunal
species using the beds is part of the
survey.
She also remained mindful of the
environmental impacts when it
came time for cable installation. The
directional drill was located on the north
and south ends of the cable system to
avoid the environmentally sensitive
areas brimming with mangroves and
seagrass beds.
Designer Alvaro Duarte of Ayres was
involved with the plans' production
and elaborated on the deliberate
and thoughtful process. The team
began with a conceptual alignment
of the proposed conduits, which they
determined by importing a seagrass
survey from the Land Boundary
Information Systems website.
“The intent was to not impact the
seagrass beds and cross them with
little or no impact,” Duarte said. “Our
staff went to field-verify the limits of
the seagrass by diving the proposed
alignment.”
“The sea grass is important because
it is a habitat for manatees,” Ash
elaborated. “If you disturb the sea grass,
the regulatory agency requires it to be
replaced.”