Shifting of Coastal Barrier Islands Costing Property Owners Federal Money
July 1, 2009 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis 
Increasing storms over the last few years have resulted in major shifting and eroding of coastal barrier islands around the country, bringing heaps of problems to both native wildlife and property owners.
To examine these issues the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently concluded and submitted a report to Congress called the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS) Digital Mapping Pilot Project.
The report primarily relates to coastal areas in Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. Currently, any land that lays within the CBRS boundaries is ineligible for most new federal expenditures, including federal flood insurance and other financial assistance.
Part of the problem with the current data, according to the report, is that the CBRS boundaries are depicted from outdated U.S. Geographical Survey maps that are on average 30 years old.
As a result, now some properties which mistakenly fall within CBRS boundaries are not eligible for federal subsidies, and the opposite is also true, that properties which shouldn’t be getting federal subsidies are getting them.
Over the last few years, the Fish and Wildlife Service has had to handle more and more case-by-case situations in which complaints have required them make “technical corrections” to the maps.
The report address the need for a “proactive process of comprehensively modernizing the entire set of CBRS maps using digital technology.”
The Fish and Wildlife Service will be soliciting public input on the report and the draft maps during a 120-day public comment period that closes on August 5, 2009.
The Service will hold the public meetings via webcast and teleconference on July 14-15, 2009. Those interested in participating in the event must register by close of business on July 10, 2009.
The list below has a breakdown of the states and counties with pilot project units that will be addressed during the virtual public meetings. There will also be a question and answer session at the end of each webcast.
July 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Delaware (Sussex Co.)
- Louisiana (St. Bernard Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. Mary Parish)
July 14, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- North Carolina (Currituck Co., Dare Co., Carteret Co., Onslow Co., Pender Co., New Hanover Co.)
- South Carolina (Georgetown Co.)
July 15, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- North Florida (Nassau Co., St. Johns Co., Volusia Co., Brevard Co., Manatee Co., Hillsborough Co., Pinellas Co., Dixie Co., Franklin Co., Bay Co., Walton Co.)
July 15, 2009
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- South Florida (Indian River Co., St. Lucie Co., Martin Co., Palm Beach Co., Broward Co., Monroe Co., Collier Co., Lee Co., Charlotte Co., Sarasota Co.)