Sea Oats Beach Islamorada’s Weak Link
By Robert Silk, The Key West Citizen Staff
Sea Oats Beach, Islamorada - after Wilma
The vulnerable section of the Overseas Highway along Sea Oats Beach was exposed anew when Hurricane Ike brushed the Florida Keys. Moderate tropical-storm force winds and a 2- to 3-foot sea-level rise were all it took to send water and debris over much of the roadway, prompting officials to close one lane for several hours.
Don’t expect that section of highway, spanning Mile Marker 74 to 75 on Lower Matecumbe Key, to be fortified anytime soon.
“Folks would like to see that area high and dry in any storm event, but I think there are other engineering concerns that make this the best we can do at this time,” said John Palenchar, a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) environmental permits coordinator.
The waves on Sept. 9 overtopped the beach, including a newly constructed dune line, leaving seaweed, lobster traps, logs and other debris on the roadway. High tide that evening also reached the shoulder of the roadway, forcing more cleanup the next morning.
