BRUCE BEACH (PENSACOLA, FL) RESTORING COMMUNITY AND
HABITAT ALONG THE HISTORIC CITY OF PENSACOLA’S BAYFRONT
Authors: Russell Burdge, PWS and Brandon Tidwell, PWS (Cardno ENTRIX - Destin, Florida) • 800 368 7511 • www.cardnoentrix.com
INTRODUCTION
The original momentum that created the Bruce Beach tidal marsh stems from urban
redevelopment under the City of Pensacola’s Community Redevelopment Area Plan (CRA
Plan) that encompasses the historic downtown area and bayfront. This plan establishes
the framework and transformative policies and investments to help the City reshape its
urban landscape and waterfront. A principal theme in the CRA Plan is to add to the identity
and livability of the City by celebrating its most valuable natural asset – the Pensacola Bay
waterfront. The CRA Plan promotes the diversity of the waterfront by providing opportunities
for parks, cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences. Much of the bayfront is
undeveloped and owned by local government which presents a significant opportunity for public
access to the waterfront with little land acquisition cost. For most conservation and restoration
efforts, this is often the largest cost factor involved. One key project under the CRA Plan is the
Community Maritime Park (CMP), which redeveloped an abandoned and polluted refinery site
into a mixed use development with retail and office space, green spaces, a maritime museum,
and a professional sports complex. Cardno ENTRIX led the CMP permitting effort which involved
Tidal Creek
approximately 4 acres of wetland and aquatic resource impacts and ESA Section 7
consultation for potential impacts to gulf sturgeon. Wetland impacts were mitigated
through the creation of a 4.5-acre tidal marsh at Bruce Beach, which lies immediately
Bruce Beach
(Pensacola, FL)
west of the CMP site and within the CRA Plan area. Cardno ENTRIX designed the 4.5-acre
tidal marsh that included tidal creeks and emergent breakwaters which surround and protect
the planted shoal area. Existing tidal marsh was incorporated into the design through a tidal
creek connection which enhanced flushing and circulation throughout the entire marsh complex.
Bruce Beach
TIDAL CREEK RESTORATION
Cardno ENTRIX designed a tidal creek and saltwater marsh system over a channelized canal formerly used
to discharge treated effluent from a now -decommissioned wastewater treatment plant. The impetus for
the project was the need for wetland and aquatic resource mitigation for a bulkhead on the CMP site that
had been constructed several years before, and in anticipation of, the CMP project. Spartina alterniflora was
planted throughout the marsh shelf and has increased substantially in coverage since inception. This area
now provides high quality estuarine habitat for a variety of wading birds, fish, and shellfish.
Bruce Beach,
Conceptual
Rendering from
CRA Plan
Community Maritime Park
CA. 2011: Pensacola Bayfront with CRA Plan Elements Under Construction
ECOLOGICALLY DRIVEN, ENGINEERED DESIGN
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
City of Pensacola CRA Plan - Overall Recommendations
Initial Design Concept
Alternative Design 1
Alternative Design 2
Preferred Alternative Design 3
Directional wave field modeling was applied to
assess seasonal and extreme wind-generated
waves to inform the preferred breakwater
design. Additional wave and sediment modeling
to configure the proposed breakwaters was
accomplished using Wave-Action Balance
Equation Difference (WABED) coupled with the
numerical hydrodynamic model CMS-M2D to
simulate sediment transport due to tidal and
wave-induced current flow.
Bruce Beach was once an important recreation
site serving the Belmont/DeVilliers and Tanyard
neighborhoods to the north. Fortunately, this site had
remained undeveloped and under the City of Pensacola’s
ownership that presented an opportunity to reconnect
these historic neighborhoods and the rest of Pensacola
to this waterfront location.
DESIGN MODELING
>> The marsh shelf was designed between +0.3 ft. and +0.25 ft. NAVD 1988
>> Model results indicate that Bruce Beach tidal marsh is saturated with tidal
waters for approximately 8-9 hrs. during a mean tidal range
>> Water depths within the marsh shelf range between 0 ft. for a mean low
tide and +0.6 ft. during a mean high tide
>> Velocities within the tidal channels range between 0.01 to 0.05 fps and were
shown to effficiently transfer water into and out of the proposed channels
CA. 1951: Historic Pensacola Bayfront with Deepwater Docks
CA. 2004: Pensacola Bayfront Half a Century Later
WABED/CMS-M2D Model Domain
Modeled Wind Record NOAA Station 872-9840
Hydrodynamic Model Bathymetry
Incoming Tidal Velocities (ft./sec.)
Outgoing Tidal Velocities (ft./sec.)
>> Model results indicate that the tidal marsh and channels exhibit adequate
flushing and tidal range (MHW - MLW) necessary to maintain ecological
function.