Thread: Pier Repair Update

Originally Posted by OBWolf

The Alaparks website rightfully utilizes the pier as a major draw to Gulf State Park. There is no information on the website to warn folks of any upcoming closure. Failure to provide advance notification will likely PO numerous patrons who may never return. Who is actually running this show?

The last I heard, it was a triumvirate composed of three guys named Larry, Curley and Moe.

Left hand, meet right hand. You two have more in common than you realize.

Something about a monkey and football comes to mind

This is the latest Email from Lamar. I have not received any further information. I seriously doubt we postpone the work as the project would have to be rebid. As has been reported we are working with NOAA to get a biological opinion on the effects that the fishing has on the sea turtles mainly. This was apparently not obtained when the pier was originally constructed. We are working to expedite the process and hope to have more information as soon as possible. We understand the impact of closing the pier and inconveniencing the fishing will impact our loyal users but with the current conditions for safety reasons it is our best option to proceed as planned once we receive the BO. I will keep you and the others posted as soon as I know more.

Seems it's already been postponed.... get your ducks in a row and submit for rebid starting December 2020
feel free to pass it on to Lamar

I would think a turtle impact fishing study would need done when they are both around..... not sure about turtles , but not to many fishermen fishing

Originally Posted by Robert(Tato)Piteo

This is the latest Email from Lamar. I have not received any further information. I seriously doubt we postpone the work as the project would have to be rebid. As has been reported we are working with NOAA to get a biological opinion on the effects that the fishing has on the sea turtles mainly. This was apparently not obtained when the pier was originally constructed. We are working to expedite the process and hope to have more information as soon as possible. We understand the impact of closing the pier and inconveniencing the fishing will impact our loyal users but with the current conditions for safety reasons it is our best option to proceed as planned once we receive the BO. I will keep you and the others posted as soon as I know more.

Ahh, so that is what is stuck in their craw.
I would hope their conclusion would be that mortality from pier fishing is zero (which it is).
I have NEVER heard of a turtle death from pier fishing @ GSPPier (yet boats routinely run them down)... just sayin ;-)

Ive seen a few successful (accidental) sea turtle snaggings and subsequent netting and releases with little to no injury. Ive never seen a turtle that died or showed and sign of damage post release. I'm not sure why this is an issue.

If they are waiting for an environmental impact statement, I would bet it NEVER gets done! Whoever gets a favorable ruling the other side will appeal. That is the way the lawyer thing works. Before anyone gets upset, my daughter is an attorney and everyone deserves their day in court. My case in point is the mixed use community north of Lulu's along the ICW.

As I have previously stated, from a dedicated spring pier fisherman's perspective, the window for this project has closed.

Back on the 9th of Jan. Pier#r posted "This could get 'ugly'... :-(".

It has for certain sure gotten UGLY. January 15th was not the best time to start this to begin with.

So what if the project has to be rebid, that's what we pay these people to be stewards of our pier for. We would hope that minimizing the impact upon the loyal patrons of the pier would be the top priority.

Seen a number of turtles swimming around with missing flippers obviously eaten by sharks. So if they want to help out the turtles they should let us harvest the inshore sharks that are trying to eat them. Just my two cents.