The intent of the law passed by the Legislature is that shorelines be protected with environmentally desirable systems, such as riprap and gently sloping shorelines that are planted with suitable aquatic and wetland vegetation, rather than with constructed sea walls.
Natural systems are preferred.
The vegetation also protects the shoreline from wave action and is the preferred type of shore protection. The proposed construction is necessary for the creation of a marina, the vertical sea walls are necessary to provide access to watercraft, or the proposed construction is necessary for public facilities. The proposed construction is located within an existing manmade canal, and a vertical sea wall currently occupies the canal shoreline in whole or in part. The proposed construction is to be conducted by a public utility when such utility is acting in the performance of its obligation to provide service to the public. When reviewing applications for sea wall construction, the St. Johns River Water Management District will first look to the applicant to pursue practicable alternatives that would result in less of an environmental impact to the surface water or wetland.