USF - CMHAS Boca Ciega Bay Hydraulic Investigation (1998)

Boca Ciega Bay is a heavily impacted estuary located in Pinellas County, Florida. The bay has been impacted by reduction of tidal prism from development along the shore including large areas of dredge and fill. This morphological alteration has impacted the tidal inlets that feed the bay including John's Pass and Blind Pass. The tendency of John's Pass to enlarge has undermined the bridge over the inlet resulting in a scour critical rating and a public safety concern. This study was performed to determine the interaction and long-term trends of these two passes and to investigate scour tendencies of the John's Pass Bridge for normal and storm conditions. This project was funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.