Good afternoon,
Thank you for your support in helping us collect over 500 signatures for a safer, more navigable Jupiter Inlet.

Key Takeaways from the January 14 Board Meeting of the Jupiter Inlet District.

In summary, there is progress—just slow progress. The Jupiter Inlet District (JID) is currently dredging the sand trap inside the inlet this week, but no immediate action is planned for improving navigation outside the inlet (e.g., the ebb shoal area).

Encouraging steps forward:

- The JID board requested a quote from the Districts engineer to study the effectiveness and detailed location of a southeast (SE) channel. This channel would align roughly with the existing 'natural' channel but be made a bit wider and deeper (to 12 feet). While this has been studied before, an updated study is needed for permitting. The study is estimated to take 4 months. The engineer's quote can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u6SeLqjVG_Te1zIhc5eTtOAP_de3lrM1/view?usp=sharing

- There is continued strong interest in increasing bathymetric surveys to at least monthly, providing boaters and engineers with accurate, timely depth information. SPH Engineering (the drone-based survey company) offered their staff and equipment for free for a demo, but reimbursement for travel, processing, etc. (~$2-3k) wasn't approved in time. This technology could reduce costs by up to two-thirds and fit within the current budget. The board offered to approve this expenditure at their end of the month workshop if a contract is ready. More details here: https://gamma.app/docs/Drone-Based-Bathymetric-Surveying-for-Jupiter-Inlet-2vtovbybg076npx

Current Challenges
- The Board appears to need more data on the safety risks posed by the current ebb shoal conditions as they have no insight into incident rates today. Several recent incidents include multiple vessel groundings, and swimmers/surfers are now crossing the channel near the beach to reach the southern sandbar—directly in the path of boats exiting the inlet south along the beach. I've submitted a FOIA request to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Palm Beach County Rescue for a summary of incidents over the past year to provide the Board with concrete evidence.

- There was some discussion at the meeting about the lack of urgency for addressing the ebb shoal. We requested that the Board engage the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to seek a Letter of Permission (LOP)—an expedited authorization for work beyond current permitted areas, often used for urgent navigation and safety needs. The engineer from Taylor Engineering noted that Jupiter Inlet will not not qualify due to its non-federal (non-navigable) designation. However, we know of precedents for LOPs or expedited permissions in similar non-federal or local projects, such as multiple dredging authorizations for Sebastian Inlet, Philippi Creek in Sarasota (2025), and smaller-scale work near the St. Lucie Inlet outside of federal waters (2024). We will follow up to clarify this with USACE soon.

To Restate Our Simple Goals:
- Dredge the inlet access channel to 12 feet
- Permanently mark the safe channel
- Conduct and publish monthly depth surveys

Your support is the reason this issue is now a priority for the District. Recently, only a handful of us have been attending JID board meetings. we welcome broader participation—the next meeting is February 11 at 7:00 p.m. at their office (400 N. Delaware Blvd, Jupiter). If you're a boater, concerned about safety of the inlet, have experienced incidents, or your business relies on a functional Jupiter inlet, your voice at these public meetings will make a difference.

Please forward this email, share the petition link, and ask a friend who cares about our waterways to sign the petition

Thank you again.

Best regards,
Chris Ball
Tequesta, FL
chrisball016@gmail.com
P.S. Direct link to sign/share: https://www.openpetition.org/!safejupiterinlet

Thank you for your support of a Safe Jupiter Inlet! We've obtain 500+ signatures! I emailed the board members the full signatures list and the following Note today and will present hard copies on the 14th at their Monthly Board Meeting.

Dear Chair George G. Gentile, Vice-Chair Gail Whipple, Secretary/Treasurer Jim Davis, and Fellow Commissioners:

We, the undersigned residents, boaters, business owners, and concerned stakeholders of Jupiter, Tequesta, and surrounding communities, are writing to formally present the results of our recent signature drive and to urgently appeal to the Jupiter Inlet District (JID) to take decisive action to improve the safety and navigability of the Jupiter Inlet.

Over the past several months, we conducted an organic public signature campaign to gather support for JID-led efforts to dredge and maintain the ocean entrance to the Jupiter Inlet. This initiative directly aligns with the District's charter, which mandates the maintenance of the inlet including the seaward inlet access.

We are pleased to report that we have successfully collected 500+ signatures from local boaters, residents, and users of our waterways who share deep concerns about the ongoing shoaling and navigation hazards at the inlet. These signatures represent a broad cross-section of the community, including recreational boaters, fishing enthusiasts, commercial operators, and families who rely on safe access to the Atlantic for work, recreation, and economic activity. The bottom line is that this group of constituents and users of the inlet recognize that the District is spending $2-3M/yr maintaining the sand trap, but the inlet is still nearly unusable in any weather and dangerous on the average day.

Recent reports and boater experiences highlight the growing urgency and safety issues. Grounding incidents, restricted access, damaged vessels and heightened risks to passengers are weekly occurrences. These conditions not only threaten public safety but also impact local tourism, property values, and the overall vitality of our coastal community. I encourage you to read the comments in the summary attached.

The 500 signatures attached demonstrate clear and compelling public support for the JID to exercise its full authority and responsibility under its charter. We respectfully urge the Board to:

- Increase the frequency of the bathymetric surveys.
- Extend your existing dredging operation 2-500 yards to the SouthEast to include the inlet access.
- Mark the Channel.
The community has spoken clearly: while keeping in mind longer term and permanent solutions, we need URGENT action to protect lives, safeguard our waterways, and preserve the Jupiter Inlet as a vital resource for generations to come. We strongly urge you to work to obtain a Letter of Permission from the Army Corp to extend your existing dredge program to include the inlet access without taking years to obtain new permits. Do not be afraid of the Army Corp, they issue between 70-100 of these permissions each year to extend dredging permits or fix navigational safety issues.

Recent examples (2024–2025) show real benefits for nearby towns/inlets:
- Saint Lucie Inlet (Martin County, July 2024): ~25,000 cy maintenance dredging via LOP; restored safe navigation post-storm, zero groundings since, beaches nourished for free.
- Ponce de Leon Inlet (Volusia County, April 2025): ~40,000 cy removal via LOP/NWP combo; rapid post-hurricane recovery, navigation restored in weeks, $300k+ saved in emergency costs.
- Palm Beach Harbor (Palm Beach County, March 2025): ~20,000 cy maintenance via LOP; improved vessel safety, completed in ~60 days.
- Phillippi Creek (Sarasota County, 2025): Minor dredging (~10,000–15,000 cy) via NWP/LOP; enhanced access, habitat/beach benefits, zero controversy.
These precedents demonstrate that LOPs are a proven, low-risk tool for projects like the proposed Jupiter 30,000–68,000 cy dredge extension — many districts use them successfully to address hazards just like ours, often with beach nourishment as a win-win outcome. Recommend a pre-application meeting with Jacksonville District's Regulatory Branch to confirm LOP eligibility for our specific test.

Your leadership as the governing body dedicated to this mission is critical, and we stand ready to support and partner with the District in any way possible. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response and to seeing meaningful progress in the near term. Please feel free to contact me at Chrisball016@gmail.com or 207-415-1331 to discuss.

Sincerely,

Christopher Ball
Petition Coordinator
On behalf of the 500+ signatories and concerned citizens of Jupiter and Tequesta

Enclosures: Summary of signature drive results (500 signatures collected); full petition list available upon request.

cc: Executive Director Joseph B. Chaison (jchaison@jupiterinletdistrict.org)