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The Impacts of the Cruise Ship Industry on the Quality of Life in Key West

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The Impacts of the Cruise Ship Industry on the Quality of Life in Key West THE IMPACTS OF THE CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN KEY WEST RFQ No: 04-001 City of Key West Naval Properties Local Redevelopment Authority Submitted By: Thomas J. Murray & Associates, Inc. Submitted April 8, 2005 Revised October 2005 Contact Person and Project Manager THOMAS J. MURRAY P.O. Box 1083, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 The Impact of the Cruise Ship Industry on the Quality of Life in Key West ________________________________________________________________________ Assumptions and Limiting Conditions Information from secondary sources was utilized in this report. While the author believes such information is accurate, the author does not represent or warrant any information from secondary sources. Opinions contained herein are strictly those of the author. The author shall not be liable to any person or entity for actions taken in reliance thereon. This report is issued as of the date first above written. The author is under no obligation to update this report for any change in circumstances, information, law, etc. Only the addressee is entitled to rely upon this report. Thomas J. Murray & Associates, Inc. The Impact of the Cruise Ship Industry on the Quality of Life in Key West TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 1 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1 Economic Impact ............................................................................................................ 1 Fiscal Impact...................................................................................................................2 Environmental Impact..................................................................................................... 3 Natural Resource-Based Industries................................................................................. 4 Affordable Housing ........................................................................................................ 5 Character and Quality of Life ......................................................................................... 6 Management Measures ................................................................................................... 7 1. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM ACTIVITY ON THE CITY OF KEY WEST ........................................................................................................... 10 1.A Demographic Trends............................................................................................. 10 1.B Economic Trends .................................................................................................. 12 1.C Tourism ................................................................................................................. 14 1.C.1 The Impact of Cruise Ship Activity ............................................................... 18 1.C.2 The Impact of Non-Cruise Ship Tourism Activity......................................... 23 1.C.3 Total All Tourism........................................................................................... 24 1.D Indirect Impacts .................................................................................................... 26 1.E List of References.................................................................................................. 28 2. FISCAL IMPACTS ..................................................................................................... 30 2.A Revenue Sources................................................................................................... 30 2.B Expenditures.......................................................................................................... 37 2.C Fiscal Balance ....................................................................................................... 41 2.D List of References ................................................................................................. 44 3. THE IMPACT ON THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT............................................... 45 3.A Historical Review of Key West Channel and Harbor........................................... 45 3.A.1 History of Use as a Navigational Channel and Anchorage as a Center of Commerce ...................................................................................................... 45 3.A.2 History of Dredge and Fill and the Physical Alteration of the Key West Channel and Harbor ....................................................................................... 49 3.A.3 History of U.S. Navy Use of the Channel, Harbor, and Docks ..................... 57 3.A.4 History of the Key West Cruise Ship Industry and the Evolution of Industry Vessels Using Key West Channel and Harbor............................................... 64 3.A.5 History of Use of the Outer Mole .................................................................. 68 3.A.6 History of Scientific Work Conducted in and Around Key West Channel and Harbor and Data Available from That Work........................................... 70 3.A.7 Creation of an Annotated Chronology of Significant Events ........................ 74 3.A.8 Endnotes - Sources of Information for Preceding History and Chronology:. 80 3.B Assessment of Real and Perceived Impacts From Cruise Ship Activity on the Marine Environment............................................................................................. 81 3.B.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................... 82 3.B.2 Substrates, Sediments, and Turbidity............................................................ 87 3.B.3 Environmental - Biological Resources........................................................... 91 3.B.3.1 Natural Habitats....................................................................................... 91 Thomas J. Murray & Associates, Inc. Page 1 The Impact of the Cruise Ship Industry on the Quality of Life in Key West 3.B.3.2 Environmentally Sensitive Conservation Areas...................................... 96 3.B.3.3 Threatened and Endangered Species....................................................... 98 3.B.3.4 Recreational and Commercial Species.................................................. 102 3.B.3.5 Essential Fish Habitat............................................................................ 103 3.B.4 Cruise Ship Discharges ................................................................................ 105 3.B.4.1 Sewage - Blackwater............................................................................. 107 3.B.4.2 Graywater.............................................................................................. 109 3.B.4.3 Solid Waste ........................................................................................... 109 3.B.4.4 Hazardous Waste................................................................................... 110 3.B.4.5 Oily Bilge Water ................................................................................... 110 3.B.4.6 Air Emissions ........................................................................................ 111 3.B.4.7 Ballast Water......................................................................................... 111 3.B.5 Recreational Values...................................................................................... 112 3.B.6 Harbor Navigation and Vessel Traffic ......................................................... 115 3.B.7 Actual Impacts.............................................................................................. 116 3.B.7.1 Turbidity and Sediment Resuspension.................................................. 117 3.B.7.2 Prop Wash Bottom Disturbance............................................................ 122 3.B.7.3 Impacts to Fisheries and Recreation...................................................... 126 3.B.7.4 Anchorage ............................................................................................. 126 3.B.8 Perceived Impacts ........................................................................................ 129 3.B.9 Potential Impacts, Accidents, and Groundings ............................................ 130 3.B.10 Cumulative Impacts.................................................................................... 136 3.B.11 Existing Minimization and Mitigation Efforts for Cruise Ship Impacts.... 138 3.B.11.1 Value of Navy Dredging in Alleviating Cruise Ship Turbidity .......... 138 3.B.11.2 Local Base Reuse and Local Conservation Initiatives........................ 140 3.B.12.3 Monitoring Programs .......................................................................... 141 3.B.14 List of References....................................................................................... 146 4. ADVERSE ECONOMIC IMPACTS ........................................................................ 157 4.A Resource-Based User Characterization and Perceptions on Cruise Tourism Impacts................................................................................................................ 157 4.B Methodology ....................................................................................................... 157 4.C Results................................................................................................................. 160 4.C.1 Commercial Fishing Industry......................................................................
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