Walton Sun- Supreme Court says beach nourishment must continue

[Smiling JOe]

Andy, I know you aren't looking for an "I told you so," but I don't know how I can add anything new to the subject. I have posted many lines of my thoughts and Supreme Court rulings on this subject, and am glad to see it pass through the Court. I will say that am happy for obvious reasons, but I also have some issues with beach nourishment -- the cost for the job, and all future renourishment, and the potential for it to interfere more with our rare coastal dune lakes.

 

[ASH]

I would like to add to SJ's thought that there isn't enough information to know what the long term effects are on wildlife due to suddenly piling up mass amounts of sand on beaches. Does the sand compact consistently to natural or are we changing what turtles must attempt to nest in? Do we introduce new chemicals to the exposed sand in higher quantities that natural that could impact everything from ghost crabs to mice to fish to turtle eggs developing to dune lake plants?

I know, I might look at this different if I was a beachfront homeowner. I am not. If someone would like to donate a home to me, I will live in it for at least three years and report back any changes in my mentality

Are we filling in dune lakes prematurely with the excess sand shifting with the tides?

Not trying to stir any pot. I think these are all good questions.

 

[Andy A]

I would like to add to SJ's thought that there isn't enough information to know what the long term effects are on wildlife due to suddenly piling up mass amounts of sand on beaches. Does the sand compact consistently to natural or are we changing what turtles must attempt to nest in? Do we introduce new chemicals to the exposed sand in higher quantities that natural that could impact everything from ghost crabs to mice to fish to turtle eggs developing to dune lake plants?

I know, I might look at this different if I was a beachfront homeowner. I am not. If someone would like to donate a home to me, I will live in it for at least three years and report back any changes in my mentality

Are we filling in dune lakes prematurely with the excess sand shifting with the tides?

Not trying to stir any pot. I think these are all good questions.

I agree your questions are good and I cannot answer them but I'll bet BeachSio can. BeachSio, jump in here please. I only know I watch the beach almost every day from 50' above it and it changes dailly regarding the distance from the toe of the dune to the edge of the water. Overall, there has been erosion and I still believe after seeing the results of the beach renourishment at the West end of the county, it can do nothing but improve our beach situation on Blue Mt. Beach if it is done. Mine is an uneducated opinion only based on what I see and have been told by those professionally qualified to make such an observation.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I know that many people would love more sand on the beach in BMB, but I don't think it will "do nothing but improve" the beach. There are always unintended consequences and Draper Lake, Big Redfish Lake, and Little Redfish Lake may suffer greatly with man interfering too much.

 

[scooterbug44]

I think we should just leave all the beaches and lakes alone - much better things to spend millions of dollars on than messing w/ Ma Nature!

 

[Smiling JOe]

I am also wondering if this case will set precedence for all beaches in Florida which are "critically eroded" to get nourishment from man. If so, and the funds aren't there, will Gulf front property owners be able to win in Court when they say the State didn't protect their property as they are supposed to?

 

[Bobby J]

It tis a can of worms...

 

[BeachSiO2]

Here is the main web page that the County/TDC is used to answer some of, BUT NOT ALL, of the questions that have been posed on this thread.

www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com

There is an October update that should be up within a few days, but the only substantial difference between the August and October update is that the Supreme Court made their ruling. The project is still in the permitting phase and is expected to continue for another few months.

I will also touch base with them to work on updating the FAQ to include some more information regarding the issues raised on this thread and in other places. The one that stands out the most is that there needs to be a section on Coastal Dune Lakes (thanks SJ and DuneLaker).

When you as a citizen are trying to get information regarding the impacts of beach restoration, please keep in mind that much of the impacts are VERY site specific. I will give you one clear example. In Walton County, beach restoration will have ZERO affect on offshore reef habitat. I can say that with 100% certainty. How? Because we don't have any offshore reef habitat that is close enough to the shore to be buried and the sand source location that is being permitted is not near any man-made reefs or offshore rock ledges.

 

[greenroomsurfer]

What are they gonna do when the Beach Bypass Bill gets passed next spring?

 

[BeachSiO2]

There was another chapter to this story since the last post by GRS in October when the property owners filed a motion asking the Florida Supreme Court to rehear the case. The Supreme Court decided yesterday not to rehear the case.