Do you want non-white sand dumped on the beach?

[kurt]

Thursday, July 14, 2005

11:00 AM Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting

The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the issue of sand coloration on the beach.

South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach - Dede Hinote, Administrative Assistant, 892-8155
Topic of discussion is relaxing the White Sand Ordinance Standards for Sand on the Beach.

County Commissioners:

• Dist. 1 -Scott Brannon, (850) 622-3081, brascott@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 2 - Kenneth Pridgen, (850) 834-6328, prikenneth@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 3 - Larry Jones (850) 892-8474, jonlarry@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 4 - Ro Cuchens, (850) 835-4834 cucro@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 5 - Cindy Meadows, (850) 622-3059 meacindy@co.walton.fl.us

[Landlocked]

You going, Kurt?

[Mike B.]

Brown? I dont like brown, that's why I come to the Gulf. If it helps to heal the beach though....

[Landlocked]

I bet the brown sand is cooler than the black sand. Man, don't get trapped in that dry black sand with no shoes on. OWWWWW! Me feets used to be weathered to where it didn't bother me, but apparently I lost that.

[KansasBorn/30ABound]

The white sand is what makes the beaches. I don't think they should compromise for a quick fix. Patience is a virtue...

[SlowMovin]

The beaches are what makes SoWal. Right now the beaches--for all practical purposes--are gone. We need them back. No one "wants" brown sand. But I would rather compromise and get the beaches back to usability than do nothing and just hope they come back on their own.

[dusty]

I love the white sand! Is there a compromise? Use brownish sand to shore up the homes that are in danger --emergency type measures--but use white sand (dredging or whatever) for all other efforts?

[kurt]

I love the white sand! Is there a compromise? Use brownish sand to shore up the homes that are in danger --emergency type measures--but use white sand (dredging or whatever) for all other efforts?

That's the plan at this point. The sand ends up mixing though over time. That's why it's never been allowed anywhere near the beach.

The BCC just approved a variance in the white sand ordinance, allowing homeowners to bring in sand that is considerably less white than is normally allowed.

This sand is from intracoastal dredging and is about 1/3 the cost of white sand. There apparently is not enough white sand available for the large need.

Brad Pickel's recommendation was that all the white sand should be used first, rather than use the darker sand.

[dusty]

Is his thinking that the darker sand would eventually get covered with white sand as Mother Nature repairs the beaches over weeks and months, so use the darker first so it gets buried?

[kurt]

Is his thinking that the darker sand would eventually get covered with white sand as Mother Nature repairs the beaches over weeks and months, so use the darker first so it gets buried?

Capping the darker with a few feet of the whiter was discussed but no one really believes that would work.

[SlowMovin]

Over time (weeks, months) the darker sand will mix in with the whiter sand and the overall color will become darker. That's an unavoidable effect when you bring darker sand anywhere near whiter sand.

Over even more time (years)--if no additional dark sand is brought in--the dark sand will continue mixing and dispersing, it will lighten in color somewhat (not completely) due to sun and tide interaction, and more white sand will be brought in by the tides. Eventually it will not be noticeable, but it will take a very long time.

I'm not particularly happy about using the dark sand. But I'm even less happy about the way the beaches look now.

[kathydwells]

There apparently is not enough white sand available for the large need.

Can you educate me Kurt? Where did the white sand come from that was on the beaches before IVAN, CINDY, ARLENE, and DENNIS? IMHO, I don't care what color the sand is as long as I still have an ocean to look at. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the beach also, but I truly love looking at that ocean that takes my breath away everytime I see it. I love the sound, the smell, the creatures, everything about it. The beach, to me is just a small part of the picture.

[OhioBeachBum]

That's the plan at this point. The sand ends up mixing though over time. That's why it's never been allowed anywhere near the beach.

The BCC just approved a variance in the white sand ordinance, allowing homeowners to bring in sand that is considerably less white than is normally allowed.

This sand is from intracoastal dredging and is about 1/3 the cost of white sand. There apparently is not enough white sand available for the large need.

Brad Pickel's recommendation was that all the white sand should be used first, rather than use the darker sand.

Judging from a couple of (post-Ivan I think) pixs posted on SoWal, would seem that combo of approaching full moon, Emily down south, and now depressed beach elevations would tend to move a fair amount of sand onto the beachs near term, though that doesn't do butkis for shoring up buildings, etc. Are they actually talking about bringing in brown sand or just less-than-white-white sand?

[kurt]

The white sand came from quartz in the Appalachian Mountains via rivers if that's what you mean.

They are talking about kind of a gray product, at this point just for under and in front of critical homes (to be defined).

[Beach Girl]

When do you think they would get started on this? What is the timeline of bringing in sand?

[OhioBeachBum]

OK, maybe all vistors should be required to bring a big bag of white sand per person - beach admission. That stuff we buy for grand-kid's sandbox is white & fine - sure seems pretty close to the beach stuff. I'd do that if the sand police wouldn't drag me away in chains.

[prception69]

With all the rust buckets being driven on the beach most of the sand will be tainted brown anyway from liquids leaking from these heaps! I witnessed a local lose his tailpipe off an old Wagoneer a few weeks ago. Yes, I picked it up and took it to the nearest trash can with my empties. :laughing1

I say bring in whatever you can to get the beach built back up and then let nature take it's course

Keep the heaps off the beach! You can walk like the rest of us "renter/tourists"

[Bob]

White sand is the way to go

[prception69]

Maybe I was a little hasty with my suggestion. If the darker sand was used, would it affect turtle nesting? Since light, holes, driftwood,etc can send these poor things down the path of destruction, what would darker sand do to them?

Never forget the plight of the turtles!

[Camp Creek Kid]

The temperature of the sand that the eggs are in determines the sex of the baby turtles. Darker sand would be hotter than white. Someone help me out on HOW this affects the eggs--I can't remember.

[Philip_Atlanta]

What was the result of this meeting?

[kurt]

Results of the meeting and response by South Walton Community Council: http://southwaltoncc.org/dennis.pdf


http://southwaltoncc.org

[JB]

As I have said before, sugar-white, powdery sand is the trademark of the beaches. To get away from that makes the beaches more ordinary. One may as well go to Mexico Beach or Cape San Blas.

The consistency of the sand concerns me as much as the color. Darker sand will eventually bleach. But sand with big grains will not change.

IMO, this is a big mistake. The look and feel of the beaches is now permanently altered as a result of this very knee-jerk solution.

[phdphay]

I am so torn by this issue. On the one hand, sugary-white sand is the trademark of our beaches, not to mention the environmental issues! But on the other hand, I wonder how I'd feel about this issue if the home I loved was about to crumble into the Gulf. I think I know.

I talked to one of these owners (I think it's one of Sea Turtle's neighbors). She was so strong. I cried.

What a dilemma!