Back by popular demand
, I will try and answer your questions.
In regards to the TDC, we have a system to how we clean the beach and drive along the beach areas. We have to service approximately 400-420 trash receptacles every day by 10 am so we must drive along the beach. Our operating procedure is to drive as close to the water's edge as safe and only drive up to the bags when we reach one, and then go back toward the water. When we must drive higher on the beach, we try to stay in an existing track so that we are not creating new ones. In our opinion it is better to have one track then all of the many others. I reiterated with my guys this morning that we are continuing to do this and will strive to do better.
As for dragging a "rake" behind us, we do that in accordance with direction by the South Walton Turtle Watch Group. During turtle season, we are told by them to NOT rake during the early part of the season when the turtles are nesting because it makes it much more difficult to identify tracks from the mother. We are then asked to rake after the nesting portion of the season to assist the hatchlings in making it to the water.
One other huge issue that we are encountering right now is the condition of the beach itself. In many areas, peat is exposed and we cannot drag the rakes over without making a mess of the beach. Not to mention, we cannot drag our rakes through the Coastal Dune Lake Outfall areas. Additionally during the spring break and summer season, there are too many people to drag our rakes around without leading to a safety hazzard.
I can not speak for the Sherrif's Beach patrol or Code Enforcement so I would have to direct you to them at 267-2000 and 622-0000, respectively.
I hope all of this information clarifies how we try to limit our impacts on the beach. By the way, I am curious to see how people who drive on at Grayton feel about this issue as I personally don't drive there either.. ;-)