Crap on the beach

Can't the title of this thread be changed to "Inappropriate excrement, hooey, garbage, poppycock, garbage on the beach?
I am tired of looking at the word CRAP for the past month. ;-) :funn:

Mr. Pickel:
Thank you for joining this discussion. Earlier this year a Sheriff's Deputy on Beach Patrol stated that they don't enforce rules regarding tents left overnight on the beach. He indicated that the TDC was in charge of enforcement.

I have a few questions:

1. Are there rules/ordinances against leaving articles (such as tents) on the beach overnight?

2. Which agency has the authority (or will) to enforce said rules, if they exist?

Thanks for your interest in this issue.

Very interesting since we have NO enforcement capability at all... There are two main contacts as far as County enforcement of beach issues. Leslie Campbell is the Beach Activities Coordinator, and Code Enforcement is the enforcement agency of the county. I would recommend you starting with Leslie.

Could you put a trash receptacle at the end of the dune crossover from Deer Lake State Park, please?

I will check and see what we have, we recently had to order 50 more and don't know if they are in yet. Thanks!

Hello Brad!

Good to hear from you. How does one obtain this info you mentioned was sent out in emails? I am an end user in SoWal. That doesn't sound very nice. Thank you!

There are two main websites that the TDC maintains and includes information:

www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com which covers beach restoration and beach access information, and www.beachesofsouthwalton.com . Look under Seemore the Safety Crab's beach tips.

When I was there last week, I used a beach service that did not remove chairs and umbrellas each night. In fact, none of the three services that I saw did so. Is there a beach service that does this? When we stayed at Henderson Park Inn, this was done each night at the large complexes.

Grayton Beach Service removes their chairs and umbrellas daily.

Wouldn't it be nice if this crap hadn't been left on the beach? :nono1:

Grayton Beach Service (along with Burke's and Chairs 4 U) was one of the three beach services that had chairs up 24/7 during the week we were at Blue Mountain. In fact, they had 4 chairs and two umbrellas that were never touched that whole week. I guess it is standard practice which is not a popular one?

It sure would've been SPECIAL!!! Some people are just TOO special to pick up after theirselves much less their pets! They don't live there why should they give a care? When it comes down to it, it seems when folks are vacationing they just want to throw down with little regard to Mother Nature or the mess they are leaving behind or even the children who will be playing there. I just don't get it-did their mama pick up all their little messes?!
What about all the cigarette butts? It's just nasty! Everytime we come down I'm appaulled at the trash people leave on the beach. Those little juice box straw cellophanes are everywhere too! ALL that stuff accumulates! :nono1:
We evidently need some signage to remind people to take care of Mother Nature How about, "Please no BUTTS on the beach!" or "Take care of Mother Nature and she'll take care of you-Please keep our beaches pristine!" or how about a simple sign from the county along 30-A saying "$1000 fine for littering" . I think we are all paying enough property taxes for some anti-littering signage along the corridor! Then maybe some of these LITTERBUGS would notice and it would mean something to them since money is so powerful even more than a clean environment apparently. Make 'em pay or go to jail! Somebody has got to get tough or our beaches are going to end up trashed like some many other beaches already are! In the meantime I guess a few brave ones are going to have to do it all-asking others to pick up their stuff even their dang dog poo! Thanks for all your bravery because I know its not fun either constantly picking up others trash or asking them to do so. Thanks for caring! Keep speaking up to these trashy people "cause every litterbug hurts!:clap_1:

We have GOBB!! (got our beaches back!). in fact, there is typically a locals GOBB party around this time of year.... not sure if we've missed it or not.

The beach is absolutely pristine now. Not many people were around last night, and almost no crap on it. :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

thanks to so many caring folks participating in the Beach Clean-Up effort last week - schools, children, families, individuals, groups from all around Santa Rosa Beach worked together.

:clap_1: Long live the Marine Debris Timeline! The county did just install a trash can at our access-Thank You! Now maybe some signs- maybe a mini version of this on the trash can? It would be rewarding everytime you threw something away and you could teach kids at the same time! Hey where are the cigarette butts on this? Wonder how long they take, at least 2 or 3 months-Huh?

Filtered cig butt take on avg. 7+ years not months. And mikllions of ignorant smokers toss them out all day long without any care. God help the one I see throw them on the beach cause I call them out. Freakin Unconscious people.

It sure would've been SPECIAL!!! Some people are just TOO special to pick up after theirselves much less their pets! They don't live there why should they give a care? When it comes down to it, it seems when folks are vacationing they just want to throw down with little regard to Mother Nature or the mess they are leaving behind or even the children who will be playing there. I just don't get it-did their mama pick up all their little messes?!
What about all the cigarette butts? It's just nasty! Everytime we come down I'm appaulled at the trash people leave on the beach. Those little juice box straw cellophanes are everywhere too! ALL that stuff accumulates! :nono1:
We evidently need some signage to remind people to take care of Mother Nature How about, "Please no BUTTS on the beach!" or "Take care of Mother Nature and she'll take care of you-Please keep our beaches pristine!" or how about a simple sign from the county along 30-A saying "$1000 fine for littering" . I think we are all paying enough property taxes for some anti-littering signage along the corridor! Then maybe some of these LITTERBUGS would notice and it would mean something to them since money is so powerful even more than a clean environment apparently. Make 'em pay or go to jail! Somebody has got to get tough or our beaches are going to end up trashed like some many other beaches already are! In the meantime I guess a few brave ones are going to have to do it all-asking others to pick up their stuff even their dang dog poo! Thanks for all your bravery because I know its not fun either constantly picking up others trash or asking them to do so. Thanks for caring! Keep speaking up to these trashy people "cause every litterbug hurts!:clap_1:

You can't presume that that "crap" was left by a visiting pet...they're not allowed on the beach without a permit...and it's our understanding that only residents can get permits! We've personally experienced scooping up after observing a resident pet owner deal with her large lab's "pile" by kicking sand over it ...crazy and quite discusting since it was left within a few feet of our beach chairs!!!

We just returned 9/3 from a week at the beach. The first 4 or 5 days of our trip the only "beach crap" we encountered were the wooden beach chairs and umbrella's set up by the beach service people. They were left through the night all week from Dune Allen down to Old Florida Beach....

I'm catching up... what's the issue there, if they are being used the next day? Most of those guys pick them up anyway, because they don't want their stuff stolen.

Mr. Pickel:
Thank you for joining this discussion. Earlier this year a Sheriff's Deputy on Beach Patrol stated that they don't enforce rules regarding tents left overnight on the beach. He indicated that the TDC was in charge of enforcement.

I have a few questions:

1. Are there rules/ordinances against leaving articles (such as tents) on the beach overnight?

2. Which agency has the authority (or will) to enforce said rules, if they exist?

Thanks for your interest in this issue.

In defense of the deputies, they will do some things. Like, I saw one officer make a group of Auburn Spring breakers clean their mess up (and what a mess), even though they were still on the beach partying. They strictly enforce the glass container rule and they will (in a bad mood) write tickets...

j

Leaving tents on the beach is dangerous. When winds come up and blow canvas/plastic tents plus the stakes through the air it's a hazard. I can't tell you the environmental abuse I have witnessed in the fifteen years as a beach front owner. It's sickening. What distresses me worse than tourists are beach front owners and their guests who are the worst offenders. They haul all their crap down to the beach and leave it to "mark" their territory then take off and leave it for Mother Nature. These idiots think this behaviour is acceptable. I'm getting worked up here so better sign off as mainly cuss words come to mind.

If laws were enforced and stiff fines given it wouldn't take long for the word to get around that South Walton means business. I'm not holding my breath as heavens to betsy no tourist must be offended because we want every dime they have come to spend.

Let's don't even get started on folks that don't clean up after their dogs on the beach.

So true and even sadder when you see locals littering and leaving dog poo, teaching by example! Hopefully there are more people in general who care about the environment, both tourists and local, that pick up litter as there are who throw down....

You can't presume that that "crap" was left by a visiting pet...they're not allowed on the beach without a permit...and it's our understanding that only residents can get permits! We've personally experienced scooping up after observing a resident pet owner deal with her large lab's "pile" by kicking sand over it ...crazy and quite discusting since it was left within a few feet of our beach chairs!!!

You can't presume that that "crap" was left by a visiting pet...they're not allowed on the beach without a permit...and it's our understanding that only residents can get permits! We've personally experienced scooping up after observing a resident pet owner deal with her large lab's "pile" by kicking sand over it ...crazy and quite discusting since it was left within a few feet of our beach chairs!!!

:shock: That was just rude and nasty whoever it was! I do however doubt that anyone that would leave their poo on the beach in the first place would really give a poo about a beach permit either?! :roll: Is a dog visitor's permit even available? That might be a good way for the county to make some money and get the dog beach times and beach pick up guidelines out there to the people who do care like yourselves. I'm sure many would like the info and the oppurtunity to bring their dog to the beach without breaking the law. After all, dogs, both natives and visitors, have rights too!

Today's catch....

three WC cups
two straws
one Propel water bottle
one WC key card
one box WC matches
one cup lid w/ straw
one cig butt
one paper towel
one bandaid picked up with paper towel

BTW...it was Homeowners Weekend, I am not pointing fingers....just stating the facts. ;-)

Today's catch....

three WC cups
two straws
one Propel water bottle
one WC key card
one box WC matches
one cup lid w/ straw
one cig butt
one paper towel
one bandaid picked up with paper towel

BTW...it was Homeowners Weekend, I am not pointing fingers....just stating the facts. ;-)

:clap_1: :clap_1: Thanks for taking the time to pick up after another person's disrespect for the land. I am always amazed how lazy some people can be...the earth is not a giant trash can.

Yeah Thanks Sueshore. Mama Nature shines on you.......

I'll be there to help soon.....our first frost is about to hit up here in TN next week. BRRRR......gotta get down south quick.....

:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1: Great job!!!!

Today's catch....

three WC cups
two straws
one Propel water bottle
one WC key card
one box WC matches
one cup lid w/ straw
one cig butt
one paper towel
one bandaid picked up with paper towel

BTW...it was Homeowners Weekend, I am not pointing fingers....just stating the facts. ;-)

Happy to report that I did not see any crap on the beach with the installation of an additional trash receptacle. Thank you TDC. :clap_1:

ok, stand corrected, no really crap, but beach chairs/umbrella's left out overnight.

Hey .... anybody seen our 2 Faded Folding Green Beach Chairs .... ?
Yes ... we did leave them at the beach .... under the boardwalk ....
We realize that most people here think this is a big no-no ....

We are not tourists ... we are locals that go to the beach everyday ....
We always pick up trash, cigarette butts, dig glass out of the sand and pull giant pieces of tent frames out of the water ... when we see chairs and such, we pick them up and move them under the boardwalk ... and arrange them very neatly ..... or throw them away if they are broken ....
We do our part to help keep the beach clean ... we have great respect for nature and love our beach .....

The Beach Chair & Umbrella rental companies at Gulfview Heights do not take the chairs and umbrellas away every night .... they pick them up and stack them under the boardwalk where the lifeguards were also leaving their things .... along with a kayak and a few other beach goodies .....

We are wondering why whoever took our chairs decided to pick and choose .... if it is the goal to remove all items left at the beach .... why would someone take our chairs .... and then leave the other shabby chairs, sand buckets, beach toys, beer cans, etc. It seems to us that if the idea is to remove things left at the beach overnight .... then everything should be disposed of .... not just the things that look good to you .....

We also have to make mention of something that happened while on a bike ride late yesterday .... we were cruising by a beach access near Vizcaya .... when we encountered a man in a red truck pulled over ... think it said Pinnacle Construction .... he was loading a bike into the truck which he had obviously taken from the bike rack by the boardwalk .... it all seemed a little sketchy .... the guy looked around as if to see if anyone was looking .... then loaded up the bike .... it just didn't feel right to us ... why if you rode your bike to the boardwalk would you then go get your truck to load it up instead of riding it home .....

Also, late Saturday night, a couple of kids stopped at our house claiming to be doing some kind of communications contest ... their spill sounded good so we let them on the porch thinking all they needed was someone to sign something saying they were here .... turns out they needed us to buy magazine subscriptions they claimed to get their points .... if we didn't need the magazine ... then we could buy one and send it to the childrens hospital .... they said they lived in Destin .... truthfully it was a little strange and honestly they commented on everything they saw of value on the porch .... now we feel like we can't trust leaving things on our porch .... it definitely feels like things are changing around here ..... reading the article about the stolen gator at Blue Orleans .... we wonder if crime has begin to creep into our quiet little sacred beach community .....

So all that said, if anyone reading this took our faded green beach chairs (similar to the ones the beach chair rental companies use) ... please return them and we will promise not to leave them again ....