Geotube installation - Santa Rosa Beach

[WLD]

WaterColor homeowners, check out this thread.

 

[Miss Kitty]

WaterColor homeowners, check out this thread.

I have posted on this topic as a WC property owner on another thread. To see the changes in dune width since Opal and to look at just how much of the dune is left here after the latest storms is very concerning. I believe St. Joe has been a good steward of the land here by virtue of where they began the building of structures (even further back than the law demanded). Can we sit by and let Mother Nature do her thing? This tree hugger would love to think so...but as I hug trees and the rest of nature, reality keeps hitting me in the head. Yes, I grew up visiting Galveston...the seawall has changed the beach there...was there an alterantive way back when to preserve that area? Most visitors and homeowners in Galveston do not use that area as their destination (mostly hotel and other businesses line the seawall). Many of the beachfront homeowners have lost their property because of erosion elsewhere on the island. IMHO, the real answer is to NOT build ANYTHING near the shoreline. Too late for that...so what is the answer? I like dredging to reclaim the sand that used to be dunes and horizontal beach. To complete my early morning rambling here, I ask this question....Here in SoWal, with the diversity of communities and diversity of shoreline...is there ONE intelligent and thoughtful solution for all 26-28 miles of shoreline? I welcome this continuing debate, Knowledge is Power, but how much time do we have for thoughtful discussion before the next storm hits. Thank you for reading this stream...help me help the beach.

 

[aquaticbiology]

see the unesco thing (http://www.unesco.org/csi/pub/source/ero8.htm) for the complete list of available fixes of the current situation and how they each will eventually affect the beach and dune system

the current situation will not last long and those houses and condos that are perched right on the edge now will soon be gone as the dune slumps back from the vertical (I had not known about this effect - it seems that sand cannot hold a vertical slope and will head for 40-60 slope eventually, even shored up with packed sand and a seawall) - you would have to put the dune edge all the way back to the original pre-hurricane position to save any structures on top of the dune

beach renourishment is the only real way to protect the dunes

 

[Rita]

Thanks for the info and link AB.

 

[seagrovelover]

Dave,
Your post is very clear and well stated regarding the effects of constructing seawalls and installing geotubes.

I do realize that many Gulf-front homeowners have much at stake, and many people, like yourself are helping search for the best possible solutions, from which all owners could benefit. I am very distant from having a solution, even though I think about it often. The one answer to which I keep coming back, is to let Mother Nature have her way. We humans tend to think that we are the most important things around. I see all of this panic, and installation of seawalls and geotubes. Within a few months, man will change that which Mother Nature took thousands of years to create. It just blows my mind. To me, that which makes the beach what it is, is the constant change. Maybe we all need to be open to inviting change into our lives and moving in harmony with nature. My personal opinion is that the Gulf front homes should not be allowed to rebuild once they are destroyed, not at the expense of everyone else and the Earth.

Just my $.02

JOE...thats the smartest thing I have read all day, mother nature will take away but she will also provide in the long run......you my friend have got it!!! :clap_1:

 

[TreeFrog]

SJ's view pretty much parallels mine, but I fear that the human condition dictates we will probably permanently screw things up before we try, too late, to do something which still only approximates the right thing. To wit - New Orleans, petroleum consumption and production. Seems that common sense remains a scarce commodity.

<Rant mode off, it's still a beautiful day>