Items on the beach overnight

[TreeFrog]

As I put in an earlier post only kayaks that were ATTACHED to or left at County accesses were removed. That is why I was so strongly supportive of the effort to remove them.

The one that's been chained to the Eastern Lake walkover for the last six months plus was gone today. From the look of the sand where it had been resting comfortably, maybe gone for 3 or 4 days, tops. Hope the owners got the word before it got hauled away.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Interesting you should bring that up.

Rumor has it that where there is public access, the STATE government is going to install computerized weight scales at the entrances.

* Each person is weighed and receives a computer printed tag with date, time and one's weight.

* All food/drink items are also weighed.

* Upon departure from the beach, the beach goer is then reweighed along with all food and drink.

* If a negative difference exceeds .5% of one's body weight, a citation is issued to the beachgoer for unlawful pollution of state waters. This amount may be adjusted for dehydration due to ambient temperature and relative humidity.

Private property owners are exempt from this new requirement due to riparian rights.

Florida DEP is forming a new department called TPE which stands for Triple "P" Enforcement (piss, poop, pay).

Folks, this is a serious issue!

Since the pee comes from drinking the beer, there should be no extra weight, nor any reduced weight.

 

[BeachSiO2]

So where is the tagging and removal underway? Down here by Eastern Lake at the Ramsgate and Eastern Lake accesses, I didn't see either tags or removal this morning, and we still have a world-record amount of stuff on the beach.

How do beach chairs from the rental services fit into this? They are typically dropped off, left for several days, then removed at the end of the rental period. Will they be tagged, too?

I hate to say this, but the significant increase over last year in the amount of "private" stuff left overnight at Ramsgate/Eastern lake has seemed to coincide with a significant increase in the number of rental chairs placed in the area.

I agree with BMBV that the county or TDC should post warnings about tagging and removal. But I seriously doubt anyone would read them. There are already signs regarding the flags, litter, etc. at all of the public walkovers. I've never seen anyone stop and read the sign before going down the steps.

It is my understanding that the tagging is done in the afternoon and then the removal is done after that. They started on Monday with the tagging and removing on Wednesday. The beach was initially broken into 7 segments since there was so much stuff. On Wednesday and Thursday the Miramar area was removed, today is Dune Allen so, if Eastern Lake wasn't tagged yesterday for Saturday removal, then it would probably be tagged today for Sunday removal. Based on the FAQ that BMBV posted earlier, the rental chairs are also part of the program:

http://beachesofsouthwalton.com/FAQRemoveItOrLoseIt.pdf

 

[BeachSiO2]

The one that's been chained to the Eastern Lake walkover for the last six months plus was gone today. From the look of the sand where it had been resting comfortably, maybe gone for 3 or 4 days, tops. Hope the owners got the word before it got hauled away.

I hope they don't try and put it back . They would probably call the TDC and get it back from them. It seems like whenever something happens on the beach people call them first and so it should be fine.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I guess the crap at Grayton has lucky owners, because the renters will likely remove their crap tonight, as they pack the cars.

 

[BeachSiO2]

I guess the crap at Grayton has lucky owners, because the renters will likely remove their crap tonight, as they pack the cars.

You're right, I am never that lucky . At least there will be other passes, and if it's taken home then it's off the beach. Something tells me that after they make the first pass or two, they will start mixing up the order of collection so that no one can "plan" for the removal date. Plus, they would be able to do longer stretches of the beach due to the lack of items. I will be interested to see how many truck loads are removed this first week.

 

[Smiling JOe]

You're right, I am never that lucky . At least there will be other passes, and if it's taken home then it's off the beach. Something tells me that after they make the first pass or two, they will start mixing up the order of collection so that no one can "plan" for the removal date. Plus, they would be able to do longer stretches of the beach due to the lack of items. I will be interested to see how many truck loads are removed this first week.

Yes, if they take it home, the mission is accomplished. Sounds good, anyway, but is the truth really concealed? If beachgoers can leave there stuff on the beach for the entire week, only to have the Sheriff's Office make the sweep after they leave, the mission falls short of being successful.

At least they are making an effort to start enforcing existing laws, so I give them a little .

Notice this sign at Grayton Beach? Judging by the crap left on the beach, and the holes left on the beach, I would venture a guess that not many people ever read the signs. There are only about 8-10 signs at the entrance, so I'm not surprised that people don't read them. We cannot post signs for every law regarding the beach. What's next, posting the laws regarding the amount of buttocks' coverage and breasts coverage?

 

[Caroling]

Yes, if they take it home, the mission is accomplished.

I took a similar photo of the turtle advisory sign at Lakewood and Beachfront Tr. this morning, but mine had rows of chairs and whatnot on the beach in the background. I tried to find the 2003-07g ordinance on the county site and couldn't. Code enforcement is mailing it to me. So I posted the SWCC letter (http://www.wholeo.net/Trips/Travel/Florida/srb/removeItOrLoseIt.html) and the Zone schedule (http://www.wholeo.net/Trips/Travel/Florida/srb/removeItOrLoseItZones.html). According to it, that area will be tagged on Saturday and items removed on Monday.

I talked to people going down to the beach, and none of them had heard of the code enforcement or the tags or ordinance. I wish I could make a "citizen arrest". Does the Sheriff or TDC have a citizen tag that I can tie to junk on the beach to educate people? If not, what is to prevent me creating some? If they leave the stuff there, they get tagged by me so at least they have some warning if they do it during the week and never get officially tagged. And I could report repeated offenders possibly.

I think I'll write the commissioners. Is there any evidence that they read sowal?

I heard that recently a turtle laid her eggs under a tent. Evidence of struggle with beach gear all around. If she can be that persistent, I'm inspired to be the same.

 

[seacrestkristi]

just fyi, i know the family behind Alys Beach has owned that property for many decades... they're big supporters (financial and otherwise) of many local charities

Are they the Hilton's who also own the ship house?
That's nice that they give to charity. So are many others but i don't see them naming entire beaches after themselves, right in the middle of already existing beaches. They seem to be following suit with the neighborhood called 'Seacrest Beach'. It's just confusing for out of town visitors. It's like naming a subdivision 'Atlanta' in Atlanta or 'Panty Maw City Beach' in Panty Maw City Beach. It's a subdivision name not a town! Correct? Is there any public access from there east thru Rosemary Beach Sorry, I'm getting off topic. Just wondering why is there litter all over the beach there. Don't they have public trash receptacles there? That is a beautiful stretch of beach because of the lack of obstacles, tents, etc. Hopefully, the nice charitable folks you know won't ever start denying others use of their beach like some home owners are evidently trying to do, and hopefully someone will pick up the July 4th junk soon off the beach. Tribal Law Rules. I'll be down again soon and will walk down with a bag and check it out. It's funn to pick up trash off the beach.!!!

Think minimal when taking objects on to the pristine beaches. We always told our kids to not carry more with them than they can carry back themselves cuz I got my own stuff to carry. Then I usually have minimal in my hand when I'm sayin' it. Sorry, I'm not haulin' gazillion toys. They should be entertainin' themselves with nature in Nature's playground. It works grayt. ;-) Babies don't need all that plastic junk either. It amazes me all the people that act as if they are the only one to ever have a baby on the beach. Get a grip. Water sunscreen, umbrella, blanket, bag, the basics. Ask yourself, 'Do I need to set up tent city for just 30 minutes a day of usage or am I just marking my territory basically? Will it affect others? Could it hurt others at night? In a few years you'll be upset when your child gets hurt tripping over someone's stuff or big hole when walkin' at sunset. The stuff is not only U-G-L-Y its hazardous whether you want to call it a private beach or not. Do you not care if others are hurt by your private sheeeet? Beaches are for everyone and the responsibility of us all to keep clean and pick up if you see litter. Its Gods beach not ours, but it is ours to take care of and enjoy while we are here on this planet. It's also grayt exercise to carry stuff off the beach, especially more than you carry on, litter, etc. The pristine beaches are what Sowal is all about in the first place right?

 

[Caroling]

The pristine beaches are what Sowal is all about in the first place right?

Right!!! Someone told me that it costs $8 to go to the New Jersey shore. And machines rake the beach each night. I fear that is where we are headed unless people wake up and start being responsible.