Reminder - Leave No Trace - Protect Our Beaches

Bless you both!



I am only picking on the BMB Villas because of the wonderful beachcam they have. I am sure they are not the only violators, but they are the only ones I can report on from Dallas.

That and Grayton.

Miss Kitty in mission control:

Thanks to all


All of this is so important and useful and some quite funny, too, but all too true.

We want to see the beach, not some cigarette butts, beach crap, tents, pavilions, clutter.....can't something be done further?

I'm calling the authorities as suggested to complain about their not cleaning up after dark.

Clean it up! Dump it! Give it away! Sell it! Save it! Whatever, just get ride of it so we can see the beaches we love, the water so clear.

To All--I commend each and everyone of you for your efforts on this situation! Here at Gulf Shores it too is a major problem. As I sat yesterday, amongst the masses, I was amazed at what people THINK is approprate for the beach, but alas they don't teach that in school! On another note, I'm coming to visit Sugar Dunes at mid Aug. and was thrilled to note no condos to the west of where our unit is, but then GOOGLED it a little more and saw it sits next to a public entrance. Not to worry, I'm really not a beach snob, but could anyone that might know the area--do they pickup/clean up pretty good in this location? Also being late summer, do I dare hope it will be a bit quiter? Back to the turtle issue--we arn't seeing that many this year. Our park system trys to stay on top of it, but we are such a small area with sooo many visitor, I fear the turtles have lost the battle here. Keep up the good work in your area!

Cleaning it up!


On July 5th I strolled to the beach (Inlet Beach) and started picking up trash from the fireworks barrage (to which I contributed a bit), plastic remnants, cigarete butts, cigar butts, plastic caps, an odd flip flop or so, broken toys, lonely rubber duckies, plastic drink bottles, cellophane, poly rope braids, six pack rings, large food remnants, rubber bands, hair clips, bobby pins, and filled five plastic bags with the small stuff in about a 100 yard long and 70 yard wide beach area before I gave up. One couple sheltering under one of those damn canopies that had been up all week told me I was doing a great job as they slung back a couple of beers in glass bottles which they would hide whenever the authorities trucked by . Great job! Some of this areas visitors are a buncha SOB's ; uneducated, resentful, bitter, uninterested crackers with little to do but sit on their asses and swill beer until they are drunk enough to make it back to the rented beach house. One group of between 8 and 12 young couples played their beach-side porch music so loud each day we could hear it 100 yards away, left their volleyball net up for 5 days until it fell down at last, dug numerous holes in the sand leaving them uncovered for several days, threw their sun lotion empties and beer can empties outside their house in the sand and blew off huge fireworks as close to a turtle nesting site as 10'; I know because I picked up rocket bases and crap right there. These were seemingly college age couples who one would think had some sensitivity to these issues, but like their parents, care less for anyone or thing other than themselves. Rant over!

Clean the beach

Thanks for the rant. Thanks even more for your efforts. I think I know what part of the problem is. My wife and I spend a great deal of time picking up trash to the point that we get to know some of the people staying in the rental units and they are surprised to learn that we are indeed not being paid to clean up the beaches. "Well, then whatever do you do that for?"

We tell them it is because eventually the tourists will go home for the winter and how else will the beaches ever get clean unless someone just gets out there and gets at it. I tell them that the beaches stay quite clean during the winter months.
All garbage is not from tourists, or even the locals. It is amazing how many small bits of plastic are forever washing up on the beaches every day. It comes from things dumped at sea.

I think that it would be helpful to allow beach chair companies to set up and remove chairs and umbrellas. This would reduce the amount of stuff that is left over night. Plus, the beach service does a better job installing the umbrellas which make them less likely to blow away. An added bonus is that the beach service can be required to remove all litter that is left during the day. What do you all think?

I find it interesting that beach services are operating up and down the beach, every day, on the beach, and have been for years.

Why should they be required to remove trash? They didn't leave it!

I think that it would be helpful to allow beach chair companies to set up and remove chairs and umbrellas. This would reduce the amount of stuff that is left over night. Plus, the beach service does a better job installing the umbrellas which make them less likely to blow away. An added bonus is that the beach service can be required to remove all litter that is left during the day. What do you all think?

I find it interesting that beach services are operating up and down the beach, every day, on the beach, and have been for years.

Why should they be required to remove trash? They didn't leave it!

If you start requiring it of them then prices will go up. Over in the canopy thread the ordinance was posted and requires them to provide a trash can. They also are required to remove any and all trash within a 100 foot area.

We went kayaking through Western Lake and into the Grayton outfall this morning. The first thing mom said when we arrived in the outfall was "Why can't people pick up their stuff?"

Only a couple people were at the beach yet, but there were plenty of abandoned plastic shovels, toys, etc.

Why should they be required to remove trash? They didn't leave it!

I think the idea is that their customers probably left the trash. I think this rule has been in place for a long time.

IBD, I am just shocked at how much pure trash is on the beach! As you posted, it's not just abandoned beach chairs, toys, and tents, it's true trash -- drink containers, food wrappers, etc., etc.

I have never seen it this bad. We've been here two other times this summer, and it wasn't like this. Normally when I walk on the beach I'll pick up trash as I go and put it into a plastic grocery bag. Now there's so much trash I'd need a pickup truck to contain it all.

And there are broken tents and broken beach chairs sitting in the middle of the beach (not near a walkover) that have clearly been abandoned because they are broken! Plus beach toys in the middle of the beach that clearly have been abandoned because they're not near any chairs. ARGH!

Because there is so much trash, I'll clean up the beach in my 'hood, but I can't attempt to do more just because of the volumes of stuff.

BTW what can I do with abandoned tent frames which, BTW, are going to kill my back carrying them up 38 stairsteps? The Waste Management trucks won't pick those up when they're at the garbage cans by the street.

IBD, I am just shocked at how much pure trash is on the beach! As you posted, it's not just abandoned beach chairs, toys, and tents, it's true trash -- drink containers, food wrappers, etc., etc.

I have never seen it this bad. We've been here two other times this summer, and it wasn't like this. Normally when I walk on the beach I'll pick up trash as I go and put it into a plastic grocery bag. Now there's so much trash I'd need a pickup truck to contain it all.

And there are broken tents and broken beach chairs sitting in the middle of the beach (not near a walkover) that have clearly been abandoned because they are broken! Plus beach toys in the middle of the beach that clearly have been abandoned because they're not near any chairs. ARGH!

Because there is so much trash, I'll clean up the beach in my 'hood, but I can't attempt to do more just because of the volumes of stuff.

BTW what can I do with abandoned tent frames which, BTW, are going to kill my back carrying them up 38 stairsteps? The Waste Management trucks won't pick those up when they're at the garbage cans by the street.

Put them against the TDC trash receptacles and they will be taken.

Yesterday I received a letter from the county with this notice on one side - http://www.partners.beachesofsouthwalton.com/LeaveNoTrace.pdf and a letter from Kevin Hargett, code enforcement on the other side.

The letter is addressed to "proprty owners in Walton County". The letter introduces the new amendment to the ordinance.

All is now official and final.
Do Not Leave Anything On The Beach.

Leave No Trace...

The scenic beauty of the area can only be maintained through a commitment by the residents and visitors. By being environmental stewards and ensuring that each of us "Leave No Trace" when enjoying recreational activities along the area?s beaches, waterways and natural lands, we help to protect and preserve this destination while ensuring everyone is afforded the same pristine experience.

"Leave No Trace" is an international program that guides outdoor enthusiasts in their decisions to reduce their impacts while enjoying recreational activities. To follow are some of the guiding
principles that can be adopted by residents and visitors to Beaches of South Walton:

? Travel on Durable Surfaces ? Stay on established trails and use dune walkovers to avoid
damage to vegetation, which will lead to erosion.
? Dispose of Trash Properly ? If you carry it in, carry it out. Trash, cigarette butts, waste
and other items litter our natural areas. Beach chairs and umbrellas create hazards
when left on the beach overnight.
? Respect Wildlife ? Observe wildlife from a distance, especially nesting sea turtles.
? Be Considerate of Other Visitors ? Avoid loud music or noise?let nature?s sounds prevail; If you dig holes, be sure to fill them in so others do not get injured.

We hope they you will join us in the "Leave No Trace" program and leave our natural lands as pristine as when you arrived.
Walton County has begun enforcing Ordinance No. 2003-07G: It shall be unlawful for beach chairs, umbrellas, tents and other such personal articles to be on the beach in such a manner that they interfere with beach maintenance, nesting turtles or emergency vehicles.
Personal items left unattended on the beach from dusk to dawn will be discarded.
Regional public beach accesses and public boardwalks will be cleaned daily.
Other sections of the beach will be cleaned on a rotating basis.
Join us in protecting the beautiful Beaches of South Walton. ​

For more information, call Code Enforcement (850) 622-0000.​

We were excited to see this too!

I think I am going to cry tears of joy! Thanks for sharing this!!!

From the looks of the TDC trucks I have seen lately they are definitely enforcing it. You cant pack one more piece of crap in any of them. And I usually see them about 7/8 AM. Kudos to the TDC. (for once)

My Wife and I walked for Turtlewatch this morning from Ed Walline to Stallworth and I couldn't believe my eyes. There was hardly anything for a two mile stretch of beach. We were ecstatic!
Only had to fill in half a dozen craters left to swallow up the TDC trucks. :angry:

I'll cry tears of joy, only as I see it being enforced.

My Wife and I walked for Turtlewatch this morning from Ed Walline to Stallworth and I couldn't believe my eyes. There was hardly anything for a two mile stretch of beach. We were ecstatic!
Only had to fill in half a dozen craters left to swallow up the TDC trucks. :angry:

Sadly, I think that is more due to the tourist numbers winding down- it is back to school time.

If they're enforcing it, you sure can't tell it down here by Eastern Lake. I'd bet there were 10 or more tent frames out there this morning at 7, each with its own little pile of chairs, beach toys, etc.

Put them against the TDC trash receptacles and they will be taken.

Thanks. I dragged one tent about 1/4 mile to the closest one, but I just couldn't drag the huge EZ-Up tent -- too heavy. I put it in the middle of the beach, all folded up, hoping a TDC truck would pick it up. It was there a few days. The TDC truck just drove around it. I gave up and put it back under our walkover. Hubby has back problems, so he couldn't help me. I cleaned up a boatload of discarded beach chairs, toys, and trash on the beach. The only thing left is that darn tent. Looks 1000% better on the beach.

If they're enforcing it, you sure can't tell it down here by Eastern Lake. I'd bet there were 10 or more tent frames out there this morning at 7, each with its own little pile of chairs, beach toys, etc.

Ditto. And someone has been camped out 24/7 by the walkover east of Heritage Dunes for days with a huge amount of stuff.

Awright, who do I call to get a truck down to Eastern Lake?

This morning, there were 10 or 11 tent frames between the Ramsgate walkover and the lake. Of those, 3 or 4 were broken and obviously abandoned. Only 1 or 2 had other beach stuff (chairs, toys, etc.) near them to indicate they still might be in use. Also 2 or 3 piles of beach stuff, partially mounded over with sand from Tuesday's weather.

I haven't seen a tire track in a long time now. Even the trash bags are all falling off their stands.

Email Sonny Mares he is the TDC Director
smares@beachesofsouthwalton.com.

I guarantee you that people weren't using those tents and chairs, yesterday. If they were, you will recognize them as the people with no outer layer of skin, due to the sandblasting that went on all day.

Email Sonny Mares he is the TDC Director
smares@beachesofsouthwalton.com.

Done.