Faithfully Faulty
October 5th, 2008
Insandity
Beach renourishment sites are supposed to receive new sand every six to 10 years, according to Mike Barnett, chief of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems
Palm Beach County commissioner Burt Aaronson thinks – and based on the county’s experience – that Barnett’s assertion is a joke.
Furthermore, that continued beach renourishment is “insanity.”
“I’m against throwing money after money without finding the solution,” said Aaronson, throwing an aside at the US Army Corps of Engineers, asking:
“When are we going to spend this money to have the Army Corps Of Engineers do what they’re supposed to do to protect the shores?”
“They’re doing a fine job in Iraq,” he added, making no effort to disguise his sarcasm.
Aaronson was responding to yet another call for money to be spent replacing sand – another nearly $30 million (half of it county and municipality funded) for 2008 alone.
The unfortunate thing is that there’s no easy answer. Florida and well-maintained beaches are synonymous with both tourism and retirement sustainability.
Aaronson is also of course correct that continually throwing money into sand replacement --- knowing that the next year you’re going to be doing the same thing -- is financially short on brains.
The Army Corps of Engineers could in fact dramatically reduce the need for constant sand replacement by physically reducing the wave effect through the off-shore installation of “breakwaters” --- concrete slabs, that diffuse the wave’s energy before it hits the beach.
Something must be done. This penny wise and pound-foolish renourishment approach can’t continue.
By the way, this year alone in Florida, here’s what taxpayers will spend to pour good sand after bad: local governments, $81 million; state government, $44 million; federal government $29 million.
That’s a lot of insandity, indeed.
| 
