8/15/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

r 0 integrity of the beaches with that method. He wanted to know what the Commissioners thought and offered to respond to any of their questions. In response to Vice Chairman Ginn's inquiry, Mr. Irvin stated that escarpments do occur on a natural beach, but not to the extent that they would threaten people and marine life. Chairman Adams pointed out that we have that now at Wabasso Beach. Mr. Irvin commented that the homes in that area had been built directly up to the dunes, but dunes move periodically and when a house is built right in the immediate zone of a dune, it is in a danger spot. Houses should be built further back; retreat is the best solution for erosion. Commissioner Macht had been told that in a proper renourishment through sand dredging, the idea is to build a smooth increasing transition far enough out so that the wave energy is dissipated as it runs up and it does not have such an erosive effect. He asked for Mr. Irvin's view on this theory. Mr. Irvin disagreed based on his recent wave tank studies which he described using the ocean as the wave tank. He also cited the Ft. Pierce area with the large escarpment, the waves went over the top of all the sand dredged material. Instead of helping the people and businesses on the beach with sand dredging, he believed that the opposite would occur and the waves' energy would drive right up into, for example, the Ocean Grill, instead of under. He felt the beaches presently are working superbly now and again urged the Board to look at alternatives. He also hoped there would be another committee meeting soon to look at other solutions. Chairman Adams advised that there will be a Beach and Shore Preservation Advisory Committee meeting when they have something to put on the agenda, such as information coming back from the State or from the Corps of Engineers. There is nothing for this month, August 15, 2000 64 BK 1 14 N 599 i. •