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CASTLES MADE OF SAND
Surfrider and Surfers' Environmental Alliance Picket the Dredge Lobby
Imagine if the California Transport Authority, the Traffic Engineers Association of California, and a developers' association were to hold their annual pow wow at Trestles, and rub your nose in the fact they intend to destroy your homebreak and its ecosystems. Well, the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA), which East and Gulf Coasters equate with the dredging lobby, is holding their annual conference in Long Branch, NJ this week, where a so-called "beach re-nourishment" project will re-destroy as many as 25 surf breaks and degrade coastal ecosystems.
As the primary entity promoting the practice commonly called "beach nourishment," ASBPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), have destroyed more East and Gulf Coast surf spots than any other group. As any experienced surfer from South Beach, Miami to Long Beach, New York will attest, large-scale dredging is responsible for 99% of the casualties. This time, however, surfers, anglers, divers and others representing the real interests of the America beach-going public made it clear they've had enough of ASBPA's arrogance and misrepresentations.
On Monday, fifty-plus advocates representing surfing, fishing, property rights, taxpayer rights, diving and environmental interests, demonstrated on the boardwalk of Long Branch, outside the Ocean Place Resort, where ASBPA held its fall conference.
The Surfrider Foundation and the Surfers' Environmental Alliance organized the protest to make the media and political leaders aware that the ASBPA, despite what they advertise, does not represent the beach-going American public. They were joined by Jersey Shore Anglers Association, the Sierra Club, the NJ Council of Diving Clubs, the Asbury Park Fishing Club, Josh Basile, a man who was paralyzed by the shorebreak of a fake beach in Delaware, and residents of Long Branch who feel that past projects led to the use of eminent domain, unsafe beaches, damaged ecosystems, lousy surf and exclusivity of use.
Protestors held signs, saying, "Steep Beaches are Dangerous Beaches," "This Surf Spot Ruined by Beachfill," "Got mud," and "Reform the Corps."
"There are smaller, smarter, and safer ways to maintain beaches," began John Weber, addressing the assembled crowd and media.
"Those who would like to be seen as the 'champions of protection' have only been willing to consider one option--large-scale dredge-and-fill operations. They've ignored recommendations of a state-authorized working committee in 1995 that called for re-zoning, retreat, and altering setbacks," said Bill Rosenblatt, referring to the ASBPA. "Doc" Rosenblatt is the surfing mayor of Loch Arbor New Jersey, and Chair of the National Board of Directors of the Surfrider Foundation. "They've also ignored the environmental impacts," said Rosenblatt.
"No less than 25 surf spots were wiped out for years from Long Beach to Sandy Hook because of the last round of dredging," said Andrew Mencinsky, of SEA, "They plan to fill these areas again this winter, just as the swimming has become safe again, and some surfing has returned."
Nationwide, myriad users are tired of the results, and skeptical of the motives. The proposed $71 million LBI plan and disastrous projects in Florida, North Carolina and Delaware, have intensified opposition.
ASBPA invited Surfrider to work with them. But activists remain wary, especially after one ASBPA member attempted to pluralize the issue.
"You have to remember that there are a number of user groups. What's important to one may not be the best for another," said Kate Gooderham.
Several groups pointed to the intense coastal development that followed the 90s projects. Long Branch is now a stockade of condominiums.
"I think it was a perfect place to hold the conference," said Mike Walther, member of ASBPA's Board of Directors, as well as Chairman of Surfrider's Board of Directors in 1999 and 2000, "The project here typifies the conflicting views we need to focus on."
"Some of the surfing issues have come up at conferences in the past," added Gooderham. "Contrary to some people's understanding, there have been some successful efforts to mitigate this."
She points to beaches in Brevard County, Florida, but local activists say ASBPA deserves no credit.
"In the face of threats to our economic well-being and privacy, surfers, anglers, divers, scientists and brave regulators demanded protection for Brevard's reefs," says Rick Hayes, Chairman of the Sebastian Inlet, Florida Chapter of Surfrider Foundation. "And, the new plan doesn't go far enough to preserve what we have."
"I don't believe they can produce any evidence of preserving any surfing area, " said Tom Warnke, Chair of the Palm Beach, Florida Surfrider chapter, when queried with Gooderham's statements." "In fact, dredging has ruined more than 20 surf spots in Palm Beach County, and we won't let Lake Worth be next."
Many veteran activists doubt this leopard called ASBPA can change its spots. Recently, the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association, ASBPA's state affiliate, awarded Sandra Tate, the Town of Palm Beach's coastal engineer, with the Local Government Award. This after Tate and consultant Coastal Planning & Engineering pumped hundreds of thousands of yards of silty material and fossil corals on a stable, reef-rich productive coast. According to Ed Tichenor, a scientist and diver with more than 20 years water-testing experience, turbidity exceeded legal limits throughout construction.
Video transects of Paul's Reef, a stunning coral reef upstream of the dredge site, shows a clean reef. Two dive clubs will sign affidavits stating that the dredging brought a curtain of mud down on the reef. And prior to the project, Tate and her superior Paul Brazil tried to tell the City of Lake Worth they would put "beach compatible" sand on Lake Worth beaches for free in exchange for heavy equipment access. Surfrider and Florida Sportsman magazine exposed their misrepresentations, and the City Council denied their request. However, Tate and the Town of Palm Beach are determined to dredge-and-fill the Lake Worth pier, a nursery for East Coast competitors dating back into the 50s.
"I'd have to say it went well," said Weber, "we had a great turnout and we made a real impact, and we're not going away." --Jon Coen and Terry Gibson
MORE INFO:
New Jersey Surfrider chapter
Florida Sportsmen article
Surfrider's State of the Beach report
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