Beach Renourishment By: Charlene Lloyd, Crystal Earle, Richard Byars, Richard Tuckfield, Christine Burgess, Kaley Foley

What is Beach Renourishment? Replenishment of sand for beaches Replenishment of sand for beaches Sand is dredged off the ocean’s floor Sand is dredged off the ocean’s floor Pump sand through pipes onto the beach Pump sand through pipes onto the beach Sand is then shaped & built into dunes and beaches Sand is then shaped & built into dunes and beaches

Why Beach Renourishment?

How It Works …

Ecological Costs Hurts sea life on ocean’s floor from dredging. Hurts sea life on ocean’s floor from dredging. Sea turtle nesting areas are endangered by some renourishment projects. Sea turtle nesting areas are endangered by some renourishment projects. Seawalls and jetties accelerate beach erosion. Seawalls and jetties accelerate beach erosion.

How much does it cost? Is it a waste of money? million spent annually and more on hard structures million spent annually and more on hard structures 200 cubic yards of sand has gone to renourish America’s beaches 200 cubic yards of sand has gone to renourish America’s beaches Sand can cost as much as $5 per cubic yard Sand can cost as much as $5 per cubic yard A new beach can cost 2 million per square miles A new beach can cost 2 million per square miles Beaches must be continually renourished Beaches must be continually renourished

Does it work? Yes, temporarily Yes, temporarily Not efficient in long run Not efficient in long run Extensive costs are not worth it Extensive costs are not worth it

Who benefits? Beach businesses Beach businesses Tourists Tourists Property owners Property owners Historic preservationists Historic preservationists

Who pays for beach renourishment? U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designs and implements renourishment operations and pays for them. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designs and implements renourishment operations and pays for them.

Who pays… Tax payers Tax payers 65% paid for by federal tax and the remainder of costs is paid by state and local governments. 65% paid for by federal tax and the remainder of costs is paid by state and local governments. Increased cost of taxpayer-subsidized flood insurance payments when floods and hurricanes occur. Increased cost of taxpayer-subsidized flood insurance payments when floods and hurricanes occur.

How is this related to the Commons? Public beaches are a commons. Public beaches are a commons. Property owners and businesses are the “economic man.” Property owners and businesses are the “economic man.” Individual gain in property values and tourism for businesses but all citizens pay Individual gain in property values and tourism for businesses but all citizens pay Temporary technical solution Temporary technical solution Maximizes one beach while diminishing surrounding beaches Maximizes one beach while diminishing surrounding beaches

Pros and Cons Pros Increased tourism/recreation Increased tourism/recreation Economic positives Economic positives Aesthetically pleasing Aesthetically pleasingCons Adversely effects the habitat of endangered species. Adversely effects the habitat of endangered species. Hurts Surf Zone Environments Hurts Surf Zone Environments Program Hurts Taxpayers Program Hurts Taxpayers

Resolution Current beach renourishment programs do not work Current beach renourishment programs do not work Other possibilities…managed retreat and the UK Other possibilities…managed retreat and the UK 5 th Amendment implications 5 th Amendment implications

Questions?

Work Cited ille_beach.htm ille_beach.htm ille_beach.htm ille_beach.htm beach.html