tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6723623593998954151.post-88662009199955879792008-07-08T07:39:00.008-04:002008-07-08T08:51:46.070-04:00<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_92xyRPX1fBY/SHNdNxeKRMI/AAAAAAAAALA/88Q1mf4YzOw/s1600-h/17th+St.+Dunes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220618884252058818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_92xyRPX1fBY/SHNdNxeKRMI/AAAAAAAAALA/88Q1mf4YzOw/s320/17th+St.+Dunes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>After years of yelling at everyone to 'stay off the dunes', <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tybee</span> City are planning on bulldozing them flat.</div><br /><div>The sand dunes in question run either side of the Fishing Pier about 300 yards or so and are approx 8-10ft high. </div><br /><div>Apart from being the first line of defense from storm surge, the dunes...</div><div>1/Are an important habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. </div><div>2/Trap sand and debris from being blown into the streets.</div><div>3/ Provide aesthetic pleasure.</div><div>4/ Are a natural and never ending process that make the beach what it is.</div><br /><div></div><div>Beneath the dunes, is the sea wall, built around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tybee</span> in the 50's. This wall was still visible in the 90's and only disappeared after beach re-nourishment projects.</div><div>So why on earth the sudden change of priority and intervention?...well, the City <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">says</span> they need access for emergency vehicles. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Arghh</span>, the old "keep everybody safe and protected" clause. But there is already beach access at 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> St. The City also spent a heap of money on 4 wheelers for beach patrols which can be used for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">emergency</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">procedures</span>. </div><br /><div>So what is the real reason ?. </div><br /><div>The dunes in question are all in the business district area of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tybee</span>. </div><div>The Ocean Plaza Hotel has been trying to get their dunes removed for the last 8 years to give ground floor rooms ocean views.</div><br /><div>So, once again, maybe it all comes down to one thing...Commerce.</div><div>If <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">that's</span> the case, then SC&amp;K is proposing this idea.....</div><div><strong>An artificial off shore surfing reef.</strong></div><div>Bulldoze the dunes flat. </div><div>Take all the sand and place it in huge nylon bags, some as big as cars.</div><div>Drop the bags off shore, approx 60-70 yards.</div><div>We now have an off shore reef system that..</div><div>1/ Provides a marine habitat.</div><div>2/ Provides a level of protection from heavy surf <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">erosion</span>.</div><div>3/ Will naturally help beach accretion.</div><div>4/ Most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">importantly</span>... provides a great surfing environment that would attract tourist from all over the east coast as well as hosting 'Pro circuit' surfing events.</div><br /><div></div><div>If it's commerce over common sense then be honest, do it right and stop monkeying around .</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Nigel Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05634017387582461710noreply@blogger.com