Saturday, June 21st, 2008, a dedicated and concerned group of members from the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation assembled quietly at Upham Beach under the watchful eye of nearby condominium owners and a single police officer who appeared briefly, to protest the beach erosion control tactics of Pinellas County. [Mike and Jessica pictured above]
The Suncoast Surfrider Foundation‘s Mike Meehan informally led the group out onto the beach to demonstrate disapproval of the methods being used by Pinellas County to control erosion on Upham Beach. Unsightly enormous yellow sandbags have been positioned on this public beach in an attempt to mitigate the severe erosion problem caused by the jetties constructed at Blind Pass, to the north, and by the construction of several large condominiums irresponsibly close to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Surfrider Foundation and its supporters say that it makes more sense to continue with beach renourishment every 4 years or so, as has been done since the 1970’s, rather than ruin the safety and aesthetics of the beach with these unsightly experimental sandbags called Geotubes.
[Above: Demonstraters in front of the offending Geotubes]
I would imagine that the condominium owners, for whose private benefit this erosion control project was undertaken, did not welcome this outward display of disapproval. Some of them perhaps take it as a personal attack. It is not meant as such. I am sure all of the folks who live in the condos are very nice people who are rightfully and understandably concerned about their property.
The fault lies with the developers of the condominiums and whatever governmental body approved the construction of the condos and the alterations to Blind Pass. Unfortunately, when you buy into a condo, you are not only buying the view, you are buying the problems that come with living just a few feet from the Gulf on a beach known as having the worst erosion problem on the west coast of Florida. Since the beach is public property, the public has a right to influence taxpayer funded projects on the beach.
[Above: Sailboat and crew make a statement in the Free Upham demonstration]
[Above: Demonstrators in front of the GeoTubes under threat of rain and lightning ]
Helpful links if you want to know more about what’s going on at Upham and why you should care:
Photos of the renourishment of Upham and the installation of the Geotubes, with explanations, on my website, Beachhunter.net. Includes slide show.
Technical Paper on the Geotubes experiement by Dr. Nicole Elko.
Characteristics of a Chronically, Rapidly Eroding Beach, Long Key, Pinellas County – Masters Thesis by Alyssa L. Saint John (more reading for all you scientists out there).
Statement by 43 scientists on the failure of beach groins to mitigate beach erosion
SIGN THE PETITION TO HAVE THE GEOTUBES REMOVED! I did.
Suncoast Surfrider Foundation website with all their activities. Great organization!
Article about the Upham Geotubes in Creative Loafing newspaper.
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