photos - Blue Mountain Beach access - 7/28/05

[kurt]

http://www.sowal.com/photos-072805.html



http://www.sowal.com/050728-bmb-085.jpg

[JB]

Well, it's official. The beaches are ruined forever. Brilliant work, Walton County! :pissed:

[amylouky]

Wow. That is.. ugly.
From reading the decision to use the darker sand, it looks like they recommend covering it with three feet of white sand?
Will that really happen?

[SoWalSally]

From Walton Sun:

As dump trucks continued to haul loads of dark sand to the beach at Blue Mountain, residents lined up on one side or the other.
“I am dismayed at the dark sand that is being dumped on the beach at the (County) Highway 83 Regional Beach Access in Blue Mountain Beach,” said Blue Mountain Beach resident Richard Fowlkes. “Every tourist I have talked to feels the same. Most people that do not live on the beach question what is going on at our beaches. We are into our third day of constant dumping”
Fowlkes referred to a growing mountain of dark red sand that had been dumped at the access for projects to help beachfront homeowners shore up their property.
The sand does not come close to the color that was part of the white sand ordinance. Fowlkes was involved with the recent approval of that ordinance and said the ordinance is not bad, “but the implementation of it is.”
“That sand does not comply with the color approved then,” he said.
Fowlkes said he is concerned about beachfront property owners, but putting darker sand on the beach will not only change the color of the sand, he said, but also the color of the water.
However, another Blue Mountain Beach resident, Lillian Torey expressed concern that stopping the projects would leave homeowners unprotected in the event of future storms.
Torey said she, her husband, Randy, and others in their community were working with the Department of Environmental Protection to get approval to shore up their property.
“I’m concerned about folks with homes on the beach that have already been damaged,” Torey said. “There are four storms out there right now.”

[Travel2Much]

I am completely horrified and stunned.

I thought the variance was an "Emergency Measure to be used cautiously to shore up critically endangered homes and help out devastated gulf front owners". Not a license "Indiscriminately to strew dark sand all over the place and allow people to tramp all over it so they can get easily to the beach".

Someone should be thrown out of office.

[SoWalSally]

Seems like we have widespread panic and the county has thrown up its hands. It's almost as if they are furious and humiliated by the state DEP (who dares to use caution, conservation, and my OH MY GOD - SCIENCE!), so they are thumbing their collective noses and turning a blind eye to what's happening on the beaches.

There are all sorts of crazy retaining walls going up. They're supposed to be temporary but I'm sure will get covered up - until the next storm that is. Imagine 4,000,000 tons of lumber, steel curtains, and who knows what else covering SoWal beaches. :!: :!: :!:

Such a mess is being made that anyone opposed to dredging will have to give in just to cover the mess.

[Ocean Lover]

On a positive note...the water looks gorgeous! :clap_1: I am getting so excited for our trip. 2 weeks and counting.
Regarding the sand...YIKES. I didn't think it would be that dark. It still seems to me that they could bring in sand from sand bars or somewhere offshore but what do I know.

[Beach Runner]

In reference to http://www.sowal.com/bb/showpost.php?p=11054&postcount=55, which Munsell color chart are they referring to? The sand in the photo is startlingly dark. And I had no clue before reading this thread that the dark sand would change the color of the water, too. :bang:

[Tootsie]

http://www.sowal.com/photos-072805.html



http://www.sowal.com/050728-bmb-085.jpg



I've never seen anything so horrible in SoWal. I'm speechless. :(

[luvthebeach]

This is so sad :(

[Smiling JOe]

That dirt looks like South Alabama topsoil. What the hell are they thinking. I guess not only tourist remove their thinking caps. I wonder if people should build elsewhere?

[kurt]

In reference to http://www.sowal.com/bb/showpost.php?p=11054&postcount=55, which Munsell color chart are they referring to? The sand in the photo is startlingly dark. And I had no clue before reading this thread that the dark sand would change the color of the water, too.

Here is a graphic of Munsell scale values (hue and chroma are also important but aren't talked about much here):
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showpost.php?p=11057&postcount=56

Some background:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=684&highlight=munsell

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=885&highlight=non-white

http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/globe/pvg/munsell.htm

[kurt]

That dirt looks like South Alabama topsoil. What the hell are they thinking. I guess not only tourist remove their thinking caps. I wonder if people should build elsewhere?

The soil in the photos, deposited on Blue Mountain Beach, is coming from a 20 acre pit off Hwy 83, north of DeFuniak Springs.

[wetwilly]

When I first saw this, I was shocked. In an earlier post, I read that they got permission to use non white sand but that is ridiculous. Obviously, they went and bought the cheap stuff. Hopefully they are only planning to use this "dirt" to backfill and fortify the foundations of the homes and not spread it on the beach?

Are they spreading this stuff on the beach? If they get the addl $16M needed to complete restoration, I hope they plan on getting some of the white sand. State and Federal money are available and I hope they use it properly. Yuk.

[Beach Runner]

Some background:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=684&highlight=munsell

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=885&highlight=non-white

http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/globe/pvg/munsell.htm
Thanks. I googled Munsell, and the only links I found were those selling books of Munsell charts (there are different types, even a Munsell soil color table) for over $100 a pop.

Exactly - hue and chroma appear to be very important factors. The last link is very informative. Thanks again.

[TooFarTampa]

Okay, Kurt. Whom do we call, write, harass? Whose decision is this, exactly, so we can reinforce the idea that this is a hideous "solution"?

[JB]

Okay, Kurt. Whom do we call, write, harass? Whose decision is this, exactly, so we can reinforce the idea that this is a hideous "solution"?

I have already emailed the county commisioners. I would like to email Brad Pickel as well if anyone has his address.

[Oldtimer]

Makes no sense to me. Brown sand? Protecting what? Why? Building on sand should not be allowed anywhere, anytime!!!!

The sugar white sand of the Walton County beaches has distinguished the area from every other gulf community and should be cherished, not trashed! :pissed:

[TooFarTampa]

I have already emailed the county commisioners. I would like to email Brad Pickel as well if anyone has his address.

I just emailed too. Here is the list of commissioner addresses, for your convenience: prikenneth@co.walton.fl.us, brascott@co.walton.fl.us, meacindy@co.walton.fl.us, jonlarry@co.walton.fl.us, cucro@co.walton.fl.us

I attached a copy of Kurt's photo, because it's worth about a million words. Thanks Kurt.

Who is Brad Pickel?

[SoWalSally]

I have already emailed the county commisioners. I would like to email Brad Pickel as well if anyone has his address.

Brad wanted white sand used. He was ignored. :confused:

[SoWalSally]

Include a link to this page when you write so that your recipient has a reference: http://www.sowal.com/photos-072805.html

As always, Kurt has a link for contacts:
http://www.sowal.com/links.html

County Administrator - Ronnie Bell, Administrator, belronnie@co.walton.fl.us

Planning & Development - Pat Blackshear, Director, blapat@co.walton.fl.us

County Commissioners:

• Dist. 1 -Scott Brannon, (850) 622-3081, brascott@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 2 - Kenneth Pridgen, (850) 834-6328, prikenneth@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 3 - Larry Jones (850) 892-8474, jonlarry@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 4 - Ro Cuchens, (850) 835-4834 cucro@co.walton.fl.us

• Dist. 5 - Cindy Meadows, (850) 622-3059 meacindy@co.walton.fl.us


________________________________________

A better strategy might be to send your message to:

Governor Jeb Bush
Phone: 850/488/7146
Fax: 850-487-0801
jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Colleen Castille
Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection
850-245-2118
Colleen.Castille@dep.state.fl.us

Dick Fancher
DEP Northwest Regulatory District Director
850-595-8300
Dick.Fancher@dep.state.fl.us

Michael Barnett
DEP Beaches and Coastal Systems Bureau Chief
850-488-7808
Michael.Barnett@dep.state.fl.us


ALSO FWS:

Lorna Patrick
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
850-769-0552 ext.229
lorna_patrick@fws.gov

Robbin Trindell, Ph.D.
Biological Administrator, Bureau Of Protected Species Management
850-922-4330
robbin.trindell@fwc.state.fl.us

Dean Gallagher
Environmental Specialist, Bureau Of Protected Species Management
850-922-4330
dean.gallagher@fwc.state.fl.us

[TooFarTampa]

Awesome, Sally. Thanks. :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1: More letters going out shortly.

[wetwilly]

See this link http://southwaltoncc.org/dennis.pdf. This is the press release or info letter from July 21st. It spells out the plan for restoration, what they have approved (diff colors of sand), and the guidelines of use of the non white sand. I suggest that we use these guidelines and the exact words that are in this 7/21 communication to insure that what is happening on the beach is what has been set in these guidelines. This is critical in communicating with the County folks.

Also, see the brown sand thread at on this board at http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=885&highlight=sand.

I hope these links work or maybe Kurt can help if they don't. :cool:

[Richard]

Brad Pickel, Director of Beach Management at the TDC, can be emailed at <bpickel@beachesofsouthwalton.com>.

A little history on this dark sand that is coming from a pit in the northern part of the county. Most residents along Blue Mountain Beach are doing their best to bring in sand that complies with the intent of the new lowered white sand standards the county commission adopted. I applaud that effort. Residents need to be able to protect their property as soon as possible. We have been told there is no shortage of sand that is a 6.2 or better on the Munsell Scale. That is why the number was chosen by the county commissioners.

Walton County Commissioner Ro Cuchens was key in lowering our standards from 8.0 to 6.2. Cuchen’s dock and piling company applied for and received a blanket permit from the county to build seawalls from the highway 83 beach access to the east. He asked the other commissioners if anyone objected to his doing this work. It appears the other commissioners did not object. It is this commissioner who is responsible for bringing in this cheaper dark sand from the north part of the county to Blue Mountain Beach.

Still one might wonder how the sand got approved by the county. After all it is supposed to be inspected to be sure it complies. The situation was reported to the Walton County Code Enforcement office and initally and unofficially they said there was no way this sand could be approved. But soon Commissioner Cuchens was on the scene. Later the county engineer, Greg Graham reported that the sand sample that had been tested for compliance and tested at a 6.2. When asked how this was possible he said the sand was washed several times and then cooked in a microwave oven. After processing the sand in this manner he deemed it acceptable. Perhaps the "processed" sand is acceptable but what they are putting on the beach is not.

Most of this sand should eventually go behind the seawalls Commissioner Cuchens is building. Some may go in front of the walls and be covered by white sand. Much of it may end up on "Brown Mountain Beach"!

In addition, any heavy machinery you see left on the beach that has been there through the night is in defiance of DEP regulations. Commissioner Cuchens has knowingly violated this regulation as well.

I believe this work could have been done in a manner that complies with the Code. Do we have a commissioner with a conflict of interest?

[wetwilly]

Your question of...."Do we have a commissioner with a conflict of interest?" and the answer is obvious. I knew when I started thinking about this that someone involved in the county or board was making money on this. This does not appear to be 6.2 sand (baked and dried in the microwave).

Shameful but unfortunaltely not suprising.

[Smiling JOe]

When I first saw this, I was shocked. In an earlier post, I read that they got permission to use non white sand but that is ridiculous. Obviously, they went and bought the cheap stuff. Hopefully they are only planning to use this "dirt" to backfill and fortify the foundations of the homes and not spread it on the beach?

Are they spreading this stuff on the beach? If they get the addl $16M needed to complete restoration, I hope they plan on getting some of the white sand. State and Federal money are available and I hope they use it properly. Yuk.
Have you not seen what happens to sand at the beach? During these major storms, backfill quickly falls down and becomes sandbars, then retuns to the top layer of the beach. It matters not where the dark stuff is dumped along the beach, or if it is only the bottom layer, because soon enough it will all be washed out, mixed in, and washed back to become our beach. Poop on the people who made this terrible decision. I am sure that Gulf-front owners may have a very different position, but that is just my thought.

[Smiling JOe]

... Building on sand should not be allowed anywhere, anytime!!!! ...

Are you saying that homes should not be built in Florida? :idontno:

[Smiling JOe]

Brad wanted white sand used. He was ignored. :confused:
Yes, Brad suggested that white sand should be used first, and then if we run out, they could consider using other sand.

[TooFarTampa]

:pissed:

Wow Richard what a post.

I've written to the state people -- Jeb Bush and all the Department of Environmental Protection officers listed. I attached the pic and even invoked the poor sea turtles.

If this is the way things are run in Walton County, no wonder they looked like yahoos on 20/20.

Kurt, thanks again for this board. Without it, the many faraway homeowners wouldn't be able to find out what is really going on.

[Beachlover2]

Just recd this via e-mail

To All :

I am in total agreement with the position that red/brown sand was not to be allowed under our "emergency measures." The next County Commission meeting is Tuesday August 9th in DeFuniak Springs at 4:00 p.m. If we need to address this matter sooner, please ask Chairman Pridgen to call an "emergency meeting" to address this issue. I will do the same.

I am also in favor of allowing owners who can rebuild, variances to front yard set backs to move homes as far forward as possible.

Commissioner Meadows

[Beachlover2]

Please everyone - email them - I got a reply within hours - maybe we can stop this.

[Richard]

I have just talked to Commissioner Pridgen and he has called an emergency meeting of the Walton County Board of Commissioners at 5 PM on Monday 8/1/05 in the south annex to discuss this issue. You should all be there to express your concerns!

I think it is important to get the commissioners to stop the contractors from bringing in any more of this dark sand and dirt to the beach in Blue Mountain AND it is important they require the removal of the dark sand and dirt from Blue Mountain Beach. We don't want to be known as Brown Mountain Beach.

[wetwilly]

I have just talked to Commissioner Pridgen and he has called an emergency meeting of the Walton County Board of Commissioners at 5 PM on Monday 8/1/05 in the south annex to discuss this issue. You should all be there to express your concerns!

I think it is important to get the commissioners to stop the contractors from bringing in any more of this dark sand and dirt to the beach in Blue Mountain AND it is important they require the removal of the dark sand and dirt from Blue Mountain Beach. We don't want to be known as Brown Mountain Beach.


Kurt and all,

Kudos for this board. looks like we just saw the power of the internet and getting the word out on this. :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

i can not be at the meeting on the 1st but hope that many other locals will make it and report back the results.

Awesome.

[CJ]

Two things:
1. This is not about saving homes until the white sand pits are empty. Until then it is about saving a few bucks.
2. If heat and water made brown sand white there would be no dark sand beaches in the world...they would all eventually be white. I am not a scientist but if someone knows this common sense reasoning to be scientifically inaccurate, please fill me in. :idontno:

[Kim Smith]

There is no reasoning, it is about the all mighty dollar. I just received an email for one of the commisioners about the emergency meeting being held on Monday. Thanks to this board I believe they have heard our voices. I have seen some of the beach front homes and the damage but when you own a beach front home there are pros and cons and two of the biggest con's that kept us from buying was the wear and tear on the home and the chances of hurricans. I would hate to be in a beach front owners shoes because I know that less is not always the best. I believe the guidelines were established for a reason and that reason has made our beaches what they are today and the reason people come to them, why should that be compromised.

[seagrovelover]

Oh my gosh......is it terribly selfish of me to say that sand just looks awful?! I only vacation in sowal , but wow, that is GROSS :eek:

[pgurney]

Pictures received today via email.

[pgurney]

Another picture.

[peaboy]

After much work today, County Commissioner Ken Pridgen requested an Emergency BCC meeting to take place at 5:00 p.m. this comming monday, August 1 at the South Walton Annex. The sole topic will be the use of this terrible brown muck that was placed at our beaches. Both Commissioner Pridgen and Meadows were as shocked at the photo's as we the people are.

Your attendance is needed this Monday. If you are concerned about the direction this Board of Commissioners has taken in regard to our beaches than please make your presence felt.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact: ed berry at 267.0558 or ed@shopforthehealthofit.com

[SoWalSally]

Walton County Commissioners, JULY 29, 2005

This is an official MEDIA REQUEST, made by licensed Federal Communications Commission broadcast facility WGTX, in accordance with the FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW and other state and federal laws governing full disclosure and release of information; Please FORMALLY RESPOND TO WGTX IMMEADIATELY.

A formal accusation has been made publicly to WGTX that County Commissioner Rosier Cuchens allegedly knowingly contracted and has been involved with bringing in the dark sand in question on the Beaches of South Walton;

On site witnesses state that:

Resident’s Complaints about the sand coloration resulted in Walton County Code Enforcement being called out, and Code Enforcement stated that the sand color and quality was not up to code;

A worker associated with the contractor performing the work, with alleged financial connections to Commissioner Rosier Cuchens, then contacted Commissioner Rosier Cuchens;

Commissioner Rosier Cuchens allegedly showed up at the site and instructed the Walton County Code Enforcement Officer to let the work continue after only removing two buckets of the dark sand based on the fact that - ALLEGED – “This has already been approved by the Board of County Commissioners, but I can’t find the paperwork / authorization at the moment” – statement to Code Enforcement Official by Commissioner Rosier Cuchens

WGTX OFFICIALLY REQUESTS the formal dated paperwork, all documentation and all authorizations that the Walton County Commission granted to place the specific dark color sand on the Beach area in and around Blue Mountain Beach, which Commissioner Cuchens allegedly utilized to have Code Enforcement withdraw it’s opposition to placing the dark sand in question on the beach located in or around Blue Mountain Beach, Florida;

WGTX formally requests the dated paperwork and documentation issued, approved or granted by the Walton County Commission or any other governmental or regulatory agency that allowed Commissioner Rosier Cuchens or any of his assigns, affiliated companies, entities, contractors, subcontractors or others, ect to conduct any said work on or relating to the Beaches of Walton County, Florida;

WGTX formally requests release and full disclosure of any and all involvement of Commissioner Rosier Cuchens relating to any aspect of the repair, enhancement, renourishment, replenishment, restoration, ect or any like activity with respect to the Beaches of Walton County, Florida including but not limited to: Any and all of Commissioner Rosier Cuchens’ assigns, affiliated companies, related entities, contractors or subcontractors.

Please reply or respond back only to:

John H. Beebe

General Manager

WGTX

850-267-2445

john@wgtx.com

Respectfully Submitted,

John H. Beebe

General Manger

WGTX

[Smiling JOe]

I know that the Chandler Brothers at Owl's Head have much whiter sand than this horse sh_t. After seeing this crap, I have decided to cut my trip short, and am heading back to SoWal to attend the meeting on Mon. Oh, how this upsets me greatly. I cannot scream loud enough with my keystrokes. I know that removing sand from the beach is against local ordinances, but if anyone has a wheelbarrow, I am willing to get arrested. (Will someone please feed my dogs, and let them out to poop if I go to jail?) Who has that wheelbarrow? I am serious. I have a shovel and some 5 gallon buckets, and if I had a truck, I would fill the Ro's driveway with this topsoil. I will verify if it is indeed Ro before I take such action. I am pissed!!! :pissed:

I am curious if Ro, family, or friends sold them the dirt. Anyone know which one?

I am not encouraging destruction of property, but I know what writer, Edward Abbey would have his characters do in this situation.

[phdphay]

I mean, red Georgia clay wouldn't look any worse (not meaning to offend any of my fellow Georgians)? Did someone lose the Munsell-ometer?

[Miss Kitty]

This looks like a bad joke using trick photography. Galveston has LIGHTER colored sand than this...heck most beaches in America have lighter sand! All sand huggers need to unite! I will personally send bail $$$ if SJ, et al. need to proceed with buckets, shovels, hands to remove this hidious soil and run into trouble. Sorry I can't be there to join in the concern....I am with you in "fighting" spirit.

[Sandie]

Will send $$$$$ if SJ needs it to get out of jail. It's a shame what they are doing!! What the #*!! where they thinking??? On, I get it, they were NOT thinking. I suppose if each of them get enough phone calls and emails, they may get the message! If not, maybe when it's time to go to the polls to vote, the people of SOWAL could give them the message!!
No offense taken on the GA red clay statement. We love our red clay, but not on the beaches of SOWAL!! I hope the house if full and the people let the Commissioners know EXACTLY how they feel!!

[aquaticbiology]

call every judge you can find that is local or has experience with the area. get an injunction on the use of the dark sand right now, today or it will be too late (may be too late already) as the amount dumped will reach a halfway point of the total to be dumped and after that it IS too late to do anything about stopping it

[Rita]

After much work today, County Commissioner Ken Pridgen requested an Emergency BCC meeting to take place at 5:00 p.m. this comming monday, August 1 at the South Walton Annex. The sole topic will be the use of this terrible brown muck that was placed at our beaches. Both Commissioner Pridgen and Meadows were as shocked at the photo's as we the people are.

Your attendance is needed this Monday. If you are concerned about the direction this Board of Commissioners has taken in regard to our beaches than please make your presence felt.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact: ed berry at 267.0558 or ed@shopforthehealthofit.com


MONDAY isn't soon enough! How about TODAY?! :pissed: :bang:

[Rita]

Another thought --- This TOPSOIL mixed with white sand in front of the homes needing help could devalue their real estate! They shouldn't want that and are likely as appalled as the rest of us :!:

[Paula]

I posted the following paragraphs on another thread (e.g., the one regarding the emergency meeting), but they may be useful here. If people are concerned about preserving what's special about SoWal beaches, as well as the value of their homes (which is often tied to what people believe is unique and special about their area), then it's important to not do anything that would remove us from being listed in any of the "best beach" rankings that we are included in -- we are included in these rankings because our beaches are among the best in beauty, conservation, etc., in the country. It's important to help and support the people who have gulf front property preserve their homes, but not at the expense of the rest of SoWal (I imagine less than 1% of the people live in gulf front properties, which is what the brown sand -- which seems to be a short-term and cheap fix -- is meant to protect) -- especially when there are other and better alternatives (albeit more expensive alternatives but that may be part of the anticipated high costs of having gulf-front property).

If you go to http://www.drbeach.org you may get information about Dr. Beach's (Dr. Stephen B. Leatherman writes from his laboratory at Florida International University) "national healthy beach campaign" (SoWal beaches are recognized among his list). You may find some data that supports the concern about the dark sand here.

"Beach material" is one of the criteria used for judging the beaches... the categories are "Fine sand Medium sand Coarse sand Cobbles Rocky/Muddy" -- this may be useful information.

For those of you who are more familiar with beach standards, you may want to go to his website to see all of the 60 criteria. It certainly serves SoWal to continue to be on his list of recognized beaches. He's the one who selects the top 10 beaches every year (Grayton was one of them several years ago).

Can't be at the meeting but certainly support the efforts of people who will be there to preserve the beauty and uniqueness of our beaches.

[Bill]

My wife (Rita) keeps close tabs on this message board, and she showed me this thread today. Unfortunately, it no longer amazes me what some people think they can get away with. However, we need more than moral outrage to help fight this. So, I'm sharing some information with you that I hope will help you that are close enough fight a better battle (we live in Arlington, TX, but have a house in the Dune Allen area), one based more on science than emotion.

First, a little about myself. I am an agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We are the agency that helped develop the Munsell Color Chart used to classify soil color (in an earlier post, someone referred to the Soil Conservation Service - that was us before a reorganization and name change about 10 years ago). My B.S. was in Soil Science, so I am familiar with how soil and soil materials are described and classified. That's not my area of expertise now, but I can point you toward links and resources that may be useful.

For more information on the Munsell Color classification scheme for soils, go to:

http://soils.usda.gov/technical/manual/contents/chapter3f.html

Here is a brief explanation, but you really need to follow the link to see some illustrations of the system.

The Munsell color system uses three elements of color—hue, value, and chroma—to make up a color notation. The notation is recorded in the form: hue, value/chroma—for example, 5Y 6/3.

Hue is a measure of the chromatic composition of light that reaches the eye. The Munsell system is based on five principal hues: red (R), yellow (Y), green (G), blue (B), and purple (P). Five intermediate hues representing midpoints between each pair of principal hues complete the 10 major hue names used to describe the notation. The intermediate hues are yellow-red (YR), green-yellow (GY), blue-green (BG), purple-blue (PB), and red-purple (RP).

Value indicates the degree of lightness or darkness of a color in relation to a neutral gray scale. On a neutral gray (achromatic) scale, value extends from pure black (0/) to pure white (10/). Gray is perceived as about halfway between black and white and has a value notation of 5/.

Chroma is the relative purity or strength of the spectral color. Chroma indicates the degree of saturation of neutral gray by the spectral color. The scales of chroma for soils extend from /0 for neutral colors to a chroma of /8 as the strongest expression of color used for soils.

One of the posts mentioned that a Munsell color of 6.2 was the lowest value that was considered acceptable for sand added to the beach. However, the "6.2", which I assume is a Munsell "value", is meaningless without knowing what hue (the basic color) range this value is in.

The NRCS has offices in almost every county in the country, and our employees are always available to help you with questions about our soil resources. Here is contact information for three people who should be able to answer some or all of your questions. I suggest contacting them in the order they are listed:

Terry Smith
USDA-NRCS
239 John Baldwin Road, Suite 2
DeFuniak springs, FL 32433
850-892-3712 EXT. 3
Terry.Smith@fl.usda.gov

Terry is the District Conservationist in Walton Co., and if he can't answer your questions, he can contact:

Jeff Allen
USDA-NRCS
4155 Hollis Drive
Marianna, FL 32448-2708
850-482-2002 EXT. 111
Jeff.Allen@fl.usda.gov

or

Andrew Williams
USDA-NRCS
c/o Santa Rosa Co. Health Department
Environmental Health Services
5840 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
850-932-9824
Andrew.Williams@fl.usda.gov

This is probably way too much information for many of you, but for those of you who will be carrying the fight for our beaches, I hope this is helpful.

[kurt]

Some photos from today - 7/30/05
http://www.sowal.com/photos-073005.html

http://www.sowal.com/050730-bmb-003.jpg

[Sandie]

[I]Are they putting that dirt on the beaches of Watercolor, Seaside, & Seagrove? Is this just taking place at Blue Mountain? I hope the citizens can get this STOPPED! It's a shame.

[kurt]

[I]Are they putting that dirt on the beaches of Watercolor, Seaside, & Seagrove? Is this just taking place at Blue Mountain? I hope the citizens can get this STOPPED! It's a shame.

The only place I've seen soil that dark is at the BMB access and the home directly adjacent to the east in the photos.

[Smiling JOe]

Some photos from today - 7/30/05
http://www.sowal.com/photos-073005.html

http://www.sowal.com/050730-bmb-003.jpg
Did that bulldozer turn over?

[kurt]

Did that bulldozer turn over?

It was on its side and he coaxed it back up. I'd bet he's rolled more than once.

[BeachDreamer]

Did that bulldozer turn over?

He's poppin' a wheelie.

[BeachDreamer]

[I]Are they putting that dirt on the beaches of Watercolor, Seaside, & Seagrove? Is this just taking place at Blue Mountain? I hope the citizens can get this STOPPED! It's a shame.

Unfortunately, once it's washed out to sea with the first big storm, it will be spread all over 30-A.

[SoWalSally]

Hurricanes' Lesson: Don't Build on the Beach
by Orrin Pilkey and Andrew Coburn

A record four hurricanes this season have crossed Florida, but the results are not new. Beaches on the few remaining natural barrier islands have not only survived, they are as healthy as beaches always are after storms. The natural barrier islands of Florida, like those everywhere, require hurricanes to provide sand in order to survive while sea levels continue to rise. But it is a different matter on developed islands, where we see promises of cash and a huge outpouring of sympathy for storm victims, including those who owned buildings immediately adjacent to beaches.

In the chaos of the storms' aftermath, we sympathise with beachfront property owners as much as we do with those whose homes were destroyed inland. But what could be more irresponsible than building next to an eroding beach that is subject to frequent major storms - particularly since the sea level is rising at a rate of about a foot per century along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts? The storms not only caused major damage to buildings along the beach, but also quantitatively wiped away artificial beaches all over Florida and Alabama. Replacing the beaches will likely be paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will cost in excess of $100 million during the next few years. Hasn't the time come to look at beachfront development more closely?

The long record of storm damage should have provided a clue to beachfront-property owners. For example, the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coast were hit hard by Hurricanes Frederick (1979), Opal (1995) and now Ivan. What we discovered from Frederick and Opal (and Hugo in 1989 and Fran in 1996) is that hurricanes are urban-renewal projects. New buildings that replace damaged buildings are bigger and more costly. The attitude is, why not rebuild and in a big way, because the federal, state and local governments will be there waiting to help if there's another storm.

Take Gulf Shores, Alabama, where the beach was replenished with federal funding in 2001 and again after Tropical Storm Isidore in 2002. This year, the federal government will be there again with more money and more sand. We are spending a huge amount of money to save the property of a very few people.

The price society is paying for beachfront development will only go up, and each storm will make this point again. But there are some things we can do:

End the sympathy for beachfront-property owners and recognise foolish acts for what they are.
Encourage the removal of destroyed and threatened buildings and replace them with natural dunes.
Stop charging federal and state taxpayers for replenishing beaches.

If we do replenish, then require communities to prevent the construction of big buildings next to the beach, so we can maintain some degree of flexibility in responding to a rising sea level in the near future.

Pumping sand on a beach is environmentally damaging. Every critter in the sand is killed. One of the most telling events during Ivan was the reduction in property damage along a stretch of Alabama shoreline where two rows of dunes had been retained, all because of an endangered beach mouse. The mice saved buildings by forcing the preservation of the dunes. Elsewhere in Alabama and Florida, dunes were removed to increase the sea view and building sites.

Americans must learn to look at their shorelines with a long-term view. To do this, we must step away from the politics of greed and honestly debate the future of our beaches for our great-grandchildren.

Orrin Pilkey is the James B Duke professor emeritus of earth sciences and author of A Celebration of the World's Barrier Islands and How to Read a North Carolina Beach. Andrew Coburn is associate director of Duke University's Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines.

Source: USA Today Wednesday 29 September 2004

[CastlesOfSand]

Just sent my two cents worth via email! Good luck! Keep us posted.

[BeachDreamer]

"We are spending a huge amount of money to save the property of a very few people."

Those are cold hard facts, but they are facts nevertheless. Same with trucking in "dirt". The beach belongs to everyone, and it is being risked in an attempt to save the homes of a select few. Any efforts to "fix" things will only be temporary, in any case. What a sad situation...

[Boss at Blue Mt]

Great work to all for the quick response and efforts to save the beaches. I've sent e-mails to all of the public officials listed in this thread. Although I will not be there tomorrow, I will be down on Thursday and Friday to work on our house. If I can do anything at that time, I am happy to take some time out to do so while I'm down.

Is there a group to which I can contribute dollars that might aid in the fight?

[Miss Kitty]

Great ? about contributions Boss. I had earlier made a little joke about sending $$$ for bail money in case there were arrests made when the good people of 30-A grabbed their shovels and hauled that s&#t off the beach. Let us know what we can do from afar. This feels as scary as watching the hurricanes close in...except this could have been avoided!

[ShallowsNole]

Oh My God. I have been out of town, and seeing these pictures makes me want to cry.

That is not sand. That is good, rich dirt that has many tasty, useful agricultural applications. Beach rebuilding is not one of them. Wait until it rains on it. :shock:

Surely there is some SAND somewhere that, if not white, would be better than that for the beach?

[kelley]

It makes me really sad for all the locals who are watching this nightmare firsthand. Even I, the one-week-per-year-renter-who-knows-better-than-to-dare-to-walk-on-the-dunes am DEVASTATED by the prospect of our beautiful white beaches being contaminated by this brown sorry excuse for sand. Stand strong and don't back down. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

[Bob]

Some photos from today - 7/30/05
http://www.sowal.com/photos-073005.html

http://www.sowal.com/050730-bmb-003.jpgI am literally praying that another tropical storm does not sends this dark sand up and down SoWal beaches. Those who orchestrated this infill are the definition of evil.

[Donna]

Always follow the money and what a sad tale this is. First, I do not understand why acceptable "white" sand is not available in Walton County, when we see huge snow-white sand beaches created in Hawaii and even in a number of developing nations that have resort development.

A County Commissioner with a contracting business engaged on South County beaches should not be voting at all on issues effecting those beaches. It is an obvious financial conflict of interest. City and County Attorneys do not usually advise elected officials about conflicts unless they are specifically asked by that individual for a ruling. Someone needs to bring this question up as a formal request, that is, for the County Legal Counsel to make a determination. This usually involves a determination from the State of Florida, as well. This is a request that can be made to the County Administrative Officer, but probably needs to be made in writing.

Also, asking other County Commissioners "if they have a problem with" one doing work while serving on the Commission is considered polling those elected officials outside a public forum. It is illegal, a violation of the State's Sunshine Act.

When I was growing up down there, I remember County Commissioners who actually rented construction equipment to the County or had large contracts with the County and they never missed a vote. In my summer job, I helped process their invoices. I had rather hoped things had improved with time. Who owns this pit where the brown dirt is coming from? Who is the contractor excavating and depositing the dirt? Any financial gain possible from such activities constitutes an obvious and blatant conflict of interest.

This is making me angry. I wrote my letters and cc'd to everybody on the list provided (thanks mucho). Now I am wishing that I had flown down there to attend the meeting tonight. What a sad state of affairs.

Walton County should have a requirement for a grading plan and erosion control plan when work is done on or in proximity to the dunes. This would cover the importing of sand/dirt and also cover putting in retention walls or sea walls. There is already a big debris problem when walkways wash out. I guess in future cleanups, we'll have chunks of concrete and iron rebar poles. On some South Walton beaches, the inclusion of sea walls will essentially remove the beach for any public use. The public will only get to pick up the bill when disaster strikes.