Items on the beach overnight

[NoHall]

As mentioned earlier, only Code Enforcement and the Sheriff's Office have the authority to tag the items for legal removal, but nice try, Miss Kitty. I would love to get my hands on some tags.

I have this image of y'all running up and down the beach like Barney Fife yelling, "Citizen's arrest! Citizen's arrest!"

[seaside2]

I have this image of y'all running up and down the beach like Barney Fife yelling, "Citizen's arrest! Citizen's arrest!"

[scooterbug44]

In my vision a cape and homemade badge are involved!

[NoHall]

In my vision a cape and homemade badge are involved!

Neither Kitty nor I liked our superhero names, so you can be either the Sophisticated Chameleon or the Courageous Chameleon...

[Caroling]

Neither Kitty nor I liked our superhero names, so you can be either the Sophisticated Chameleon or the Courageous Chameleon...

Someone could be SuperSoWal

[Smiling JOe]

In my vision a cape and homemade badge are involved!

I'm loving the idea of some caped and masked beach educators.

[Poodleone]

But would you "Barneys" carry a single bullet buttoned up in your shirt pocket?

[Caroling]

But would you "Barneys" carry a single bullet buttoned up in your shirt pocket?

Who is Barney Fife? That is, with respect to beach. -- duh

[yboi_kma]

The beach looks so peaceful right now. No tents, no chairs, just beautiful!!!

[Poodleone]

The beach looks so peaceful right now. No tents, no chairs, just beautiful!!!

I was just thinking the same thing!

Who is Barney Fife? That is, with respect to beach. -- duh

[Miss Kitty]

The beach looks so peaceful right now. No tents, no chairs, just beautiful!!!

...just how it is supposed to look, right?

SJ...I was not surprised at the reply I received...especially knowing now that maybe the right hand and the left hand are not completely working together. I still applaud the efforts being made and hope they get it in sync. I am really digging caroling's idea of "citizen's stickers"....just think how y'all (I can't do it in the summer) could stick it to those litterers!!!

[Smiling JOe]

The beach looks so peaceful right now. No tents, no chairs, just beautiful!!!

That might have something to do with the 100F degree temps we've had lately. Today's heat index is 110F degrees, and it feels every bit like it.

[yboi_kma]

From what i hear the water temps are in the 90's? That is amazing!! That wouldnt cool anyone off IMO. Time to just stay inside and have a cold drink. Heat indexes are about the same for today also. Everyone please check on elderly and pets today. its just too hot for anyone to not have adequate A/C. A friend of mine emailed me and told me that she was in grocery store yesterday and over the speaker system, the store manager was asking who owned a Toyota 4 Runner. That they had left their pet inside the car. Now that would have ticked me to no end. I am pretty sure i would have went straight out and busted the window and got the animal out. Went to jail no doubt, but saved a pet. LOL!! You just cant fix stupid sometime huh?

[Smiling JOe]

Lake temps are around 90F degrees, but the Gulf, near the shores of SoWal isn't quiet there.

[Caroling]

... t the Gulf, near the shores of SoWal isn't quite there.

I just sampled Eastern lake north in a canoe. We saw an otter swimming playfully about until a motorboating fisherman appeared or it saw us. I walked down to the outlet. Tent cities to east and to west, thick, all over the beach!!! The Gulf water felt delightfully cool. I'm surprised the heat didn't bother me today. Didn't even think about it. There is a nice breeze.

[scooterbug44]

I just sampled Eastern lake north in a canoe. We saw an otter swimming playfully about until a motorboating fisherman appeared or it saw us. I walked down to the outlet. Tent cities to east and to west, thick, all over the beach!!! The Gulf water felt delightfully cool. I'm surprised the heat didn't bother me today. Didn't even think about it. There is a nice breeze.

Cool, an Otter! Never seen one of those - saw a 8' minimum snake back in there and that put the kibosh on my explorations!

[grace]

Cool, an Otter! Never seen one of those - saw a 8' minimum snake back in there and that put the kibosh on my explorations!

Was it a copperhead??????????????

[NoHall]

Was it a copperhead??????????????

Check the "pygmy rattlesnake" thread for specs on copperheads!

8'? Sounds like the Son of the Serpent of Oyster Lake...

[scooterbug44]

We thought it was a water moccasin. For some reason we didn't stick around too long to closely examine it after realizing that "floating log/piling" was really a snake swimming!

[grace]

We thought it was a water moccasin. For some reason we didn't stick around too long to closely examine it after realizing that "floating log/piling" was really a snake swimming!

Definetly sounds like we've got another Oyster Lake serpent on our hands.

[scooterbug44]

I saw it a year or 2 ago, so it may have just migrated over there!

[Miss Kitty]

..Hello, I'm BAAAACK!!! Just looked at the BMB webcam...so close to perfect!!! Can anyone tell what that one thing is close to the water's edge? Oh, I can also see a bit of a chair to the left, too...just in case they don't think I am watching.

[Poodleone]

..Hello, I'm BAAAACK!!! Just looked at the BMB webcam...so close to perfect!!! Can anyone tell what that one thing is close to the water's edge? Oh, I can also see a bit of a chair to the left, too...just in case they don't think I am watching.

Miss Kitty- in 27 days I will be there at BMB and, each time I pass the beach cam, will wave at you! We will be vigilant about not leaving our rental chairs out.

[Miss Kitty]

Miss Kitty- in 27 days I will be there at BMB and, each time I pass the beach cam, will wave at you! We will be vigilant about not leaving our rental chairs out.

I knew I liked you... in addition to being a Texan, you love and protect sowal. Have the bestest time!!!
You might kick any tents you see that are left up.

[Caroling]

Here's an email I just sent to the TDC contact:
tlouthain@beachesofsouthwalton.com

I'm interested in clean healthy beaches. I took video the first four days of tagging and removal in Zone 7. In my video on this page:
http://www.wholeo.net/Trips/Travel/F...moveOrLose.htm

(Click one of the movie links),
I show a kayak by a trash bag. Not tagged, not removed, not lost.

Now Sugar Dunes claims that they were told items were OK by a bag on private property, as long as they weren't touching the bag.
A TDC driver confirms he picks up violations on public, but not private property.

I looked again at the rule here
http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/...ase.asp?ID=370
under Media Relations, 7/26/2007.

It says:

Articles that are stored adjacent to or underneath personal walkovers will not be removed unless there is TDC maintained trash receptacle at that location. Any personal items left near county walkovers or adjacent to any of the 400 trash receptacles maintained by the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) will be removed without being tagged.

At the moment I don't have the reference that said it, but I understand that items should be 10 feet away from a trash bag.

Since the rule as stated is not being enforced, that weakens the whole effort to educate the public. They are just getting more of the same treatment that has led to the current mess on the beach. The county says one thing and doesn't enforce it. I believe you should publish the rules as enforced, with no deviation.

[Caroling]

The TDC answered, announcing "Remove it or Lose it" phase II.

"The county is now adopting a more stringent "Remove It or Lose It" program because residents and vendors are finding ways to circumvent the system.

Now any personal items left on the county’s public beach areas including the six regional beach accesses, including Inlet Beach, Santa Clara, Gulfview Heights, Ed Walline, Dune Allen and Miramar as well as Grayton Beach overnight will be removed without being tagged. Other items subject to removal without being tagged include:

- Items left near county walkovers or adjacent to any of the 400 trash receptacles maintained by the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) will be removed and discarded without being tagged (whether on public or private property).

- Vendor items left overnight will also be removed and discarded without being tagged."

[Miss Kitty]

[TreeFrog]

The TDC answered, announcing "Remove it or Lose it" phase II.

"The county is now adopting a more stringent "Remove It or Lose It" program because residents and vendors are finding ways to circumvent the system.

Now any personal items left on the county’s public beach areas including the six regional beach accesses, including Inlet Beach, Santa Clara, Gulfview Heights, Ed Walline, Dune Allen and Miramar as well as Grayton Beach overnight will be removed without being tagged. Other items subject to removal without being tagged include:

- Items left near county walkovers or adjacent to any of the 400 trash receptacles maintained by the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) will be removed and discarded without being tagged (whether on public or private property).

- Vendor items left overnight will also be removed and discarded without being tagged."

Interesting. Hope this is really happening. Down here at Ramsgate, it doesn't look that way yet.

At Ramsgate yesterday morning, there was more stuff than I've ever seen there, and more elaborate structures. One tent must have been 20x20. Not a tag in sight. Just a lot of early birds stumbling around with coffee to try to set up in the few remaining spaces.

And everyone's setting up just on the water's edge. It's not very pleasant to walk along the beach with them so close. But more important than that, they've crowded out all the shore birds. I haven't seen one since early spring. They were pretty tolerant of the people back when most people set up 20 to 30 feet back.

[TreeFrog]

Interesting again...

I just got back from my daily beach trek.

It seems that some of the chair vendors are clued in to Phase 2. Every chair and tent from Beach Chairs 4 U was removed, folded, and stacked near a private walkover. Thank you, sir.

But the private tents, chairs, ice chests, and yes-garbage were all still in place.

[Beachlover2]

Hopefully if the vendors are following the rules - the others will follow. Lead by example.

[Caroling]

At Ramsgate yesterday morning, there was more stuff than I've ever seen there, and more elaborate structures. One tent must have been 20x20. Not a tag in sight.

Sob. What a discouraging report. Will you be here Sunday morning? The tags should appear Saturday night by stealth Sheriff after sunset. That is, if they are still following the Zone 7 schedule. And if so, on Monday morning all tagged stuff on the beach should be removed.

The beaches at Ramsgate are private on both sides of the access, aren't they? Sugar Dunes to the east is, for sure. And the Angelos property to the west wants to be, is still undecided by the BCC as far as I know. Is that the area you mean?

However, I can't get my mind around the enforcement. On a public beach, what if someone sets up Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.? If the TDC truck gets there at 7 a.m. (after sunrise), how will they know if that setup had been there overnight or not? I hadn't really thought out the implications of Phase II yet, but it still seems hard to implement.

Update on stickers: I bought some printer paper for removable stickers. Now I need a new printer, unfortunately. Also I need a design. What should it say? How big should it be? What graphics? What colors? Any suggestions? I haven't thought it out. Initially I'm thinking 12 stickers per sheet. That is, 3 wide by 4 high. Each sticker would be about 2.5" square. Say something like:

Remove it at Sunset
or Lose it at Sunrise

or simply:

Take everything
off the beach
at night

REMOVE IT!
Clear the
beach at night.

??

[TreeFrog]

Sob. What a discouraging report. Will you be here Sunday morning? The tags should appear Saturday night by stealth Sheriff after sunset. That is, if they are still following the Zone 7 schedule. And if so, on Monday morning all tagged stuff on the beach should be removed.

The beaches at Ramsgate are private on both sides of the access, aren't they? Sugar Dunes to the east is, for sure. And the Angelos property to the west wants to be, is still undecided by the BCC as far as I know. Is that the area you mean?

I'll be leaving early Sunday AM for a week out of town. I sure would like to see a real live tag in person.

I'd expect that the beaches to either side of the Ramsgate access are indeed private, but they not posted for now. The only signs I see are on private walkovers, not the beach itself. I'm not familiar with either Sugar Dunes or the Angelos.

As I've said before, Saturday night tagging could be partially a waste. Renters typically arrive Saturday afternoon and some of them might not drag their stuff to the beach until Sunday AM.

[STL Don]

Sob. What a discouraging report. Will you be here Sunday morning? The tags should appear Saturday night by stealth Sheriff after sunset. That is, if they are still following the Zone 7 schedule. And if so, on Monday morning all tagged stuff on the beach should be removed.

The beaches at Ramsgate are private on both sides of the access, aren't they? Sugar Dunes to the east is, for sure. And the Angelos property to the west wants to be, is still undecided by the BCC as far as I know. Is that the area you mean?

However, I can't get my mind around the enforcement. On a public beach, what if someone sets up Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.? If the TDC truck gets there at 7 a.m. (after sunrise), how will they know if that setup had been there overnight or not? I hadn't really thought out the implications of Phase II yet, but it still seems hard to implement.

Update on stickers: I bought some printer paper for removable stickers. Now I need a new printer, unfortunately. Also I need a design. What should it say? How big should it be? What graphics? What colors? Any suggestions? I haven't thought it out. Initially I'm thinking 12 stickers per sheet. That is, 3 wide by 4 high. Each sticker would be about 2.5" square. Say something like:

Remove it at Sunset
or Lose it at Sunrise

or simply:

Take everything
off the beach
at night

REMOVE IT!
Clear the
beach at night.

??

Ramsgate is further west, near Summer's Edge

[Caroling]

I'm not familiar with either Sugar Dunes or the Angelos.

As I've said before, Saturday night tagging could be partially a waste. Renters typically arrive Saturday afternoon and some of them might not drag their stuff to the beach until Sunday AM.

Ooops, I didn't know where Ramsgate was. Seems that it is west of Eastern Lake, about halfway to One Seagrove?

The renters you mention will litter the beach all week, coming just after tagging and leaving just before tagging. Not good.

[TreeFrog]

Ooops, I didn't know where Ramsgate was. Seems that it is west of Eastern Lake, about halfway to One Seagrove?

The renters you mention will litter the beach all week, coming just after tagging and leaving just before tagging. Not good.

Much closer to Eastern Lake than half to One Seagove. Ramsgate is the very next public access to the west of Eastern Lake. It's down at the western end of the little beachfront stub road where Eastern Lake drive does a U-turn at the Eastern Lake access and runs back to the west. It roughly lines up with the western leg of Chelsea Loop. It's used by a lot of Chelsea Loop and Summers Edge renters.

The most effective schedule for the whole county should be tag Sunday-Wednesday, remove Tues-Friday.

[SHELLY]

Sob. What a discouraging report. Will you be here Sunday morning? The tags should appear Saturday night by stealth Sheriff after sunset. That is, if they are still following the Zone 7 schedule. And if so, on Monday morning all tagged stuff on the beach should be removed.

The beaches at Ramsgate are private on both sides of the access, aren't they? Sugar Dunes to the east is, for sure. And the Angelos property to the west wants to be, is still undecided by the BCC as far as I know. Is that the area you mean?

However, I can't get my mind around the enforcement. On a public beach, what if someone sets up Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.? If the TDC truck gets there at 7 a.m. (after sunrise), how will they know if that setup had been there overnight or not? I hadn't really thought out the implications of Phase II yet, but it still seems hard to implement.

Update on stickers: I bought some printer paper for removable stickers. Now I need a new printer, unfortunately. Also I need a design. What should it say? How big should it be? What graphics? What colors? Any suggestions? I haven't thought it out. Initially I'm thinking 12 stickers per sheet. That is, 3 wide by 4 high. Each sticker would be about 2.5" square. Say something like:

Remove it at Sunset
or Lose it at Sunrise

or simply:

Take everything
off the beach
at night

REMOVE IT!
Clear the
beach at night.

??

.

Try this sticker:

FREE!!
TENT, BEACH CHAIRS AND TOYS
(Yours for the taking)

.

[NoHall]

.

Try this sticker:



.

[scooterbug44]

Does anyone have a status update on the tagging/cleanup?

Someone was complaining that items were just being taken to a dump site in Blue Mountain rather than being tagged and removed if they were still there a day later.

[TNJed]

Phase II of the enforcement is under way now. No tagging, just bagging. I guess this was Mr. Brown's first official act as Head of Code Enforcement.

It's been a very slow few weeks since it started so it's difficult to tell it's impact when there just isn't any traffic to test it, but I think it's a great call and is the only way for this thing to stick.

[Caroling]

Phase II of the enforcement is under way now. No tagging, just bagging.

Hmmm, I think less tagging, more bagging than phase I. Read the press release here:
http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/...ase.asp?ID=370

Where I walk onto the beach at the access, on Saturday morning it was completely clear. I've never seen it look so beautiful and natural before. I'm very grateful.

[SHELLY]

Phase II of the enforcement is under way now. No tagging, just bagging. I guess this was Mr. Brown's first official act as Head of Code Enforcement.

Glad to see this county finally hired someone with some brass!

Anyone with at least one working braincell would have known that "tagging" system was lame, pointless and ineffective.

Rock on Brownie!!

It's been a very slow few weeks since it started so it's difficult to tell it's impact when there just isn't any traffic to test it, but I think it's a great call and is the only way for this thing to stick.

This weekend should be an excellent test.

.

[UofL]

I can see brochures for South Walton Beach now.

Don't bother to visit - most of the beaches and accesses are private. And don't bother to bring anything to the beach if you do decide to visit - it is open season on anything you take to the beach - if you can safely get in the water - watch for jelly fish, bull sharks, and rip tides. (Maybe I can move down there and take the stuff from the beach and sell it back. )But hey, the locals got what they want. They can now drive and park their vehicles anywhere on the beach - no tourists, no tourist crap.

We decided to make reservations one more time for Grayton next year. We haven't been there for two years because we went on other trips with friends and family. It's a good thing we like to ride our bikes down there - but that is another issue isn't it?

I don't know what happened down there. Are they putting something in your water? Is paradise boring? Should you move? :-)

[Beachlover2]

UofL

Are you serious? Do you really think it is really ok to leave you junk all over the beach every night? My mom raised me to put my toys away every night before I went to bed - didn't yours?

[scooterbug44]

I can see brochures for South Walton Beach now.
Don't bother to visit - most of the beaches and accesses are private. And don't bother to bring anything to the beach if you do decide to visit - it is open season on anything you take to the beach - if you can safely get in the water - watch for jelly fish, bull sharks, and rip tides. (Maybe I can move down there and take the stuff from the beach and sell it back. )But hey, the locals got what they want. They can now drive and park their vehicles anywhere on the beach - no tourists, no tourist crap.

We decided to make reservations one more time for Grayton next year. We haven't been there for two years because we went on other trips with friends and family. It's a good thing we like to ride our bikes down there - but that is another issue isn't it?

I don't know what happened down there. Are they putting something in your water? Is paradise boring? Should you move? :-)

Yes, TRASH! The littering of the beaches and abuse of people's goodwill reached the point that folks started taking action so that when you visit there is a pretty beach instead of a pile of garbage.

[seaside2]

Looked at the Blue Mountain camera yesterday and again this morning. I could see what appeared to be two chairs in the distance and nothing else!!!!


GRAYT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jdarg]

Looked at the Blue Mountain camera yesterday and again this morning. I could see what appeared to be two chairs in the distance and nothing else!!!!


GRAYT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's because tourist season is over. I was the only person on Grayton beach for about an hour this morning, then 3 others showed up. Wish the clean beach was truly due to people being more thoughtful and cleaning up their stuff, and not due to the fact that there is hardly anybody here.

I did find a pair of shoes, a shirt, and a pair of shorts - but no apparent owner in sight. So whoever walked home naked and barefoot last night, your clothes are down at the beach.

Over the weekend- 3 or 4 tent structures, little trash compared to the summer amounts.

And UofL, driving is legal on Grayton Beach, but we have been through that argument. For now, it is legal. However, leaving your stuff on the beach overnight IS currently ILlegal. The laws are just being enforced - sorry if it inconveniences you. Maybe everyone that goes to our beautiful Louisville Olmstead parks like Cherokee and Seneca could leave tents, chairs, trash, and toys overnight all over the park. Bet that wouldn't fly for a week, much less all the time. The public outry would be amazing, so why criticize us wanting the same thing for our beaches?

[Cheering472]

UofL I actually never even thought of this as a local issue. I don't live in Sowal daily. But I do try to live there at least 2 weeks a year. I do want the beach clean when I'm there. I hate seeing junk on the beach. I always take my stuff home at the end of my day. Seems like everyone could do the same.

[seaside2]

Jdarg,

You're right: The beach trashers have left!! (May they leave forever and be replaced with reasonable people)

I can't wait to get there in Sept. when the beaches are clean, the weather is cooler and the place is not so busy.