Navarre Beach restoration

**kurt** · 05-12-2008, 09:11 AM

Found this photo and thought the amount of sea oats planted was remarkable.

more - http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/bef...ch_restoration

http://www.pbase.com/kennywilder/startrestoration

http://www.navarrebeachlife.com

**sunspotbaby** · 05-12-2008, 10:33 AM

Wow, that's impressive. I think they opened up most of the road today or yesterday , only a small stretch to Pensacola left to do. That's a great motorcycle ride!

**SHELLY** · 05-12-2008, 11:18 AM

Problem with the beach restoration is that the sand is infused with lots and lots of broken shells. Pre-restoration, the beach sand was soft with no shells; now it's like walking on shards of broken glass, so footwear is required. Ditto for going into the surf. The bottom used to be pure, soft sand--now when you enter the water, there's a line of broken shells that will tear your feet to ribbons if you're not careful.

After Opal, the beach was left to restore itself and it came back beautifully--but after Ivan and Dennis, they decided they couldn't wait for nature to take its course and the result is definately inferior to the nth degree.

.

**ASH** · 05-12-2008, 01:08 PM

Good point Shelly. I was there this past weekend and unfortunatley, if they took another picture, it isn't like this anymore.
So many people digging for all those shells you mentioned. Signs up stating that there is dune restoration in progress and right next to it were two ladies digging into the dune for shells. They had excavated a spot nearly ten feet wide and several feet back into the dune. Digging out the oats too. Water washing up right behind them taking out the sand, the oats, everything.
Some people just have no conscience at all.

**SWGB** · 05-12-2008, 08:14 PM

I'm just curious how many times folks will rebuild a barrier island before realizing that nature doesn't want it rebuilt.

**SHELLY** · 05-12-2008, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

I'm just curious how many times folks will rebuild a barrier island before realizing that nature doesn't want it rebuilt.

...until the tax money runs out.

.

**TreeFrog** · 05-12-2008, 08:57 PM

There's a reason they call them barrier islands.

Much as I'm concerned about owning near the beach in SoWal, I wouldn't dream of owning at Navarre Beach. Not for aesthetic reasons, because it will undoubtedly be eventually blown or washed away.

The oldtimers had it right, IMHO. Build a cheap concrete block house, furnish it with leftover junk. Withstands most storms, but if it gets destroyed, not a big deal.

As always, apoligies to owners of Navarre or Pensacola Beach property.

**DuneLaker** · 05-12-2008, 10:01 PM

Yea. My great-grandfather had a place down that way. It was blown away in the great 1906 hurricane. He moved a bit inland after that. My grandparents old concrete block house is still standing here.

DD · 05-12-2008, 10:07 PM

Mr. DD's family has two cinder block houses on Okaloosa Island. They've sustained some pretty major damage over the years, but they just gut 'em and put in new dry wall, etc.

My uncle had a place at Holly Beach, LA. His theory was the same as TreeFrog. He furnished it entirely with stuff from the Salvation Army. Rita took it all, including the house.

**kurt** · 05-13-2008, 06:15 AM

Someone has yet to fix this one in Dune Allen.

**scooterbug44** · 05-13-2008, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by TreeFrog

There's a reason they call them barrier islands.

Much as I'm concerned about owning near the beach in SoWal, I wouldn't dream of owning at Navarre Beach. Not for aesthetic reasons, because it will undoubtedly be eventually blown or washed away.

The oldtimers had it right, IMHO. Build a cheap concrete block house, furnish it with leftover junk. Withstands most storms, but if it gets destroyed, not a big deal.

As always, apoligies to owners of Navarre or Pensacola Beach property.

I looked at the picture and saw a sea oat covered hurricane speed bump. If it won't slow an SUV, what makes them think Mother Nature will even break stride?

**DuneLaker** · 05-13-2008, 09:19 AM

Yep. Even cinder block built in the wrong place won't hold up. And a seawall won't hold up to this. (picture of Hurricane Ivan approaching SoWal)

Name: Ivan Waves Edit Resized.JPG
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Name: Ivan Waves Edit Resized.JPG
Views: 49
Size: 5.8 KB

**ASH** · 05-13-2008, 04:03 PM

Someone finally fixed up the one a couple houses down from that green one Kurt. Now the roof is attached to the wall again......for now.
These homes all torn up sitting on the beach have to give the tourists the creeps.
You can still go to the East end of Navarre Beach and see homes in pretty bad shape. Just a few months ago I recall one that still had a sand dune flowing right into the building.