State of the beaches after Arlene

[kurt]

Beaches are closed today, I'm told they'll reopen tomorrow if conditions permit. There are a lot of people walking the beaches. Several families enjoying the day were asked to leave Grayton Beach.

There is a lot of dangerous debris which will take a week or so to clean up. There are a lot of damages walkovers, but most are useable and closed pending inspection.

Seaside is completely exposed, with clay jutting up along the beach - pics to come. Much more damage was done due to the beach scraping lowering the level of sand. One deputy said the situation is worse than after Ivan - except not as much dune and walkover damage.

[lenzoe]

One deputy said the situation is worse than after Ivan - except not as much dune and walkover damage.

Rats! According to all the weather statistics, the winds weren't that high and there wasn't that much rain. But a lot of pics posted yesterday seemed to show damage out of proportion to Arlene's strength when compared with Ivan's.

[Seasider]

The Seaside Beach is looking very sad judging from these pictures.

[kurt]

Rats! According to all the weather statistics, the winds weren't that high and there wasn't that much rain. But a lot of pics posted yesterday seemed to show damage out of proportion to Arlene's strength when compared with Ivan's.

Sounds about right - the sand level was so low.

pics - http://www.sowal.com/photos-061205.html[url]

[kurt]

Grayton Beach looks good, and after clean up will look like nothing happened.

The beach was not scraped there except in front of the houses on the west side I believe.

[JB]

Kurt, can you comment on the areas which received the most scraping after Ivan? My main area of concern is Blue Mountain Beach between the public access at the end of 83 and Gulf Trace.

[kurt]

Kurt, can you comment on the areas which received the most scraping after Ivan? My main area of concern is Blue Mountain Beach between the public access at the end of 83 and Gulf Trace.

Sorry - I've only been to the places pictured between 283 and 395. I'm hoping some others will report in before I can get around.

[Just_In_Thyme]

How far does the clay exposed in front of Seaside extend? All the way towards Eastern Lake, and into Watercolor on the other side?

[JB]

Sorry - I've only been to the places pictured between 283 and 395. I'm hoping some others will report in before I can get around.

I guess my question is, how much scraping was done in the area I mentioned after Ivan? If they did heavy scraping in that area, I would expect it to look about like Seaside does today.

[Donna]

What a contrast between Grayton Beach and Seaside following Arlene. And when will people ever accept that nature takes its course and the best protection is natural restoration?

Thank goodness for the educated efforts of Grayton Beach State Park stewards.

[kurt]

Just added some more photos from Seagrove Beach, Camp Creek, Seacrest Beach, Rosemary Beach:

http://www.sowal.com/photos-061205.html

It is a beautiful and warm day with lots of folks out playing and sunning on the beaches. Seagrove to Rosemary looked pretty good compared to Seaside. Some minor damage to walkovers and very little debris.

The sand level is way down and a good bit was lost that had been "scraped" and pushed up against the dunes. Mainly in areas where the beach was more narrow.

The sea oats that were planted in new sand at WaterColor, Seaside, Rosemary all are safe.

[Smiling JOe]

What a contrast between Grayton Beach and Seaside following Arlene. And when will people ever accept that nature takes its course and the best protection is natural restoration?

Thank goodness for the educated efforts of Grayton Beach State Park stewards.

Amen, Sister! Other than debris here and there, Grayton Beach looks great. The water in Western Lake has subsided back to normal levels. Sun is shining on Grayton. People should take notes on the effects of letting mother nature do her own thing.

The clay beaches at Seaside remind me of the Oregon coast, except that Seaside has sunshine.

[jtnkelly]

Kurt,

We are headed to Palms of Seagrove next Saturday. You posted a picture from "behind" Palms of Seagrove. From the picture, it appears that the walkover in the foreground does not reach the beach. Is this the Palms' walkover?

[Cork On the Ocean]

Seaside does look sad. Quite a bit of rocks exposed on Seacrest Beach but nothing like Seaside. Photos of Seacrest Beach, Rosemary and Inlet Beach just uploaded at:

http://www.uniquepanhandleproperties.com/arlene.htm

[Bob]

JB, I left the night before the storm, and the beach already appeared about half as wide as last summer. Water was lapping at some walkovers at high tide. I can only think the situation is not good at Blue Mountain Beach.

[phdphay]

Refresh my memory. Whose decision was it to scrape the beaches? Which beaches were scraped? Who paid for it?

[kurt]

TDC (taxes) took care of it with permits from FL DEP.

TDC says that 15 accesses are closed for repair, but that 4 of those are at the Miramar access which has been closed for some time.

The worst ones are the 3 at Seacrest which are totally gone.

I should get a list soon of closures and alternates.

Sea Oat planting as of now is still scheduled to begin in July.

No word on any sand being brought in or future scraping.

[Paula]

I wonder if it's just chance that some accesses held up while others didn't. I'm sure in part it is. Are there better and worse building techniques and materials that we can learn from. Fortunately, our access held up (we're on Seacrest beach but not the resort area) and it was rebuilt in November after Ivan (which is probably the case for the Seacrest resort as well).

[JB]

TDC (taxes) took care of it with permits from FL DEP.

TDC says that 15 accesses are closed for repair, but that 4 of those are at the Miramar access which has been closed for some time.

The worst ones are the 3 at Seacrest which are totally gone.

I should get a list soon of closures and alternates.

Sea Oat planting as of now is still scheduled to begin in July.

No word on any sand being brought in or future scraping.

If they do ANY more scraping, I'm afraid the next storm will do irreparable damage. I thought it was a mistake from the beginning and if the beaches at Seaside are any indication, it was indeed a mistake.

[kurt]

I wonder if it's just chance that some accesses held up while others didn't. I'm sure in part it is. Are there better and worse building techniques and materials that we can learn from. Fortunately, our access held up (we're on Seacrest beach but not the resort area) and it was rebuilt in November after Ivan (which is probably the case for the Seacrest resort as well).

The county accesses are pretty heavy duty. A solid foundation with deep pilings comes first. A lot of lower portions were lost because they were rebuilt lower than pre-Ivan out of necessity.

[Smiling JOe]

Seaside photo taken 6/13/05
Glass half full.


Seaside photo taken 6/13/05
Glass half empty.

[phdphay]

Thanks for the info, Kurt. Maybe the State of Florida should give up on the beach scraping. Can we taxpayers withhold a percentage of our property taxes if we object to spending our money on this pointless endeavor? LOL. No, that's right, because I'm a female with blonde hair, I'd end up in jail like Martha Stewart (unlike OJ and Jacko).

[BeachDreamer]

And here I thought Martha Stewart's bane was that she wasn't tried in California.

It would be nice if we could withhold our tax dollars from areas that we find futile or obsenely disagreeable. I would save a lot of money that way!

[BeachDreamer]

SJ, half full looks wonderful. Half Empty is so sad and shocking. I never would have thought that the florida coastline could look so naked and vulnerable.

[kurt]

From: The Walton County Tourist Development Council Re: Tropical Strom Arlene

Overall, we feel encouraged that the emergency repairs and dune restoration conducted after Hurricane Ivan helped lessen the damage from the Tropical Storm Arlene. In most areas, the dune system withstood the storm and offered upland protection from the storm surge.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

:

What is the status of the area after Tropical Storm Arlene?

The area is open for business. All of the area’s lodging accommodations, restaurants, shops and boutiques are open and welcoming visitors. All of the area’s summer festivals are taking place as scheduled. All state parks are welcoming visitors for outdoor activities including hiking, biking and kayaking.

What is the status of the area’s beaches?

Like many coastal communities throughout the state of Florida who have been affected by storms, we’ve experienced some erosion, about two to three feet deep. The county is quickly working to consolidate debris along the shoreline throughout Walton County for later removal. The beaches are open except for posted areas. Visitors are encouraged to be cautious as there may be debris that will continue to wash on shore.

Why is there black sand on some of the area’s beaches?

The erosion from the storm has exposed peat, which lies under the white sand. Thousands of years ago, our beaches were a cypress swamp thick with cypress trees. As sea level rose, these peat deposits were covered by the white sand from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. While it may be unattractive, it is safe and washes off with water and/or mineral spirits.

Can you place sand on the beaches to cover the peat?

We can, but it would require permitting that is difficult to obtain during turtle nesting season. Unfortunately, there is not a quick fix. In order to ensure our efforts are environmentally sound and will last long term, we must proceed with caution and are currently investigating all options.

When will the white sand return?

It is hard to give an exact time frame. Our beaches change from week to week depending on coastal conditions. If Mother Nature brings mild breezes and rolling waves, we’ll see our sugar white sands quickly pushed back on shore.

What are your plans for beach renourishment?

The TDC remains focused on gaining permitting for the beach nourishment project slated for 4.8 miles in Western Walton County. In the meantime, the TDC has begun redirecting dump trucks to deliver sand to Western Walton County to repair the Miramar Beach Regional Access and protect the damaged beach walkovers. The TDC will also move forward on plans to protect the dune system by planting more than 900,000 sea oats this summer.

What happened to the flag warning system?

Beaches of South Walton have eight flag poles remaining that educate beachgoers on water conditions. While the TDC replaces the lost flag poles and a temporary system is devised, we are encouraging all lodging partners and visitors to check the current flag conditions at www.seemoresafetycrab.com.

Will the trash bags on the beach be replaced?

TDC Staff is replacing many of the trash receptacles lost by Tropical Storm Arlene on a daily basis and as quickly as possible.

[JB]

I guess that answers some of the questions. Due to the turtle nesting issue, it looks like there really isn't much they can do to hasten the nice appearance of the beaches.

It's obvious to me that scraping was a mistake. Hopefully the TDC realizes this now and they won't try it again. Perhaps dredging is an option. In fact, it may be the only option if they want to widen the beaches. IMO, that is the only way to prevent future beach damage that really shouldn't happen with a mild storm like Arlene.

[kurt]

I guess that answers some of the questions. Due to the turtle nesting issue, it looks like there really isn't much they can do to hasten the nice appearance of the beaches.

It's obvious to me that scraping was a mistake. Hopefully the TDC realizes this now and they won't try it again. Perhaps dredging is an option. In fact, it may be the only option if they want to widen the beaches. IMO, that is the only way to prevent future beach damage that really shouldn't happen with a mild storm like Arlene.

The official stance I think is that Ivan is to blame for the surprising effects from Arlene, and that scraping lessened damage. I guess it's not a simple issue. On one hand, the actual beach level may be lower which may now take longer to build back up, but perhaps there was less damage to the dunes because of the scraped and piled sand.

I hope you're not one day writing "It's obvious to me that dredging was a mistake".

But if property is in jeapardy, it will probably happen. I think it will depend on how long we have before the next hit.

[Smiling JOe]

The official stance I think is that Ivan is to blame for the surprising effects from Arlene, and that scraping lessened damage. I guess it's not a simple issue. On one hand, the actual beach level may be lower which may now take longer to build back up, but perhaps there was less damage to the dunes because of the scraped and piled sand.

I hope you're not one day writing "It's obvious to me that dredging was a mistake".

But if property is in jeapardy, it will probably happen. I think it will depend on how long we have before the next hit.

Sometimes, we must allow Mother Nature to do her thing. Unfortunately, that comes at someone's expense.

[JB]

You're exactly right. There is no easy answer. I know PCB and Pensacola Beach have done some dredging in an effort to widen the beaches. Some folks familiar with those areas might have a better idea of how it worked out.

But no matter what is done, there is always a trade-off.

[aquaticbiology]

turtles must nest in dry sand, not clay or peat, and need a sandy beach, not clay or peat, to reach nesting strata. the turtles may eventually be the swaying point for refilling the beach sand quickly before the next one comes in.

[Landlocked]

Are the lakes still open?

[Smiling JOe]

Are the lakes still open?

Yes.

[Landlocked]

SJ-

Thanks! By the way, I am horribly envious of you being able to lean forward and look out the window at that beach.

[Paula]

In reading the questions and answers about the beach conditions after Arlene (and other tropical storms/hurricanes), I have a few comments. The answer to the question, "Why is there black sand on some of the area’s beaches?" says "...While it may be unattractive, it is safe and washes off with water and/or mineral spirits."

In my mind, the beaches are "unattractive" when they are dirty with garbage or other debris that comes onshore after a storm or when the boardwalks are broken up. But the peat is part of the natural environment and, frankly, I never thought it was unattractive although everyone keeps telling me it is. Maybe it's because I'm new the area and the peat showing through the sand seems like a natural part of the beach. My concern is not the way the peat looks, but rather that it's a sign that the beaches are eroded and need to draw more layers of sand back.

We need to remember that if we "over-sell" the white sand as part of SoWal's beauty, then we shape people's perspectives to think that anything else is unattractive. Consider how beautiful the beaches in Maine are with their ragged rocks, brown sand, etc. They are gorgeous and I long for them almost as much as I long for SoWal beaches.

So, although white sand is an important part of SoWal beaches, so are the peat mounds, some black sand from peat, and whatever else beaches have naturally.

[Smiling JOe]

SJ-

Thanks! By the way, I am horribly envious of you being able to lean forward and look out the window at that beach.

What do you mean? I am sitting on the Beach using my wireless.
(just kidding, but that would be nice, eh?) I definitely cannot see the Beach from my window, but I am much closer than Montgomery.

[Landlocked]

I'm still envious. Come Saturday, I'll have my much needed therapy. Unfortunately, when I come down Saturday, I'll have the cell strapped to my side (work). It never goes away. I may re-enact one of those Corona commercials if it rings. :laughing1

[seagrovelover]

That would be cool, flip that phone right in the ocean!!!!

[Landlocked]

With my luck, I would still be able to hear it ringing.

[jtnkelly]

I was in Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, AL May 11-14. There was a dredge operation 1/4 mile offshore and what appeared to be a 36" pipe pumping sand onto shore. Trucks were then hauling the stuff off, and I saw some bulldozers spreading sand in places. I saw some of the post-Ivan pictures of the damage, and was amazed to see the recovery when I was there last month. The beaches just west of Perdido Pass looked great. The only difference I saw was that there was a significant amount of small, broken seashells on the beach in places, apparently ground up by the pumping/dredging, which for a tenderfoot like me, was a little painful to walk on.

[kurt]

Santa Clara access at Seagrove Beach today - no damage to walkover, beach and dunes in pretty good shape. Many stretches like this will be back to pre-Arlene pretty quick.

[kathydwells]

Santa Clara access at Seagrove Beach today - no damage to walkover, beach and dunes in pretty good shape. Many stretches like this will be back to pre-Arlene pretty quick.

Great Picture Kurt....thanks for posting !!!!!

[lost in sowal]

It sure is interesting that scraping is being blasted because of Seaside even though there was nothing scraped there, and Santa Clara is so beautiful and a ton of sand was scraped there. Maybe it not the scraping and it is more complex. Alys beach wasn't scraped either and has peat, not to mention Topsail Hill State Preserve....

[Smiling JOe]

It sure is interesting that scraping is being blasted because of Seaside even though there was nothing scraped there, and Santa Clara is so beautiful and a ton of sand was scraped there. Maybe it not the scraping and it is more complex. Alys beach wasn't scraped either and has peat, not to mention Topsail Hill State Preserve....

I guess I am confused. I have not been to the Santa Clara access, but Kurt just posted the following photo, and the Beach looks a bit lacking to me. As a matter of fact, it looks like you could go swimming in the Beach Pond that has formed.

[BeachDreamer]

I guess I am confused. I have not been to the Santa Clara access, but Kurt just posted the following photo, and the Beach looks a bit lacking to me. As a matter of fact, it looks like you could go swimming in the Beach Pond that has formed.

WOW, look at all those people!! I think the secret of SoWal is out!

[aquaticbiology]

Lordy, look at all that crapola and people on the beach! And look at all the gosh darn tents! That's not 'needed stuff', that's just sh...! Calming down a bit now - I guess it's been a long time since I actually went to a 'popular' beach. I've been spoiled with the multitude of boat-access-only areas and the controlled park beaches. No litter and no junk! There's this one little cresent-shaped white sand beach surrounded entirely by marshes and seedling palms that comes to mind. Completely unapproachable by land, it's as natural as it is beautiful. Mmmmm. Nope, I wouldn't exchange a sewage lagoon for ten miles of that crowded, crap covered, ownership righted, tire-tracked, fenced, scraped, walkovered bs. They can have it!!! I'm going to stick with the beach below.

BTW, a lot of the sand washed down to Pensacola - they had 10 feet high extra in one place alone. Bet they won't give it back either. Perhaps each county could spend millions dye-ing their particular sand so it becomes clear who's it is.

[SoWalSally]

Walton Sun - BY PASHA CARROLL SUN REPORTER

Seaside is known as the picturesque perfect place. But what about when it looks like chunks of clay were churned up at the beach?
After Tropical Storm Arlene hit last Saturday, the brownish hard claylike substance under the white sand was exposed. Some have suggested it might be the forest floor, of what Seaside was long ago.
“My understanding is that after Opal hit in the mid ‘90s, you could see Cypress stumps,” Stacey Brady, public relation manager for Seaside said. “With time it will build up to be beautiful again.”
“If you don’t turn around, you wouldn’t know it was there,” Brady said.
Brad Pickel, the Director of Beach Management at the Walton County Tourist Development Council, said the beach has eroded to where peat deposits are outcropping.
“The flat beach area is showing peat deposits,” Pickel said. “It is because the beach is not only narrower now, but also has a lower elevation.”
Brady said the Seaside beach project manager thinks it is a clay substance. “It is definitely darker than the white sand where it is washed away at the base of the dune,” she said.
After Hurricane Ivan last September, Seaside spent $1.2 million implementing an aggressive beach renourishment project.
“A lot of effort went out to sea with the Tropical Storm,” Brady said. This time, Seaside will wait for county, state and Mother Nature to heal the beach.

[SoWalSally]

Walton Sun - BY JOYCE OWEN SUN REPORTER

Visitors on Tuesday sunned on the beach and splashed in the warm Gulf waters at Gulf Trace unaware that the county on June 12 had condemned four beachfront homes when septic systems failed during Tropical Storm Arlene.
Walkers on Sunday were the first to notice pipes protruding beneath beachfront homes and pieces of septic systems strewn on the beach, and soon county officials arrived to inspect the area.
Walton County Health Department Environmental Supervisor Matthew Coleman said the county assumed the worst when the Emergency Operations Center and a citizen’s phone call notified the health department of the sewage spill at Gulf Trace. Five people from Environmental Health responded Sunday, ordering 10 portable toilets and water storage units for the possible emergency.
“One of the four structures was empty. The other three were rental units,” Coleman said.
After notifying the renters that the septic systems had failed, the beaches were closed due to high bacterial contamination and the water would be cut off, they all left voluntarily, he said.
With the renters gone, the health department left only one toilet and water storage unit on site.
Blue Mountain Beach resident Richard Fowlkes agreed that the portable toilet and water storage unit were available, but visitors he spoke with were not aware of why they were there.
Notices posted Monday at the four homes on Gulf Shore Drive indicated there were no working sewage processing systems and that the homes could not be used until further notice.
In fact, visitors sunning on the beach, had some idea there had been a problem because of the yellow tape roping off areas of the beach, but because warning signs had been removed they believed everything was OK.
“Are you from the health department,” asked a Lithia Springs, Ga. woman who preferred not to be identified.
She was with a group of women from Lithia Springs and Huntsville, Ala. that have been coming to South Walton for 20 years, and to Gulf Trace for at least five years.
Although she was concerned that it might not be safe to go in the water, she believed that because the signs warning of bacterial contamination had been removed, the health department determined it was safe. Still, she and her friends were not going in the water until it looked clear.
The women arrived Saturday and were renting a house further away from the beach. They ventured out on Sunday, but the beach was a mess.
“It was nasty and covered with brownish stuff,” she said. “When the WCHD announced an evacuation of the beach, we were glad to leave.”
Results of 10 water samples taken Sunday came back acceptable late Monday. The health department announced the “water is now safe for water activities.”
But Fowlkes was concerned about the beach.
The damaged septic tanks were still visible on the beach. And though the county marked the area with yellow caution tape and advised visitors to avoid roped off areas, he wondered whether the raw sewage that had poured on the beach before the renters evacuated had seeped into the sand or caused problems at other beaches.
Not only did Arlene destroy sewage systems and dump dangerous bacteria on the Gulf Trace beach, sewage drain field parts contaminated Grayton Beach State Park, Blue Mountain Beach, Gulfview Heights and other beaches to the west, he said.
Fowlkes hoped the county would not allow the septic systems to be replaced as they were after Hurricane Ivan.
Coleman said there had been no determination as to whether or not the septic systems that were first permitted in 1982 could be replaced.
“It is something we’ve been working on since Sunday. Septic systems are limited by acreage. Mother Nature has changed the conditions there. A survey will look at how much land was lost,” he said.

[SoWalSally]

Walton Sun - BY PASHA CARROLL SUN REPORTER

Not since”Tthe Truman Show” has South Walton seen so much publicity. But this time it is not a perfect world.
Last year Hurricane Ivan ravaged the Emerald Coast, hit Pensacola hard, and other more westerly areas garnered media attention. But after being hit by Tropical Storm Arlene, only 10 days after the start of the 2005 hurricane season, local news cameras have been rolling in South Walton.
The majority of the damage is in western South Walton, particularly at the Miramar Regional Beach Access, which also suffered the most severe damage during Ivan. Miramar is also Walton County’s most endangered beach.
“Beach erosion in western Walton County is an issue,” Brad Pickel, the Director of Beach Management at the Walton County Tourist Development Council said.
Pickel said a combination of factors makes the erosion increasingly severe.
The first was Ivan, which washed out the parking lot, beach access and the dunes. Just when the Miramar Access had been restored, Mother Nature delivered another blow.
“We had seven or eight days of southerly winds before the storm,” Pickel said. The waves were pounding and eroding the shore even before the latest tropical storm hit.
“Many properties had no protection; they were uncovered heading into the storm,” he said.
When Tropical Storm Arlene touched down on Saturday packing about 50-mile-per-hour winds, portions of Miramar just could not take the beating.
About half the sand that was placed at Miramar is gone. Only one unstable beach access remains standing. The underbelly of the edge of the parking lot is exposed.
According to the TDC, a permit has already been secured to rebuild the Miramar accesses. Chandler Construction is bringing in sand to stabilize the parking lot.
So what happens if the storms continue?
“Nobody knows,” Pickel said. “A direct hit of a Category 2 (hurricane) could bring it (water) right up to the edge of the right of way.”
Depending on the level of erosion, the beach could be repaired, Pickel concluded.
“That decision would be made on a lot of levels,” Pickel said about not only a county decision, but homeowners as well.
Pickel said the most important approach to prevent Miramar Beach becoming extinct is a proactive one. The steps that should be taken include workshops that focus on area beaches, and not just acting in terms of emergency management.
So what about the remaining stretch of Walton County’s 26 miles of beaches and 56 beach accesses?
According to the TDC, 15 beach accesses were damaged during the tropical storm. The Board of County Commissioners at the June 14 meeting approved rebuilding of those accesses. Schipper’s Marine, a company that rebuilt more than 20 beach accesses after Ivan, will construct them.
“By Tuesday, after the Saturday storm, we were off and running,” Pickel said. He commended emergency agencies, the TDC and commissioners for expediting storm recovery quickly.

[SoWalSally]

letter to the editor of the Walton Sun

Mother Nature is in charge

Once again Mother Nature is trying to teach and we can either learn from her wisdom or choose to ignore it like we have done so many times in the past.
If we ignore her we will continue to allow beachfront homeowners to improperly rebuild their walkovers only to be destroyed by small tropical storms.
We will scrape the beaches again, only to watch the sand wash out into the Gulf during another storm.
We will allow vacationers to leave chairs, umbrellas, tents and various other beach toys on the beaches overnight, also to be washed away.
As always they will be seen again in a few days, creating litter and debris on our beaches.
In many coastal communities there are ordinances requiring all beach paraphernalia to be removed daily.
After Ivan, many beachfront homeowners took liberties with the permits issued by building larger, beach invasive walkovers while others rebuilt without any permit at all. Most of these improperly constructed walkovers were destroyed by a small tropical storm called Arlene. Apparently there was no follow up inspection by officials to make certain the walkovers were rebuilt according to DEP standards.
Let’s do this right this time, Walton County. Do not issue permits without having inspections to ensure the walkovers are being constructed properly. Don’t scrape the beaches. Allow them to rebuild naturally.
If we live near the coast we must learn to co-exist with natural occurrences such as hurricanes and tropical storms.
Kendra Holt
Seagrove Beach

[kurt]

6/18/05