Beachfill is Coming!
Volunteer Position - Beachfill Watchdog
The Jersey Shore Chapter of Surfrider is seeking one or more person(s) in each Monmouth and Ocean County beachfront town to monitor and document current beach conditions prior to beach replenishment, and if possible to advocate for modifications to replenishment. Let us know you are interested and in which town by emailing Michelle Scott at michellescott849@gmail.com.
Background: Surfrider’s concerns about beachfill are in the “Costs of Beachfill” section of this article, http://www.beachapedia.org/Beach_Fill . We know a massive amount of beach replenishment (beachfill) will be placed on NJ beaches as a response to Hurricane Sandy. We may not like it, but it is a reality. We will not be able to stop it. We do however believe we can advocate for modification and improvements to these upcoming and future beachfills with some the help of volunteer watchdogs (like you) and positive activism. Some examples of modifications would be gentler, less steep slopes near the water and the addition of dunes.
Phase 1 - Record the state of your beach right now in photos and video and verbal descriptions. This will possibly show a beach that is not horribly eroded, and possibly show a beach where there are decent offshore sandbars providing protection and creating rideable waves. Perhaps that sandbar has connected to the beach creating a low-tide terrace, a flat shallow area perfect for kids to play and for bathers to wade gradually into deeper water. The replenishment may bury this all under sand so it is important to document its existence now.
Phase 2 – Address your Town Council and make it known that you would like a modified replenishment. You want a more gentle and gradual slope at the waters edge. A slope of 1 to 20 means there is one foot vertical rise for every twenty feet of horizontal beach width. The original Army Corps beachfills had a 1 to 10 slope and which led to many dangerous steep beaches along our coasts. Furthermore, if you think it is appropriate, ask your town to request dunes as part of this new replenishment. Monmouth County did not get dunes build by the Army Corps in the original fills. You could even start a petition in your town, we have a sample.
If interested please email michellescott849@gmail.com for more information or to start collecting info. Please put “Beachfill Watchdog in the subject line of the email. Please let us know what town(s) you want to work in. Also tell us if you want to just document with pictures and or videos, or if you would also like to circulate a petition we will provide to encourage your town leaders to ask for modified replenishment.
If beachfill is already happening on your beach get out there an take pictures/videos of the beach next door and monitor the quality of the sand. If something doesn't look right document it and let us know.