Tampering with beach composition and topography jeapordizes nearby coarl reefs and engdangered sea turtles, inset.

But, experts say that a one-size-fits-all, big-square-template actually harms turtles. According to Duke University geologist Dr. Orrin Pilkey, filled beaches erode two to twelve times faster than native beaches, and leave high dropoffs, called escarpments, that turtles can’t climb. The long beaches can cause “false crawls,” and if compacted, sediments can make it difficult for adults to dig nests and juveniles to climb out. Plus, the dark material elevates nest temperatures—turtle sex is determined by nest temperature.

One avenue to reform involves defining a healthy beach by its natural attributes rather than by width. And that would entail DEP moving toward a system of beach-by-beach erosion analysis, and custom beach-fill templates.

“Look at the Archie Carr Refuge, look at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. The most productive turtle-nesting beaches in the world are narrow, high-energy beaches,” said Godfrey.

Other erosion-control engineering solutions have been implemented with varying success around the world. Sand transfer plants, such as those at Palm Beach Inlet, restore the natural littoral flow of sediments where jetties have interrupted the process. The world’s most sophisticated sand transfer system, in Tweed River, Australia, annually deposits 600,000 cubic meters of high-quality sand—nearly half the volume of one of Florida’s larger dredge-and-fill projects—on the downstream side of the inlet. But, so far, South Florida has only one major fixed transfer plant and it can’t keep up with sediment migrating into the inlets, and its maintenance has been erratic. So, periodic inlet maintenance dredging is required. Generally, the sand in the inlets is of high quality, and can be used to re-nourish the erosion hotspots that invariably occur on the south side of jetties on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Offshore breakwaters that absorb wave energy have also been used to stabilize beaches. Dr. Kerry Black, an oceanographer from New Zealand, seems to have successfully stabilized a beach on Australia’s high-energy Gold Coast, and in the process created excellent marine habitat. But not all coastal experts are sanguine about breakwaters.

“If you place a hard structure in the surf zone it will likely cause some erosion nearby,” said Pilkey .

“We’re still looking for the silver bullet,” said DEP’s Phil Flood.

It seems that sound sustainable development policies and a retreat strategy are the only medium- to long-term ways to have healthy beaches and navigable inlets.

“In places where the shoreline is critically eroding, beachfront property is sort of like the new swampland in Florida. We don’t really know how long it’s going to be there, and you’re taking a great risk by buying, building or living in these hazardous areas,” said Godfrey.

California and North Carolina have both set managed retreat precedents, but Florida has yet to address this issue (see managed retreat case studies at www.kqed.org/coastalclash.)

“We need to explore incentive-driven ways to move back in some areas, in ways that aren’t confrontational, through programs such as tax advantages and conservation easements,” Godfrey said.

Many interest groups spent 30 years convincing the Corps that shoreline armoring isn’t sustainable, and even the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASPBA) may support some alternatives to seawalls and massive dredge-and-fill projects. Marlowe, for example, is excited about an artificial reef/breakwater pilot program in California. And, outdoorsmen working under the ASBPA aegis suggest a different tack.

“Shorelines are dynamic, and the concept of allowing the shoreline to retreat conflicts markedly with ‘static’ perspectives and perhaps also the short-term nature of politics and lobbying considerations,” said Bob Battalio, a waterman, coastal engineer and California Shore & Beach Preservation Association board member. “I think this is the ‘undercurrent’ that’s pulling us down and it needs to be addressed.”

But in response to the second report, Howard Marlowe sent Florida Sportsman the following email.

“Perhaps you will find this ‘appalling.’ I, however, find your poor excuse for journalism to be appalling,” he wrote.

As noted in the second report, Marlowe aggressively attacks anyone who questions the environmental impacts or the social/economic equity of large-scale coastal dredging. We suggest the really appalling claims reside within Marlowe’s uniquely arrogant and ignorant press releases, for example the absurd attacks on independent biologists in a March 2004 press release (go to www.floridasports­man.com).

Influential lobbyists may try to drown the voices of recreational users, independent scientists, and taxpayers far from beachfront properties. But the author and editors associated with this investigative series are comfortable in asking rigorous and overdue questions about the excessive reliance on massive dredge-and-fill projects for erosion control, serious conflicts of interest that result from the dredge lobby and associated consultants governing our beaches, the continued denial of any possible impacts to reefs and fisheries, and regulatory impotence stemming from the Army Corps of Engineers’ uniquely powerful tripartite position as advocate, funder, and permitting body for massive dredging projects.

Florida Sportsman will keep a badly needed spotlight on Florida coastal management, and we encourage readers to come to us with their concerns.

FS