I have followed coastal environmental issues for over a decade. In that time, I have discovered only one method which is proven to be successful, environmentally sound and sustainable: Holmberg Technologies. This proof includes unversity research, numerous professional monitoring reports and over 30 years of empirical evidence, the most important science test.

Unfortunately, I have heard our very own officials (federal and state), those charged with protecting our coastal resources, literally lie about Holmberg’s success. This is almost always in efforts to promote traditional engineering processes or the very lucrative dredging programs. Dredging, having often caused the much of the unnatural erosion now occurring along our shoreline, is then paid again and again to “fix” this manmade environmental problem. These methods are counterproductive and beach “nourishment” is really a starvation diet for both our beaches and our public funds.

There is no question that Holmberg’s method’s work. The physical laws of science being somewhat established for gravity, etc., Holmberg’s reduction of wave/current energies to induce the accretion of indigenous sediment (those which would have naturally be found on that section of coastline) occurs in fresh or salt water, sea-size lakes or Mideastern gulfs or oceans. The Great Lakes are noted for their hurricane force storms which can last for days not hours as do those in Florida. Ice floes can literally bulldoze the shoreline removing the beach and dunes. Yet, Holmberg’s work remains and continues to build the shoreline after decades.

In many way we are losing our coastlines to greed, not erosion. This can only occur when concerned citizens are kept ignorant of the causes of this erosion and alternatives to prevent it. Most coastal erosion is now a manmade environmental problem. As such, we must mitigate it as we would any other manmade environmental problem. Retreat is not a rational response: we are losing habitat, not just expensive real estate. We must, however, employ methods shown to be effective, environmentally sound and sustainable. To date, Holmbeg remains the only method with any long-term documentation to accomplish this.

Dear Mary Lou,

You may have had the best of intentions by your suggestion of moving A1A to Old King’s road. BUT, please, think this through and realize that such a solution would result in the complete death of the village of Flagler Beach. All the seaside small/family owned shops, motels and restaurants would be put out of business. . . in favor of yet another strip center along Old King’s road filled with the same old chain enterprises. Flagler Beach is unique in that it is one of the last small beach towns left in Florida. Many others have been dredged, bulldozed, destroyed (“redeveloped”) and what remains are souless high rises and shops/restaurants only the rich and famous can afford. Again, the middle class squeezed out!

In addition, the exisiting roadbed for A1A would still need to be kept structurally sound so that the few remaining residents (the ones that couldn’t sell after the town dissappeared) could access their homes. So the problem of supporting that highway would not be solved anyway.

It would be interesting to know where you currently reside. . . different perspectives may come into play here.

The best thing to do is to move A1A to Old Kings Road. A1A could be local traffic only until it becomes impassable.
They could consider using the roadway for pedestrian traffic or just remove it and rejuvenate the dune. The oceans are rising, the climate is changing and throwing huge amounts of dollars and time makes no sense at all. Let nature take it’s course without yet even more interference by man.

Sounds like a very worthwhile trial. You did not give a cost. Was this presented to Gov. Scott when he was here?
We had a condo on Crescent Beach for 35 years, 1973-2008, built in the day when you could build on the first dune. We had a small seawall at the beach line with no dune. Today that seawall is completely covered by a high dune and the walkway has been moved to accomodate the dune several times over the years. At one time there was even a second dune. When St. Augustine beach lost sand it came into Crescent Beach. It is my understanding that the dredging for the St. Augustine inlet many years ago started the decline of sand at St. Augustine Beach. And how about the deposit of sand over the past two years south of Matanzas Inlet? They finally let the ocean breach the dune insteading of pouring sand onto the beach as they had done for years. I know all this has to do with what man does many miles away in the inlets and other waterways. I hope you are studying all that shift of sand and why it happens. It that case, sand was added. It seems like your one mile study is alot better than moving a road or adding more sand again. Good luck. I will write a letter or sign any petition. Barbara Knight