By Margie Plunkett
Coastal residents just can’t stop the drifting, shifting sand from slipping through their fingers — or off their beaches.
Palm Beach County is working on beach erosion projects all along the coast, including Lantana and South Palm Beach as well as at the South Lake Worth Inlet, in a never-ending battle with the elements.
Ocean Ridge and Manalapan saw work start this spring on the South Lake Worth (Boynton) Inlet jetties and sand transfer plant that moves drifting sand back to eroding beaches. And Manalapan is taking steps to protect its beaches from being pumped away, an issue that 20 years ago was at the center of litigation involving Manalapan and Ocean Ridge.
Kent Shortz, former mayor of Manalapan, proposed a list of preliminary recommendations to provide protection, including adhering to pumping protocols; establishing scientific measurement of sand pumped; reporting quarterly how much sand is pumped; installing two permanent marker poles; and re-establishing the technical review committee.
While the town wants to closely monitor the sand transfer plant’s work, Dan Bates of Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management says a great deal of how much sand is pumped depends on weather, and while the average is 60,000 cubic yards, it can be greater or less. Bates painted a picture in which residents’ work to restore beaches seems an eternal effort that will ultimately be swept away by the elements. “Ocean Ridge will never have sufficient sand. There’s still a deficit there,” Bates said, responding to a question at Manalapan’s April commission meeting about a different approach to sand pumping.
The status of the beaches in Manalapan and vicinity a decade from now will rely heavily on what beach erosion prevention measures are taken on northern coasts, including Palm Beach. “I don’t see where I can bring you any good news,” he said.
“We can’t keep up with it. I don’t think we’re going to see a net increase in flow.”
The efforts of the town of Palm Beach — which is being very proactive — are crucial to Manalapan, Bates said. “It all flows downhill.”
Proposed breakwaters to protect beaches in Lantana and South Palm Beach could be under construction as early as 2010. Palm Beach County recently approved a contract for a $362,811 environmental study required by the Army Corp of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection before work permits can be issued for the rock breakwaters, which would run parallel to the shore to battle chronic beach erosion. The state DEP has designated the coast of Lantana and South Palm Beach as critically eroded, according to Palm Beach County Commission documents.
Six dune restoration projects have been constructed since 2003, the last finished in January involving about 12,000 tons of sand.
Plants next on Lantana list
Lantana has completed its $1.5 million seawall, an emergency project approved in December after a storm washed away beach here.
The town is awaiting its permit from the state DEP, which town Parks and Recreation Manager Mike Greenstein expects within two to three weeks.
That will allow both Lantana and the county to get planting under way there, he said.
Kimberly Miranda of Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management said it typically puts in native dune plants, including 90 percent sea oats and 10 percent diversity species such as railroad vine and dune sunflower.
Lantana also planned to remove exotic plants in the area, said Miranda, who had met with Lantana officials including Greenstein in April to survey the site. Lantana wants to add shrubs, trees and perennials in the dune area it’s planting, including possibilities of gumbo limbo, sea grapes and bay cedar, Greenstein said.
The condos to the north are proceeding to build a seawall and applying for its permit now, Greenstein said. And Lantana is starting to design ramps and sidewalk for the area from its seawall to the Imperial House, he said.
Artificial reef planned
Offshore to the south, the county also plans to construct about 5.25 acres of artificial reef along the coast of Ocean Ridge, beginning within Ocean Inlet Park just south of the Boynton Inlet and running south for a quarter mile. The reef is planned to provide public access for snorkeling and fishing as well as fish habitat.
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