The molluscan population on my favorite shelling beaches has been decimated by three "beach renourishment" projects within the past seven years to where a live shell can seldom be found. However, these "renourishment" projects are the direct result of commerce and not for the benefit of tourists. Each project has been for the express purpose of maintaining access to the port of Jacksonville with the sand being dumped on the beaches as a byproduct of dredging the shipping channel both within the river itself and offshore. Pumping sand from the ocean bottom a mile offshore seemed to have less affect than that pumped from the river bottom. This far, nearly a mile of beach has received almost eight vertical feet of new sand and the dredge is pumping even as this is being composed. Bill Frank 1865 Debutante Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32246-8645 Phone/FAX: (904) 724-5326 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at: http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/wfrank/jacksonv.htm -----Original Message----- From: Bob and Carol Simpson <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, December 02, 1998 6:26 PM Subject: Legislation >At the risk of being jumped on tooth and nail about renourishment, etc., I >would like to throw this out. > >The beaches are being renourished in our state and many others because our >economy depends so heavily on the tourist trade........mostly along our >coast. Without beaches, there are no tourists and no tourist dollars . We >were at Fripp Island for Thanksgiving and at high tide, there is no >beach--and this is also true of Hunting Island. They have thrown in the >towel at Hunting Island, and the ocean is regaining its territory. > >So, where does that leave our fight on banning renourishment? When >people's livelihood is dependant on the beaches, what is the right thing to >do? > >Please don't holler at me! > >Carol