Destroying FEMA

Once again the Bush administration shows just how it "thinks". Katrina shows just how much we need FEMA and we need to plan for the natural disasters that are much more likely (read "will") happen as well as protecting against foreign and domestic terrorist attacks that may come.
Destroying FEMA: "SEATTLE -- In the days to come, as the nation and the people along the
Gulf Coast work to cope with the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, we will be reminded anew, how important it is to have a
federal agency capable of dealing with natural catastrophes of this
sort. This is an immense human tragedy, one that will work hardship on
millions of people. It is beyond the capabilities of state and local
government to deal with. It requires a national response,

Which makes it all the more difficult to understand why, at this moment, the country's premier agency for dealing with such events -- FEMA -- is being, in effect, systematically downgraded and all but dismantled by the Department of Homeland Security.."

What other blogs or sites deal with the coast

I am curious if there are other websites or blogs that deal with coastal issues that I need to be reading or even post links to. I a new blogger and trying to use this as a tool to develop my knowlege and thinking about coastal issues. I would appreciate any suggestions anyone has.

Thanks

More on Pilkey

Thanks for the comments, lets talk some more about Pilkey. The question is simple. Where is Pilkey's science on current beach nourishment projects? Someone needs to show me where he has done research on the sediment quality used in current NC nourishment projects. His web site does not contain any, I believe this is because he is not interested in learning about beach nourishment. He is on a messianic quest to stop all coastal development. Not just oceanfront but all coastal development. He never suggests broad patterns based on observation. He cherry picks is objections. "Too much shell here, no access there." In Nags Head access is not an issue. Likewise we have done additional sampling on the source of beach nourishment sand to ensure that it is compatible the sediment profile of our beaches. OK so what would Pilkey’s position be on a project with those qualifications. Simple, don't do it because it only helps rich people. Well over 40,000 "rich people" are in Nags Head each week in the summer. If you drive down the ocean front you see a wide variety of homes, almost all rented by people who are glad to get to the beach. Go to the beach accesses and see how full they are of "rich People"? who want to go the beach. Long term for Nags Head the only way we maintain a recreational beach is to put sand on it. We are seeing the impact in South Nags Head now. We will see it all along the Nags Head beach soon. We cannot afford not to nourish. Our beaches support our entire community. Anyone who sees this as welfare for the rich isn't looking at why people come to Nags Head and just how many people they support at restaurants, shops and in government services like water, trash and fire departments. The beach goes away the jobs go away the economy suffers.

The rich person argument suffers from another flaw. The reason that the federal government got involved in nourishment projects (shoreline protection) was to reduce damage from storms. Damage that the government (us taxpayers) then had to pay to clean up. It has been demonstrated time and time again that nourished beaches protect homes. The projects save money for the federal government, regardless of who owns the property.

Additionally when you meet the people who own homes on the oceanfront you find that they are a very mixed group demographically. There are some truly wealthy people but most are simply trying to have a place where they and their family can take a vacation at the beach. They work hard for their money and they have chosen to spend it for beach side homes. The NC coast is not the Hamptons. There is little exclusive about our beaches. They are in fact everyone's beach. go to any access in Nags Head or Kill Devil Hills and you will find that this beach is important to everyone, not the rich.

As to the environmental impacts of beach nourishment. Where is the science, where is the empirical evidence. What I have learned is that beaches tend to recover quickly (6 months to a year) after nourishment. If it is so bad for the ecosystem why does the US Fish and Wildlife Service allow (encourage) its use in the Pea Island Wildlife refuge. The idea that nourishment is inherently bad for the environment is just wrong. Again if it is so bad show me DATA show me studies. Pilkey won’t do it because he can’t.

Emerald Isle has little access, true. When the project was conceived there was no access requirement because it was a locally funded project. Then some state money came into the project and the state did not require that additional access be provided. As I said above this is clearly not an issue in the Nags Head KDH area. There is plenty of access.

Finally- The first poster wanted fairness. This is a blog. It is about opinion and discourse not fairness. I am new at this blogging thing. Thanks for taking an interest.

The Independent Weekly: We're killing our beaches

Here is a link to the Pilkey story listed below and commented on below. They moved the link on me. This one should stay good for a while.

The Independent Weekly: We're killing our beaches: "We're killing our beaches

A Duke professor emeritus and world expert on beaches says that in North Carolina's rush to protect oceanfront homes, 'renourishment' projects are destroying our beaches."

Mayors sidestep Kyoto row to set sights on Green Cities

edie news centre - Mayors sidestep Kyoto row to set sights on Green Cities: "Civic leaders from around the world are meeting in San Francisco this week to thrash out international guidelines for sustainable urban living.

More than 70 mayors from major American cities and global population hot spots like London, Rio, Cape Town, Sydney, Tehran and Shanghai are taking the first steps towards transforming the world metropolitan centers into eco-friendly utopias by signing up to an agreement that is being dubbed the municipal Kyoto protocol."

Nags Head crash halts traffic

The Outer Banks Sentinel



Tow trucks are used to lift propane truck that overturned near Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head. Photo by Greg Clark, Sentinel Staff
An accident that involved four passenger vehicles and a bottled-gas truck tied up traffic in Nags Head Friday evening.
South Croatan Highway was closed from Soundside Road to Hollowell Street until at least 8 p.m. Traffic was shunted to South Virginia Dare Trail where it backed up and crawled along.

Notes on Pilkeys piece in the Independent Weekly

Dr. Orin Pilkey is a fraud. He is a fraud on so many levels that it is hard to convey all of them. First and foremost he does not pratice science in his analysis of beach nourishment. Particularly in his analysis of the source matierial for beach nourishment projects. If he did he would be advocating science based standards for the sediment to put on beaches. He doesn't do this instead he calls those who do take the time to study the matierial "solution oriented" OK so the engineers who work on these projects want their projects to function well. What is wrong with that?

What is wront to Dr. Pilkey is that it allows communities to remain on the coast in the face of erosion. This is Dr. Pilkeys real mission. He has decided that he knows what is best for the coast and is bound and determined to impose his will on those who don't accept his beliefs.

Dr. Pilkey lives and (I assume) votes in Durham. He has never run for elected office yet he wants to indict those who have for supporting projects that clearly their communities and the state and federal government think are important. What level of meglomania is this. He accuses his opponents of using personal attacks "Simmons has a Karl Rove attack mentality and regularly trashes nourishment opponents, including myself." Simply the pot calling the kettle black. He trashes everyone associated with the beach nourishment process, why? Because his reall desire is not to get better sand on the beach but to see the beach abandoned and left for a few dilletantes like him.

(More to come)

Article - A timeless coastal draw, fishing piers have it all

Article - A timeless coastal draw, fishing piers have it all

Nice piece on fishing piers. Goes to show how important Jennettes will be once we get it rebuilt. Have to wait and see how that is going to happen.

The Independent Weekly: We're killing our beaches

The Independent Weekly: We're killing our beaches: "North Carolina's open ocean shorelines are retreating almost everywhere. And on almost every barrier island not in government hands, buildings--mostly seasonal rental cash cows--line the beach. Few vacant ocean lots remain. Since the shoreline is retreating toward these precious buildings, a great deal of effort and money is being expended to halt the landward march of the surf zone."

Waterways have national interest The Daily News, Jacksonville NC

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC: "PINE KNOLL SHORES - People concerned about funding for beach nourishment and waterway dredging can try to make their voices heard in Washington.

But they need to be speaking clearly, in unison with those from other places, and say that maintaining Corps of Engineers civil works projects is of economic interest to the nation, not just coastal North Carolina, said Worth Hager, president of the National Waterways Conference.

'As far as I'm concerned, the last thing we need in this nation is dog-eat-dog,' Hager said."

Bonner Bridge replacement receives legislators' attention (OB Sentinel)

Printable Version: "Late Friday afternoon, the N.C. Senate made changes to the proposed toll road bill to fix a glitch caused by an earlier version which now, if passed and ratified, may allow plans to replace Herbert C. Bonner Bridge move forward. The bill now has been sent back to the House for approval.

The original proposed legislation that passed its first reading June 19 in the Senate was an attempt by N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight to move the project forward after it has been stalled for years. But after the vote, it was discovered that the language used would make the project ineligible for federal funds because the provision didn't comply with National Environmental Policy Act requirements.In a July 28 letter from John F. Sullivan of the Federal Highway Administration to State Secretary of Transportation Lyndo Tippett, Sullivan noted that: 'It is our read of the proposed legislation that the bill, if passed and becomes law, would essentially direct the NCDOT to enter into a contract to replace the Bonner Bridge in its general proximity of the existing bridge. At this time, we could not agree to fund this contract since NEPA is not complete. The proposed state law dictates an outcome while there is an on-going project to determine the most reasonable and feasible alternative that meets the purpose and need of the project. In addition, there are other NEPA and Federal requirements that may not be met depending on the exact location of the project termini. Again, FHWA could not participate in the proposed contract at this time.'

In response, the Senate re-worded the bill to state that the N.C. Department of Transportation shall implement all reasonable measures to expedite completion of environmental reviews required by the NEPA. It also stipulates that within 90 days of receiving a thumbs up from the Federal Highway Administration, DOT will let the contract to a private contractor to begin design and replacement of the bridge."

ECB's Nags Head branch undergoes a face-lift

This is my bank, great office, nice people. Also this bank has been honored as a national leader in corporate philanthropy.

The Outer Banks Sentinel: "'We are thrilled with the incredible amount of space this renovation generated for us,' Hines stated. 'The face-lift created several offices and a conference room that will accommodate the demand for not only branch services but for our Mortgage and Financial Services departments. We invite both ECB customers and the public to visit the new branch and experience firsthand 'Excellence in Community Banking'.'"

Look who's running for office The Outer Banks Sentinel

No new faces is this list. Amazing. Everyone who filed has served at least 2 terms on the Nags Head Board of Commissioners except for Ms. Sadler who served 2 years on the Dare County board before moving to her current town seat.
The Outer Banks Sentinel: "In the Town of Nags Head two seats on the Board of Commissioners are up in December. Former Commissioner Doug Remaley will attempt to unseat either of the incumbent commissioners, Anna D. Sadler and R. Brantley Murray.

Mayor Bob Muller is not seeking re-election, but the seat won't left unattended. C.P. 'Buster' Nunemaker III, George Farrah III and Renee Cahoon each have filed to run for the office."

Conet Project (Aquairus Records)

This is definately some of the strangest stuff you have ever heard. I heard an NPR piece on the album and some of the legal battles that have surfaced around it. Wilco used samples, got sued and lost. Anyway go to the link and listen to the pieces.
[ found sounds, field recordings, oddities ] titles at Aquarius Records: "Basically, the Conet Project is a four-cd compilation of recordings of mysterious shortwave radio broadcasts, known as 'numbers stations'. These numbers stations are generally believed to be encrypted spy transmissions, but no concrete evidence has ever surfaced proving that suppostion. However, no credible *alternate* explanation has ever been demonstrated, either. For years (ever since the start of the Cold War), amateur radio enthusiasts have come across these sinister signals, and they continue to this day, broadcast in many languages all over the world (the theory is that some are CIA, some are KBG, some are Mossad, etc).
In general, the transmissions consist of a deadpan voice (sometimes an old man, sometimes a young woman, etc.) reading a seemingly random, meaningless series of numbers over and over. Sometimes the broadcsts are preceded by a musical cue (the 'Swedish Rhapsody' music box one being a favorite of ours), and sometimes the numbers are not conveyed by voice but by even more cryptic electronics (as with 'The Buzzer', and other noisy, abstract stuff found mainly on disc four)."

Surf City officials wrestle with public parking

Some issues are almost universal. Even with enough access parking we struggle with parking on the street issues in Nags Head.

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC

The Daily News, Jacksonville NC: "Councilman Mike Curley noted that the Army Corps of Engineers requires public beaches to have beach accesses every half mile and 10 parking spaces for each mile of beach. Because the town has limited parking lots in certain areas, street side parking has been posed as a substitute for more lots."

""This has been our sales pitch," Curley said.

Residents contended that street side parking has been a source of constant aggravation during the busy season.

Town resident Candice Cleeves said tourists routinely litter, park and urinate on the right of way abutting her property.

"Should the taxpayers be punished for the day trippers who come on the island to swim and fish?" Cleeves asked. "There really needs to be something done about this."

Mayor Pro-Tem Nelva Albury noted that the town's island location limited the town's available land for parking, making street side and right-of-way parking essential.

"If we stop them from parking on the streets, where are they going to park?" Albury asked.

"We can't just put them out in the woods somewhere.""

"At the request of the council, the Surf City Police Department conducted a study concerning parking on the sides of streets. After determining that the streets were too narrow to allow street parking, the Police Department proposed a text amendment to disallow parking on 16 streets located primarily in the canal zone.

NRDC: Testing the Waters 2005 - A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

NRDC: Testing the Waters 2005 - A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches: "Oceans

Clean Water & Oceans: Oceans: In Depth: Report

Testing the Waters 2005
A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches
NRDC's annual survey of water quality monitoring and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that closings due to bacterial contamination are on the rise nationwide. Across the country, pollution caused nearly 20,000 days of closings and advisories at ocean and Great Lakes beaches last year -- more than ever recorded in the survey's 15-year history. The 2005 survey is based on information reported for 2004."

Fight Urban Sprawl at Shore, Traveler Columnist Urges

Fight Urban Sprawl at Shore, Traveler Columnist Urges: "Remnants of character remain. Amid the beach-wrack of Nags Head (or is it South Nags Head?) the 70-year-old First Colony Inn sits clad in cedar shingles and wooden, white-railed porches—a glass of oak-aged sherry at a Kool-Aid party. One Florida-style concrete mid-rise pokes into the inn's ocean view. When I visited, construction was under way on a miniature golf course right behind the inn—'as if we needed another miniature golf course,' sighed the day manager."

Shoring Up N. Carolina Islands: A Losing Battle?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/11/images/031110_isabelinlet.jpg
Shoring Up N. Carolina Islands: A Losing Battle?: "According to Pilkey and several of his colleagues in the scientific community, humans are killing barrier islands such as the Outer Banks by attempting to stop nature from running its course.

At a cost of at least U.S. $7 million, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the North Carolina Department of Transportation are busy pumping sand back into Isabel Inlet and plan to have it filled and U.S. Highway 12 back in operation by the end of November.

'You had a good-sized area totally cut off from the rest of the world, no access at all, a pretty critical condition,' said Steve Varnedoe, chief engineer of operations with the North Carolina Department of Transportation in Raleigh.

Varnedoe said the decision to fill the inlet came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency which had orders from the Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to restore access to Hatteras quickly. Longer-term alternatives such as construction of a bridge or a ferry system were shelved."

Ancient Channels, Seasons Shape Beach Erosion, Lab Finds

Ancient Channels, Seasons Shape Beach Erosion, Lab Finds: "For William Birkemeier and his colleagues, just about every day is a day at the beach. Birkemeier is trying to figure out how coastlines keep changing. 'There's a lot of mystery in the coast,' he said."