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ClimatEnerGeopolitics
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The Value of Florida’s Beaches and Sea Level Rise.Is sea level rising? A noted coastal engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers says yes. “I think we need to do something about it,” said Dr. James Houston. Houston, who is now retired from the corps, still writes and lectures. Yesterday, he spoke to a small crowd at the Omni Plantation and said he thinks sea level will rise 7 to 11 inches over the next 50 years in Florida. The title of Houston’s talk: The Value of Florida’s Beaches and Sea Level Rise. Houston started with value. “Beaches are one of the biggest economic drivers in our state,” said Houston. “It’s critical to Florida’s economy to maintain beaches.” Houston maintains that beach maintenance can pay for itself with money collected from tourists. He called beaches the golden goose that lays golden eggs. He said beach-going tourists want scenic surf and sand and that they generate state taxes of $2.3 billion annually. He said a one percent decline in beach tourists reduces state tax revenue by $23 million. “That’s a lot,” he said. The talk was organized by the South Amelia Island Shore Stabilization Association (SAISSA). This group represents more than 2,000 property owners on the south end of Amelia Island who pay a special tax to maintain the beaches near their properties. It formed in 1993 after big storms caused big havoc to local beaches. The presentation was free and open to the public. Houston said he does not understand why the state spends more than $5 billion for roadways and $20 million for beach maintenance. He called it “enlightened” spending and people laughed. (Off the top of this head: tourists have to get from the airport and interstate to the beach and the hotel. And, a sizable crowd is going to wipe off the sand and drive to Disney and they’ll let TripAdvisor.com know if it was a smooth, easy ride. Additionally, the state’s 20 million residents need good roads to get to jobs, shops and schools. But let’s agree that it’s an important balance.) Houston talked about the reasons for rising sea level. “I think there is global warming due to manmade activity,” said Houston. Houston projected information on a big screen that said federal navigation projects contribute to 80 to 85 percent of beach erosion in Florida. He also showed a series of graphs that put projections for sea-level rise from 1990 to 2100 at less than one foot to more than six feet. He said the numbers come from an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and that there are many variables. He said he thinks it’s going to be on the low end of the range and that there is no reason to panic. “I’m pretty confident we can hold sea levels at bay in the future,” said Houston. Houston said that sea levels are continually measured by satellite and he showed a world map colored in various shades of pale blues and strong shades of yellow and reds to punctuate how sea level rise varies across the globe. (Watch out Philippines!) (Looking good San Diego!) Houston said that the numbers are debated and often debunked and he said the media reports the worst because it is looking for sensational stories. When it comes to climate change, he encouraged people to seek information from a variety of sources. “I’m a believer but I object when people say this dogmatically,” said Houston. He answered questions from the audience. Q: Who has the right to the sand? A: Sand rights are thorny issues. But there’s a lot of sand here. You’re in good shape. Q. Will the Port of Fernandina’s master plan affect local beaches? A: I don’t know. Q: I don’t understand how extending the beach vertically helps extend horizontally. I can’t get my head around that. A: Put a lot of sand on the dunes to make sure they’re protected. Q: How much vegetation should be put on the beach, like sea oats. A: Vegetation is important. Q: How can we measure sea rise? A: Satellites. Q: How did you become a believer (in global warming and sea rise)? A: Research. |
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Msg # | Subject | Author | Recs | Date Posted |
30118 | Re: The Value of Florida’s Beaches and Sea Level Rise. | amstocks82 | 1 | 10/9/2015 12:21:59 AM |