Last Updated 04/23/2013

Beach Erosion from T.S. Sandy Severe; Condos in Peril 

A Series 

by Maddy Greenberg

Devastating damage up and down the south end strip of The Town of Palm Beach on S. Ocean Blvd. from Sloan’s Curve south to the town’s boundary. Some photos demonstrate the severity of Tropical Storm Sandy’s beach and dune erosion and the imminent danger residents are in without adequate shoreline beach nourishment and protection.

Beaches are the Economic Engine for Florida

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel with SOS Board Members Carla Herwitz of 2275 S. Ocean (left) & 

Eileen Curran (right) 

of 2778 S. Ocean. Blvd.,

Palm Beach

Rep. Lois Frankel 

with Arlene Kurtis 

of 3360 S. Ocean Blvd.

U.S. House Representative Lois Frankel (D-Fla) spoke with residents of the Town of Palm Beach at a meeting hosted by the Harbour House on South Ocean Blvd. The opportunity to meet and ask questions of our Representative came about through Dr. Max Rosenbaum.

Harbour House President, Stewart Tabakin, introduced Rep. Frankel to an audience about 100 people.

The focal point of her discussion was the importance of the beaches in Florida and their source of revenue. The economic engine in Florida according to the Congresswoman is driven by the property taxes from the residents, especially those properties along the shoreline. Wide beaches and dunes attract people to live on the shoreline and bring tourism to Florida. Frankel explained that the property taxes from the coastline residents are a large revenue apparatus as well as the tourism and hospitality. She said that the monies derived from property taxes, tourism and hospitality in communities along the coast fund the fire, police and school departments throughout the State.

Frankel said that "these are the reasons why the beach issues, such as erosion and the need for shoreline protection for upland properties, are not just local issues." It affects all those residing in the State of Florida, on the shore and inland.

When asked if the Town of Palm Beach uses federal monies to restore its beaches, Frankel said, that "The Town did not want federal money to renourish the beaches." The Town of Palm Beach is unique from the rest of Palm Beach County because they do their own coastal management which did not include federal monies in the funding of their projects.

Arlene Kurtis, resident at 3360 S. Ocean Blvd., expressed her concerns and said that her local government has refused to restore the severely eroded dunes for this upcoming hurricane season. Mrs. Kurtis wanted Frankel to know about the seriousness of this situation in the south end of the Town of Palm Beach.

Eileen Curran, a Coalition To Save Our Shoreline (SOS) board member and resident of 2778 S. Ocean Blvd., described how the inlets cause interruption to the natural flow of sand from north to south. She described how the Army Corp of Engineers dredges the Lake Worth Inlet and it dumps the sand 15 to 20 miles out to sea, instead of placing it on the shoreline south of the inlet. This resulted in the loss of sand showing in the severe erosion of our beaches. Mrs. Curran asked for Rep. Frankel’s help in correcting this situation to get the Army Corps to dump the sand at no cost on the beaches in the Town of Palm Beach. Frankel said she appreciated this information and it gave her weaponry to use.

Lewis Katz, Reef Condo on S. Ocean Blvd., said that there is a debate over who should pay for protection of Condo/Co-op shoreline properties in the Town of Palm Beach. He said the new notion by the Town is that taxpayers should be "self sufficient" and rely totally on seawalls for protection from the wrath of Mother Nature and the ocean. Katz said sea walls cause erosion issues. He stated that coastal structures, wide beaches and dunes need to be considered before building giant seawalls to armor the shoreline. Katz asserted that the upland properties and buildings serve as protection for the properties behind them and therefore designing environmentally suitable beach nourishment projects with coastal structures, wide beaches and dunes in front of the existing seawalls will serve to not only protect the beachfront properties, but all those behind it.

This writer asked Rep. Frankel for her assistance in areas of our shoreline that have never had beach nourishment. These areas have severe, critical erosion and as a result of these conditions, many of the properties in those areas are in jeopardy. A Federal Environmental Impact Study must be done before beach projects can be permitted and constructed. Frankel asked what areas were referred to that had not had beach nourishment, are being eroded and were not proposed to get it without an EIS. She was told in northern Reach 7, or Sloan’s Curve and Reach 8, south of the Lake Worth Pier. Frankel said that she would do her best to help us with the EIS process and our beach issues.

Lastly, Congresswoman advised the audience of residents to "keep pounding and pounding your officials about the beach issues." She said "this issue is much too important and residents and taxpayers should keep it at the forefront." An SOS board member’s response to me was that they totally agree with Frankel.

Until next time, be well and stay safe.

State, Town of P.B. officials, Coastal Engineers Speak with Residents

Residents expressed their frustration regarding the serious erosion of the beaches, jeopardizing their properties

Severe shoreline Erosion and loss of dunes shown in photo taken on 3/10/13 looking toward the Lake Worth Pier. This photo was not taken during a storm.

SOS Coastal Engineer Karyn Erickson, President of Erickson Consulting Engineers; Richard Hunegs, Chairman of the SOS & resident & President of 3360 Condo on S. Ocean Blvd.; FDEP Deputy Director Danielle Fondren Irwin, Beach Management

Overflowing audience of residents at the SOS Public Service Meeting, (flowing out to the hallways and standing room only)

The March 21st Public Service Meeting sponsored by The Coalition To Save Our Shoreline Inc. (SOS) was successful in bringing over 300 residents, standing room only to speak with State, Town officials and Coastal Engineering expertise.

The spontaneous response of the overflowing audience of residents to the presentations led the meeting to a different level. The residents expressed their bitter frustration and despair to the long unresolved severe erosion conditions of the beaches and the loss of their dunes, which they clearly felt put their homes and safety in jeopardy. There were numerous rallying cries of "What can be done NOW to protect our homes against this summer’s storms?" and "How SOON can we have beach nourishment and groins to protect our homes?"!!

The momentum that this meeting took on was quite remarkable. For the first time, residents had the opportunity to express their total frustration and, most importantly, they demonstrated the pent up anger which sent a powerful message to the Town of Palm Beach. The State, whose Inlet to Inlet regional project is proposed to cover these areas of shoreline, clearly heard the desperate need of the residents to obtain large scale beach nourishment projects with groins.

In response to the residents frustration at their dire situation and their dissatisfaction by the lack of action on a beach fix, Richard Hunegs, Chairman of the SOS said, "This requires political action because, as the Town of Palm Beach demonstrated with the Flagler Bridge, to get things done at higher levels, you have to take action now!"

The SOS has declared that this is the time for taxpayers to sound a rallying cry to save their properties and make a large impact on the Town Council in The Town of Palm Beach. Mr. Hunegs believes that shoreline erosion and the jeopardy that exists for the safety of the residents and the protection of their properties is at the "apex of all of the Town’s issues"!

Mr. Hunegs first called upon Town of Palm Beach Councilman Richard Kleid, who told residents that if there was a storm threat there would be sand bags on the way. The residents rejected Kleid’s statement and were displeased with Mr. Kleid’s announcement that the Town of Palm Beach could not restore the dunes or put sand on the beaches during the current turtle season. SOS’s Coastal Engineer Karyn Erickson, who was a presenter at this meeting, responded to Councilman Kleid that during turtle season it is possible to obtain an emergency extension until June 1st.

As a result of the anger vented by the residents, Town of Palm Beach Councilman William Diamond advised that "This meeting should be transported to the next Town Council Meeting on April 9th and I will place the SOS on the agenda."

To transport the SOS’s Public Service Meeting’s momentum, the SOS has prepared a Petition to be signed by each resident and taxpayer. This Petition, which will be submitted to the Town of Palm Beach Town Council, demands that the town act immediately to restore the dunes in the south end of the town in order to protect homes and properties from this summer’s storms and hurricanes. This is an effort to address the emergency situation that exists. The Petition also requests that the Town of Palm Beach apply for the necessary permits to undertake beach nourishment projects for those areas in the south end of the town that so desperately need adequate, long-term shoreline protection.

It appears that the SOS has immediately responded to the outcry of the residents at the Public Service Meeting and is actively going forward to have the Town of Palm Beach obtain the necessary shoreline protection for their residents.

Part 9: Ask Questions – Get Answers About Nourishing Our Shoreline!!!

Through this series on beach erosion, hopefully you have become more informed. Now you have a first hand opportunity to meet, listen and ask questions of the two experts that have been mentioned so often in my articles. The State of Florida apparently recognizes the severity of our critical erosion issues and we are fortunate because they have selected to initiate a model project that would be the first in the State of Florida, to find solutions, streamline permitting and create new beach nourishment projects that are environmentally suitable, make sense and have longevity in the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Palm Beach Island Inlet to Inlet "Pilot Project"- Beach Management Agreement (BMA).

The Coalition To Save Our Shoreline Inc. (SOS), is sponsoring a PUBLIC SERVICE MEETING on THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 at 2:00 PM, at the South Fire Station, 2185 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. So MARK YOUR CALENDAR, so that you attend this most important meeting!!

This upcoming Public Service Meeting is a one time opportunity for all residents to "FIND OUT WHAT IS PROPOSED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO SAFEGUARD THE BEACHES AND YOUR PROPERTIES IN A PALM BEACH ISLAND INLET TO INLET ‘PILOT PROJECT’", according to an SOS source.

Guest Speakers at this meeting are: Danielle Fondren, PWS, Deputy Director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Beach Management, Beaches & Coastal Systems, Division of Water Resource Management & Karyn Erickson, ME, PE, Coastal Engineer, President, Erickson Consulting Engineers, Inc. Ms. Erickson designed and developed the SOS Beach Nourishment Plan and second Coastal Alternative that will benefit Palm Beach Island.

There will be discussion about the State’s proposed activities and projects that will protect those areas previously without adequate nourishment and how the State now looks favorably on a large scale beach nourishment project in one area that previously had no beach nourishment in order to benefit them and those areas in the municipalities to their south.

Deputy Director Fondren can explain the many things discussed in my series, from the significance of "Historical Shoreline Data" that will help in new beach nourishment projects; how the State’s Beach Management favorably views the construction of coastal structures, such as groins placed in areas of critical erosion, as " an appropriate action" and how "the best results come when a plan pinpoints coastal structures, like groins in areas such as hot spots" "The Department wants to do what makes sense for the longevity of a project". This is your chance to hear in a less technical way first hand about how the benefits that the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to be done in Reach 8 in The Town of Palm Beach, south of the Lake Worth Pier & Central Palm Beach County, (South Palm Beach, Lantana and Manalapan), will lead to beach nourishment projects and erosion solutions that will not only benefit the area of the EIS, but other areas such as Reach 7 which is within the cell of the Inlet to Inlet Pilot Project. Deputy Director Fondren will answer questions on how this Palm Beach Island Pilot Project will serve as a model for the rest of the State of Florida and give this inlet to inlet the opportunity to gain adequate protection and solutions for beach erosion.

Ms. Erickson as the SOS’s Coastal Engineer who designed and developed beach nourishment plans and coastal alternatives, can explain and answer questions regarding why these types of plans are so significantly important to these areas and can provide adequate levels of protection.

Under Danielle Fondren’s leadership, the Beach Management Agreement for this Palm Beach Island Inlet to Inlet Pilot Project has created a category of "Proposed Activities" within the BMA document, that will include the proposed new construction for projects such as the SOS/Erickson one, where areas that have never had beach nourishment or adequate protection will receive it with the State as one of the partners. This is in recognition of the efforts of the SOS.

The public can ask questions about any of these important matters. This is your chance to learn first hand from the experts how there is "light at the end of the tunnel" for those in jeopardy along the shoreline which is the most valuable asset that exists on the coast of Florida, our beaches and upland properties.

We look forward to seeing you at the March 21st Public Service Meeting at 2pm.

Part 8: Benefits from the Palm Beach Island 

BMA Pilot Project 

Aerial Photo taken by Brian Lee for the SOS; shows the eroded beaches and dunes south of the Lake Worth Pier at low tide in the Town of Palm Beach. Much like their neighbors north of the pier, south of Sloan’s Curve. South of Palm Beach, those municipalities have NO beaches due to armoring of their shoreline.

Condos l-r are the Palm Beach Hampton, the Palm Beacher and Bellaria

It is necessary for all shoreline residents who live in the Town of Palm Beach, Lake Worth, South Palm Beach, Lantana & Manalapan to realize that they share a coastline from the Palm Beach Inlet to the Boynton Beach Inlet. These communities became an island, the Palm Beach Island, when the two inlets were created.

As a result, the coastline of each of these towns becomes interdependent on the other since sand flows past town boundaries in a north to south direction, unless interrupted by obstacles.

Due to the critically eroded beaches on Palm Beach Island and in recognition of the dependency of every town shoreline/beach within Palm Beach Island, the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), under its Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, has established the Palm Beach Island Beach Management Agreement (BMA) as their "Pilot Project".

To accomplish the goals of this Palm Beach Island BMA "Pilot Project", the State has outlined their plan for meeting the needs of the shoreline of each of the communities involved. The Agreement will improve the permitting process by monitoring sand drift, ocean current, sea turtle nesting and near-shore hard-bottom environments.

This Agreement will impact 15.7 miles of shoreline from inlet to inlet. Each community will be required to contribute to the cost of monitoring in accordance with the percentage of shoreline that their town occupies. According to the FDEP, "the BMA is designed to be a cooperative effort among the municipalities within the coastal cell, (from Palm Beach Inlet to Boynton Beach Inlet) and the success of the BMA is dependent on the participation of all the municipalities and implementation of the cell-wide monitoring plans."

The FDEP proposed this regional approach to shoreline protection in March, 2012. A series of Stakeholder Meetings was held with representatives of the Town of Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Lantana, Manalapan, Palm Beach County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers.

As a journalist, I attended each of the all day meetings which took place from last spring to late fall of 2012. During the first two Stakeholder Meetings, it appeared that the Palm Beach BMA "Pilot Project" would consist of nothing more than to streamline the permitting process for the renourishment of shoreline areas where projects had already been done. However, after the power point presentation by Coastal Engineer Karyn Erickson, there was a shift in the direction of the BMA.

Karyn Erickson, the Coastal Engineer retained by The Coalition To Save Our Shoreline (SOS) developed a large scale beach nourishment plan and design with limited coastal structures south of Sloan’s Curve in the Town of Palm Beach. This plan will also benefit the coastline of communities that are south of the Town of Palm Beach.

Following the SOS/Erickson presentation, the FDEP BMA Meetings took on another dimension. The original draft of the BMA would now include "Proposed Activities" which are the new construction of environmentally suitable beach restoration designs and plans for critically eroded areas along the shoreline that, previously, did not have projects and would now be a part of the beach management draft. Deputy Director Danielle Fondren said that "as a result of the SOS’s ‘bulldog tenacity’ the Department decided to include ‘Proposed Activities’ which would, at a later time, be added to the document under ‘Projects Listed’".

A large scale beach nourishment plan such as the SOS/Erickson plan with limited coastal structures, will not only give adequate protection to the entire section of Reach 8, south of the Lake Worth Pier, but it will provide sand to the system for their southern neighboring municipalities.

Richard G. Hunegs, Esq., Leader of the SOS has stated that "As residents and taxpayers, we need to put emphasis on the need for our municipalities on Palm Beach Island to fully cooperate with the FDEP BMA ‘Pilot Project’. This is a one time opportunity that we have at our doorsteps to protect the most important asset that we have, our beaches. This is an investment in the value of our properties. As Florida property owners, we all will be affected by the outcome of this ‘Pilot Project’ being offered to us by the FDEP".

Hunegs stresses that "We now have a rare opportunity that the State of Florida’s Beaches and Coastal Systems, under the leadership of Deputy Director Danielle Fondren, has provided us. We, as individuals and residents of municipalities on Palm Beach Island must support the BMA in every way possible. We understand that financial concerns are great but we must look at the long term. Investing in our future and the protection of our beaches, environment and upland properties is of the utmost importance and will be cost effective in the long run".

"We must strongly urge our municipalities to become proactive participants in the protection of our shoreline and upland properties. As taxpayers, we must not tolerate the usual reactive stance that puts all of us in jeopardy."

Part 7: More Good News Regarding Beach Nourishment

Photo taken by The Town of South Palm Beach Police Officer, Mark McKirchy from the pool deck of Horizon’s East condominium with Ocean Front Inn’s Tide’s Bar & Grill and the Tuscany Condominium in the background  demonstrates the CRITICALLY ERODED SHORELINE and lack of beach in the Town of South Palm Beach. Notice that the wave has receded in the forefront, but it hits the seawalls. South Palm Beach, needs sand desperately from the beaches north of them. They are in jeopardy, which is easily seen here. No beach remains for South Palm Beach, unless their northern neighboring municipality gets a large scale beach nourishment, which will also feed those beaches to the south of them. What is needed here is to work together to protect the shoreline and the homes beyond it.

At the January 22, 2013 South Palm Beach Town Council Meeting, the Town Council, in a motion passed unanimously, publicly gave their support to the Coalition To Save Our Shoreline (SOS) and their efforts for beach nourishment.

South Palm Beach Council Member Bonnie Fischer introduced this agenda item and spoke about the goals that the SOS is pursuing to gain adequate shoreline protection. These include, among other things, the foresight and vision of the SOS to retain Coastal Engineer, Karyn Erickson, President of Erickson Consulting Engineers, Inc. to develop an environmentally sound full beach nourishment plan combined with limited coastal structures, such as groins, that will continue down the shoreline and benefit towns like South Palm Beach".

There was a positive and lengthy discussion between the Town Council, South Palm Beach residents and Richard Hunegs, Esq., who is the Leader of the SOS. Conversation ensued regarding the common interests of the Town of South Palm Beach and the residents who live in the Town of Palm Beach, on the dire need for adequate shoreline protection in these long neglected areas of Palm Beach Island. The Town Council and the audience agreed with Mr. Hunegs, who said that "due to the severe beach and dune erosion that exists, the risk to our environment and to our condos is staggering".

The Town Council and the audience all reacted positively to the SOS for their "tenacity", as Councilwoman Fischer described this "proactive" organization. Fischer spoke highly of the SOS and Coastal Engineer, Erickson. Fischer said that she "has looked at the SOS/Erickson plan and believes it is a good one for Reach 8 and the Town of South Palm Beach". She said that the plan is a "very viable plan" and that it is "the only one that makes sense".

Hunegs spent a great deal of time promoting and encouraging the Town Council Members to become signatories on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Beach Management Agreement (BMA) for the pilot program that will extend from Palm Beach Inlet to the Boynton Inlet along Palm Beach Island.

Council Member Stella Jordan said that she "fully supports the SOS and the BMA and that South Palm Beach should get involved with the BMA". Council Member Fischer whole heartedly agreed. Councilwoman Jordan also said that she is "thankful for everything the SOS has done and continues to do for all the residents along Palm Beach Island".

The second item of good news on adequate shoreline protection came during an interview with FDEP Bureau of Beaches & Coastal Systems, Beach Management Deputy Director Danielle Fondren. Fondren said that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Beach Management, endorses "flexible structures like beach nourishment" and "hard coastal structures like groins". Fondren said that her Department is in favor of combined projects and will permit coastal structures like groins. She said, "Coastal structures such as groins are an appropriate action". Fondren said that the best results come when a plan "pinpoints coastal structures, like groins, in areas where they are needed, like ‘hot spots’".

This is exciting news for areas along the coastline that have not previously had groins or hard coastal structures to hold the beach sand on the shores. Groins are perpendicular coastal structures that are meant to slow the loss of sand and the currents and would still allow for movement southward in the littoral drift.

According to FDEP, Beach Management Deputy Director Fondren, "The Department wants to do what makes sense for the longevity of a project". This is welcome news to the many severely eroded areas on the south end of the Town of Palm Beach, the Town of South Palm Beach, Lantana & Manalapan.

More to come in Part 8 of this series. Stay tuned.

Part 6: Beach Nourishment & The Light at the End of the Tunnel

beaches even at low tide in Reach 8 at the south end of the Town of Palm Beach, (not too dissimilar from their neighbors to the north of them in Reach 7), provide little or no protection for the upland properties that lay beyond them. This photo shows 3200 Condo who is representative of the major problem that currently exists; where one decent storm could mean a catastrophe. South Palm Beach and southward, have even less or no beaches due to their armored shoreline. For the south end of Palm Beach Island, their only hope is finally receiving the adequate shoreline protection through a "large scale beach nourishment project" with limited coastal structures to give it "longevity." This journalist, hopes that the LIGHT at the End of the this Tunnel, shines brightly and these proposed activities BECOME a BEACON of light for Palm Beach Island.

Finally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those critically eroded areas along the shoreline on the south end of Palm Beach Island!

This article will address "Who" is responsible for the planning of such monumentally positive action. Also, in this article, there will be a discussion of "How" adequate shoreline protection for these long neglected beaches will be achieved and finally, "What" produced the light at the end of the tunnel?

Under the Leadership of Deputy Director Danielle Fondren, the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and its Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, Beach Management, will now include a LARGE (environmentally suitable) beach nourishment project at the south end of Palm Beach Island. Such a project has never been entertained before. It will be included in the Department’s adopted Statewide Strategic Beach Management Plan strategy for proposed activities within the Agreement area.

As to the "light at the end of the tunnel", Deputy Director Fondren " attributes the extra attention, the new policy concepts, the large scale beach nourishment plan concept in Reach 8 and the prospect of coastal structures like groins incorporated into such a project, to the Coalition To Save Our Shoreline (SOS)". During this interview, Fondren repeatedly praised the continual efforts of the SOS as the instigation for this forward motion and the FDEP’s participation in guiding the Town of Palm Beach and Palm Beach County in initiating these "proposed activities".

Fondren referred to the civic-minded advocacy group, SOS, as a "bulldog" organization "that had and continues to have the wisdom to retain Coastal Engineer, Karyn Erickson, to develop a full scale Beach Nourishment Plan & Design for Reach 8," (which is environmentally suitable and has never been developed before) "and a second coastal alternative for Reach 7, including the Sloan’s Curve area", which is critically eroded as well. Deputy Director Fondren "welcomes Karyn Erickson’s continual involvement in this process". She said she "respects new ideas like those of Karyn Erickson" and was "happy to provide a venue for the SOS to have Karyn Erickson present the beach nourishment plan and alternative". Fondren stressed that if not for the "advocacy and persistence" and hands on "involvement of the SOS, none of this extra attention to these areas of shoreline that had not been previously nourished, would be happening".

This is great news for areas such as those that have previously been denied the proper nourishment and protection of their shoreline and their homes in this State. According to SOS Leadership, Richard Hunegs, Esq., "These areas of shoreline have been sorely neglected by the Township and Palm Beach County for years and it is time that they rectify this." An excerpt from the BMA, "The completion of feasibility/design studies and associated environmental impact statements for Reach 8 and Central Palm Beach projects," will be "eligible for State funding assistance in accordance with the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program." The Beach Management Division of the FDEP, besides sharing funding, will therefore become an active "participant in the entire process;" as Robert Brantly, FDEP, Beach Management, Coastal Engineer Program Administrator, said to this journalist in an interview. Brantly said that this is "something significant" having a "large scale project tied to Central Palm Beach." Brantly said that, they "are stepping forward for a project in Reach 8 through the BMA process to develop a joint project."

According to Deputy Director Danielle Fondren, this process will make it possible for Reach 7, Reach 8 and the southern municipalities to get projects. Specifically, Fondren said that " the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for Reach 8 and Central Palm Beach (South Palm Beach, Lantana & Manalapan) will help guide the future direction in the BMA with projects such as north of Phipps Ocean Park, at Sloan’s Curve" in Reach 7. Finally, through the Beach Management Agreement (BMA), a pilot project in the State of Florida that extends from Palm Beach Inlet to Boynton Inlet, light at the end of the tunnel is within our sights.

Richard Hunegs, Leadership of the Coalition To Save Our Shoreline (SOS), was proud and pleased by Fondren’s praise and the progress that we have made. He said that the SOS will continue to retain Karyn Erickson’s services so that she will actively be engaged in the process and will make sure that her environmentally sensitive plans and strategies are included in the final projects that are constructed on Palm Beach Island.

More important information is coming in Part 7 of this series. So stay tuned.

Part 5: Historical Beach Data a Key to Protection

Aerial view of the south end beaches in the Town of Palm Beach taken at low tide by photographer, Brian Lee. It shows the beaches in front of the Meridian Condo at 3300 S. Ocean Blvd. going northward to the Dorchester Condo. This photo is representative of all the eroded and shallow beaches in the south end of the Town of Palm Beach, even at low tide. The photo was taken from a helicopter for the Coalition SOS by Mr. Lee.

The beaches and sunshine in Florida have historically been what has attracted people to visit and move to our state. The communities & hotels that line the shoreline also serve as major revenue and tax assets that make Florida and more specifically Palm Beach County an attraction for so many people.

Whether or not you live directly on the coast, most residents and visitors enjoy the beaches. The beaches serve much more than just a recreational function. The most significant function of the beaches is, or should be, protection for the upland properties and for the residents who live there and in the neighboring vicinity. Richard Hunegs, Esq., who serves as the Leadership for The Coalition to Save Our Shoreline (SOS), has consistently stressed, "that we are a society that loves the seashore. The preservation of our beaches must be the underlying rationale for properly designed beach nourishment projects that are environmentally sensitive while giving adequate protection for upland properties. It is our job as taxpayers to assure that our beaches, for which Florida is famous, are adequately nourished and maintained to protect sea turtles, our homes and our investments".

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Deputy Director Danielle H. Fondren and her staff are working on the Palm Beach Island Beach Management Agreement (BMA) pilot project with Palm Beach County and the municipalities between Lake Worth Inlet and the Boynton Beach Inlet. Through this pilot project the Department is coordinating its regulatory responsibilities with other state and federal agencies, local municipalities, the county and the public, "to streamline a program to protect the environment and to provide net ecosystem benefits". According to Fondren, "The BMA was initiated in part to address coastal erosion and environmental resource protection on a regional basis. Palm Beach Island has experienced critical erosion along more than 75% of its shoreline".

The purpose of this series has been to educate and enlighten residents of Florida and to bring out issues and possible solutions to this serious crisis that exists on our shorelines. The problem of severe beach erosion on Palm Beach Island did not just appear after Tropical Storm Sandy. Local municipalities and Palm Beach County which are in charge of coastal management for these areas along the shoreline have watched this situation worsen over time.

Several months back, Richard Hunegs on behalf of the SOS, in conversation with Danielle Fondren, expressed his concern that the local Palm Beach shoreline has become so eroded that not only will our "friends from the sea" not be able to survive because of no beach, but he feared for the residents and their upland properties. He explained that this was "due to years of neglect in certain areas of the shoreline, particularly the south end of the Town of Palm Beach". Hunegs expressed that this "has led to a situation where it will take far less than a catastrophic storm to devastate and destroy."

At December’s BMA Meeting, FDEP Deputy Director, Fondren presented a "Historical Shoreline Policy" concept that would make it possible according to her to "recapture shoreline" in new beach nourishment projects using historical shoreline data. The Historical Shoreline Policy concept was presented as an idea of how the FDEP may balance the historical erosion with environmental resource protection. This "recapture of the shoreline" could benefit new beach nourishment project areas on Palm Beach Island according to Ms. Fondren, "given some areas have seen shoreline recession of more than 200 feet since the 1940s."

"The main benefit for any of the Beach Management Agreement municipalities, (Palm Beach, South Palm Beach, Lantana & Manalapan), may be in providing project engineers with flexibility to design a project that would afford storm protection to upland property. Any of the municipalities in the BMA may benefit from the policy".

Deputy Director Danielle Fondren also said that the FDEP Beach Management Agreement’s goal "is to use the historical analysis to improve our ability to manage coastal erosion and environmental resources. The pilot BMA provides the FDEP the opportunity to explore historical data and find a balance between the protection of Florida’s beaches from erosion and the protection of environmental resources".

Richard Hunegs Esq. serving as the Leadership for the Coalition to Save Our Shoreline said the SOS highly endorses the adoption of the Historical Shoreline Policy by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Beach Management of our Beaches & Coastal Systems as a NECESSITY especially for those areas that have thus far been denied any real adequate beach nourishment projects. Hunegs commends Danielle Fondren and her staff for this innovative approach to balance and better protect our shoreline and the residents of Florida. He also urges all the municipalities that are involved in the BMA pilot project to give the FDEP and Ms. Fondren their complete support to initiate this Historical Shoreline Policy as soon as possible.

Part 4: Seawall "Quick-Fix" — 

More Harm Than Good?

Photo by Bonnie Fischer, SPB Councilwoman

Bonnie Fischer, Town of South Palm Beach Councilwoman and resident, describes how her seawall armored shoreline is under water because the once deep luscious beaches of South Palm Beach are now so dramatically eroded that the beach is under the ocean and there isn’t any sand on which to put sand dunes up against the seawalls! The waves lap against the seawalls and the beaches which once were wide, no longer exist except for possibly a slim space on which to walk at low tide. The seawalls that line the beachfront properties of South Palm Beach have their own issues; some are cracked while others are collapsing. The seawall at the Imperial House, at the Town’s boundary, had to be shored up some years ago because it proved woefully inadequate.

To the south of Ms. Fischer’s municipality, the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manalapan/Lantana had serious problems when part of their seawall collapsed. The private homes in Manalapan, which have seawalls, suffered tremendous damage to their properties from the storm, Sandy. Their seawalls did not protect their shorefronts from the storm that was 200 miles offshore.

By definition, seawalls cause loss of sand because they provide a stationary object against which a retreating beach narrows and eventually disappears. It is also believed that seawalls may intensify certain wave action during storms that lead to beach loss. Wave action is intensified by seawalls rather than dissipated.

There has been much controversy over the role of seawalls. Most coastal engineers now agree that seawalls are destructive to the beaches.

The Corps of Engineers and Fla. Dept. Environmental Protection Beach Management Deputy Director, Danielle Fondren, both agree that beach nourishment is the environmentally preferable alternative to seawalls and as the method of choice in responding to beach erosion. Also, planting vegetation with beach replenishment nourishment instead of building seawalls has proven to be much more successful in halting beach erosion. Nourishing/re-nourishing beaches are a critical decision in this time of rising sea levels. Once a nourished beach is in place, storm waves must fight the sand absorption of the beach and dunes before they can reach the buildings.

Because the fate of sea turtles is a critical environmental issue, the renourished beach provides for new nesting areas for the turtles. Erosion, on the other hand, produces scarps or "cliffs" that present serious problems for nesting sea turtles which can not climb the scarps to lay their eggs.

It is the belief of Richard Hunegs, Esq. who serves as the Leadership for The Coalition To Save Our Shoreline, (SOS), that since we are a society that loves the seashore, we need to be certain that our beaches are receiving the best and most capable management possible. Representing the SOS, Mr. Hunegs has been dogmatic about his belief that in this time of rising sea levels, preservation of our beaches for future generations should always be the underlying rationale for properly designed beach nourishment projects that will be environmentally sensitive while giving adequate protection for upland properties that belong to the residents of this State.

Because of the concerns of Mr. Hunegs and the many residents that he represents, the SOS retained and financed Coastal Engineer Karyn Erickson to assist them in creating environmentally sensitive beach nourishment projects with limited coastal structures so that their town finally gives all areas that lie within it, the adequate protection that they deserve and require.

The seawalls of South Palm Beach have created a situation where the full beach nourishment project that Erickson designed for the SOS is needed to provide a feeder beach to give sand to their system. The seawall "Quick Fix" has proven to cause more harm than good.

Part 3: Positive Progress on Beaches & 

Coastal System, Thanks to FDEP 

Deputy Director Fondren

(12-12-12)

The above two photos were taken by South Palm Beach Councilwoman, Bonni Fischer. These photos, taken at the Imperial House, are representative of the entire shoreline and the perilous conditions that exist from Sloan’s Curve through La Bonnie Vie in Palm Beach and continues through South Palm Beach, Lantana and Manalapan. The properties with sea walls did not fair well, many cracked, collapsed, had seepage under the walls, and the waves, in some cases, went over towards the buildings. Sea walls are known to erode the beaches until there is little or no beach left. The entire strip of beaches with or without sea walls is in dire straits.

The purpose of this series has been to inform and enlighten local Florida residents of the important issues concerning our shoreline. This series continues to explain why things have gotten to this dangerous level; whose responsibility it is for protecting our coastline and the possible solutions for this major crisis.

At a recent Beach Management Meeting held by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, (FDEP), three important announcements were made that are a giant step toward adequate shoreline protection for our homes. Under the leadership of Danielle H. Fondren, Deputy Director of Beach Management at the FDEP, significant strides have been made. These three announcements that were made by the FDEP at last week’s meeting will have positive and beneficial ramifications for beach nourishment projects within the Town of Palm Beach, and will also be helpful to its neighboring municipalities along the coast. Southern neighbors like South Palm Beach, Lantana & Manalapan can reap positive results. Areas like Singer Island and northward can also utilize what has been presented at the Beach Management program.

Ms. Fondren & staff announced that they had decided that a policy change was necessary. This change has incorporated historical data on shoreline conditions dating as far back as 1940 which was retrieved through the cooperation of Palm Beach County. It is important to note that 1964 was the year that the State of Florida first recognized beach erosion as a statewide issue. Therefore, Fondren and staff have settled on 1964 for the retroactive date of shoreline conditions in order to ease permitting for new beach nourishment projects. Ms. Fondren explained that their concept "would affect future nourishment proposals in those areas that have not currently had nourishment projects". This new policy would "make it possible for future projects to be able to reflect back on the 1964 shoreline numbers for beach nourishment levels". Ms. Fondren also said that this "gives flexibility to the plans for potential shoreline projects going out into areas that have previously been unable to be permitted because of the resources in the area". This new policy concept is "allowing for some recapture of the shoreline to occur".

Richard Hunegs, Esq., Leadership for The Coalition SOS, believes that because of the persistence of his organization, in concert with others, the state agency, under the guidance of Ms. Fondren, has made tremendous strides with their intervention on behalf of the residents of this State. Hunegs believes the FDEP’s stand and new Historical Shoreline Policy concept will change the face of beach nourishment and the permitting process. It will allow better designed protective beaches with greater width to be created as they had existed years ago. Mr. Hunegs said that the SOS believes this type of policy shows great foresight and is highly commendable.

The next significant FDEP announcement by Deputy Director Fondren was that Florida has a world renowned reputation for their coastal policies. Fondren said that "the FDEP’s role is to sustain the beaches with balance". "Our job is to refine our methods and to find a continual balance". She said that their policy endorses "flexible structures and a combined effort of hard structures". When asked in conversation after her remark, Ms. Fondren explained that "flexible structures consist of beach nourishment which would also include dunes." "Hard structures," Fondren said, "are groins and or breakwaters." That would mean that the State of Florida FDEP Beach Management endorses both of these as a solution for our beach erosion problems. This is quite a revelation and it is most significant and positive.

Deputy Director Fondren also declared that the State Strategic Beach Management Plan is to incorporate beach nourishment plans and coastal alternatives that were presented to the FDEP, "such as those presented by Coastal Engineer, Karyn Erickson, with possible solutions in the Reach 7, Reach 8 area". (Reaches 7 & 8 are in the south-end of the Town of Palm Beach). She said that these are potential alternatives that can be appropriate.

These three announcements are significant for those living in perilous conditions along the shoreline. Richard Hunegs, the SOS Leadership, credits Danielle Fondren for these enormous accomplishments and forward motion. He also credits Robert Brantley, Coastal Engineering Program Administrator, Bureau of Beaches & Coastal Systems of the FDEP who works under Fondren’s leadership. Hunegs especially gives accolades and strongly compliments Coastal Engineer Karyn Erickson, whom the SOS has retained. It was the SOS that financed her development of a beach nourishment plan and second coastal alternative, both with limited coastal structures. Richard Hunegs says that this is all due to Erickson’s fine work. The SOS will continue to endorse and to utilize Erickson’s exceptional coastal engineering capabilities and knowledge for the benefit of all residents of the Town.

South Palm Beach Councilwoman, Bonni Fischer is also enthusiastic and supportive of the announcements made by FDEP Deputy Director Fondren. Fischer agrees that they can benefit South Palm Beach and their beaches.

Richard Hunegs believes that there are now reasons to be positive. He said that Danielle Fondren is "showing the way" and "it is now up to the Town of Palm Beach to put its oar in the water to get this accomplished by adopting the programs that Fondren and the FDEP have presented." "The Town has to adopt what has been presented by the FDEP without further delay."

Part 2: What All Residents Need To Know About Who Provides Shoreline Protection And How Each of Us Can Make A Difference

(11-28-12)

Photo taken from the rooftop of a condo after T.S. Sandy by Atriums Condo Manager, Marc Ritcher, shows fast and furious waves knocking the dunes out at the Halcyon, and overcoming the seawall at the Patrician and pounding the seawalls at the Claridges and La Bonne Vie. What looks like sand on all sides of the first sea wall is in fact the waves crashing over the wall towards the building. This was only a Tropical Storm. The sea wall does not appear to be doing much good. In Ft. Lauderdale is has been 

Photo taken by Residences at Sloan’s Curve Manager, Ivan Fraser. None of the condos and buildings within Sloan’s Curve have ever received a beach nourishment project and there is little beach left due to severe erosion. You can see that one small surge and these homes will be flooded out. Sloan’s Curve area is dire need

Photo taken by Atriums Manager, Marc Ritcher. Having never received a beach nourishment project and having a severely eroded beach and then little left of their dunes, the Atriums, like their neighbors, the Halcyon, the Emeraude, 3360 and like those north and south of them are in jeopardy when another storm strikes.

Dorchester Condo has the ocean up to what remains of their beach stairs. Severely eroded beach has never had a beach nourishment project and the dunes are now eroded as well. No protection here. Photo taken by Dorchester Manager, Ned Fleming.

It is about time that residents who live in the State of Florida and are taxpayers understand what we can do to help protect our shoreline.

The first thing you need to know is that neither the State of Florida nor the Federal government provides beach nourishment projects. That responsibility falls squarely on each municipality. For example, the Town of Palm Beach has its own coastal management department. Some shoreline municipalities are under the purview of their County for providing shoreline management, as is the case with Singer Island and South Palm Beach which are under the shore management of Palm Beach County.

The Town of Palm Beach will be used as an example for this scenario. The Town is responsible for the development of beach nourishment plans and designs that will adequately protect all of the Town of Palm Beach shoreline so that their taxpaying residents are protected from a storm event. The Town of Palm Beach should then proceed to develop the best projects. The Town of Palm Beach has been fortunate to have the assistance of a town organization, called The Coalition To Save Our Shoreline, (SOS) which as you already know is under the leadership of Richard G. Hunegs, Esq. The SOS has retained a well respected Coastal Engineer, Karyn Erickson, to design a beach nourishment plan and second coastal alternative for two areas of the Town. These plans include a limited number of coastal structures that will hold the sand in place. These types of plans in these specific areas have never been developed before by the Town for its residents. The SOS plans both provide adequate and environmentally sensitive beach nourishment and have been acknowledged by other coastal engineers to be viable. The plans have been submitted to the Town, the State and the County. It is the Town’s responsibility to develop beach nourishment projects. According to an SOS source, these beach nourishment plans were developed by the SOS because it appeared that the Town would otherwise continue to neglect those areas as they had done for so many years.

The process that follows is that the Town goes next to the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, (FDEP), to get a permit. The State approves the design and then the Army Corps of Engineers usually follows the State’s recommendation and would also approve the permit that the Town requests.

From there the permitted project goes back to the Town of Palm Beach, whose taxpayers finance these coastal management projects. Whether projects are done individually or jointly, neither the State nor the Federal government is responsible for developing the beach nourishment plans or implementing them. The State and Federal governments only grant permits for the projects presented to them.

Allen Wyett, former Town of Palm Beach Councilman for many years and currently adviser to the NAPB, a north end civic organization that is in agreement with the SOS, confirmed that the Town of Palm Beach is responsible, by tradition, for developing beach nourishment plans and projects which are submitted to the State for approval.

In situations such as the Town of Palm Beach, the municipality is responsible for implementing adequate projects that have been permitted by the State and or Federal government. Any belief or assertion that State or Federal red tape could prevent Town Officials from the development of a beach nourishment plan that has adequate protection would be erroneous.

Once the projects have been developed and permitted the taxpayers provide the revenue to protect the shoreline which in turn protects their entire town.

There seems to be some confusion between repairing the latest damages to the dune system and the development of adequate protective beach nourishment plans. It is significant to point out here that the dunes should not be the only defense against a storm. Constructing adequate beach nourishment projects would avoid this current crisis.

The Town of Palm Beach has asserted that their "level of adequate protection" is satisfied as long as the buildings are still standing, whether or not they are flooded and therefore unsafe and uninhabitable. This is the Town’s definition of adequate shoreline protection. In the Town of Palm Beach, two organizations, (both the SOS & the NAPB), are at odds with this level of protection as stated by the Town of Palm Beach and believe it is highly inadequate and unacceptable. It is a waste of tax dollars to promote projects that pursue the Town’s current "level of protection".

As a resident you can make a difference and find out the level of protection in your own municipality. Most importantly, stress that any beach nourishment plan must assure that the dunes will lie beyond the beach and are the last line of defense, not the properties and buildings where so many people live. We need to create beach nourishment projects that will not waste our tax dollars. We must protect our valuable shoreline and the homes that lie beyond it.

Part 1: Heed the warning that Sandy left in her wake before it is too late

(11-14-12)

Atriums Condo- 3400 S. Ocean, demonstrates the severe beach erosion, loss of dunes and beach steps. At high tide the ocean is pounding what is left of the dunes. One good surge and the damage will destroy valuable real estate and endanger residents.

Marc Richter.

Severe dune erosion in front of The Reef Condo, 2600 Condo and all their southern neighbors. Another storm and the buildings are in jeopardy. This portion of beach had been renourished in 2006 and the sand had washed away shortly afterwards and along with it, 

 tax dollars 

Hector Pintos.

Ambassador II Co-op. The Town claimed that the sand washed down from previously renourished beaches to their north to give the Ambassador a large beach. Sand on a flat beach is not designed to protect. Look how close to the buildings it is. One good wave and disaster would be forthcoming. 

Connie Dubé, Administrative Assistant checks out the damage.

Donna Crandall

2100 at Sloan’s Curve. Nothing remains of the previously eroded beach and the dunes have been devastated as much as their beach steps. The waves are seriously too close. Another tropical storm could cause severe damage. In desperate need of much better shoreline protection.

Kristin Feesl

Tropical Storm Sandy, which became "Super Storm" as it moved up the coastline and struck the northeast, should ring all the alarm bells for those who live in Palm Beach County and any of the shoreline municipalities that suffered severe beach erosion from nothing more than a "Tropical Storm."

Up north, Sandy left behind "Catastrophic Devastation" in those shoreline communities that were wiped out and totally destroyed by a fluke "Super Storm" that caused so much tragedy for so many. The fact that locally, Sandy as nothing more than a slow moving Tropical Storm, completely wiped out dune systems, with already eroded beaches in front of them, should be a "WAKE-UP CALL" for all those shoreline municipalities’ where their residents’ homes at this point are hanging out in the abyss.

Hearing the reports of how some of the shoreline in the Town of Palm Beach has been left bare from merely a Tropical Storm, makes it essential that coastal management stops spending more and more tax dollars on repetitive reviews and studies around which continues the procrastination that keeps their residents in peril. It is the responsibility of government to protect the citizens and their properties before tragedy strikes and wipes out a community. We don’t want to need FEMA; we want proactive protection so that we don’t lose everything we value.

In the Town of Palm Beach , the most major issue that is little known by the public is what our Town considers their acceptable "Level of Protection." The Town thinks it is acceptable if everything is washed away, destroyed and "sacrificed" as long as the buildings are still standing. The buildings can be completely flooded and therefore uninhabitable, but according to Town standards this is their acceptable level of "Shoreline Protection."

A source from the Coalition to Save Our Shoreline (SOS) says that both the SOS organization and their ally organization from the north-end of Town, the NAPB, have a major bone of contention with the Town of Palm Beach’s failed level of protection for the thousands of residents that live in this peril. As Condo News readers are all aware from our last issue, the purpose of the SOS is to gain adequate shoreline protection for the residents living on or near the coast in the Town of Palm Beach. To that end, under the leadership of Richard G. Hunegs, Esq., the SOS retained and financed well respected Coastal Engineer, Karyn Erickson’s development of an environmentally sensitive and permitable beach nourishment plan and design with an additional coastal beach alternative in two areas of coastline in the town to rectify the neglect and impending catastrophic conditions that have been allowed to exist for so many years.

As a resident in a local municipality who now understands the implicit need for adequate shoreline protection, you each need to contact your municipality and make sure that they know the beaches should be adequately renourished and designed to be our first line of defense. The dunes should be the last line of defense, not the properties and buildings where so many live. You can play a part in avoiding certain disaster. Contact your municipality and let them know your thoughts on this matter.

More to come ...

Il Circolo Awards Scholarships

Madison Marie McIntosh

Michael Olson

Il Circolo, the Italian Cultural Society of the Palm Beaches, partnered with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) based in Washington, D. C. awarding scholarships to two local students. Every year, NIAF determines contestants according to Il Circolo’s criteria that they be local, of Italian heritage and academically proficient with ambition to pursue a career that will encourage them to uphold and advance Italian culture. Madison Marie McIntosh from West Palm Beach and Michael Olson from Boca Raton are this year’s winners.

Madison’s professor at The New School of Music of Mannes College in New York, states she is, " a star among students, the best of the best…" While continuing her studies, she has given performances at New York Lyric Opera Theatre, Carnegie Hall and other venues in New York City. Locally, she has been invited several times to perform at the Kravis Center in the Beyond the Stage series and has sung in Vero Beach Opera’s concert "Broadway, Operetta and Zarzuela." Madison attributes the development of her singing talent to the early training she began, at age 13, with Virginia Zeani for whom, "I had the honor of singing at Il Circolo’s tribute to her at the Breakers this year." Her letter of thanks for the $2500 scholarship states, "Vi ringrazio sentitamente, cari signore e signori."

Michael’s aspiration is "to study medicine and become a physician." Currently, enrolled in the University of Florida’s pre-med program, he is following his long time interest in biology and the love of science. Although he is a second generation Italian American, he was raised with a strong foundation in the Italian culture. Each year in his home, traditional Italian holiday celebrations come full circle, recalling and enjoying his grandfather’s childhood experiences in Manfredonia, Italy. He writes, "My grandfather always stressed to us the importance of keeping our heritage alive and I hope to do the same with my family."

These words, "my sincere gratitude for the money ($2500) I have been awarded" and those of Madison Marie give Il Circolo pride and satisfaction that its mission of preserving and promoting the Italian culture will continue with such notable, young representation.

Visit their website at www.ilcircolopalmbeach.org for information, calendar of events, membership.

Palm Beach County Drenched by T.S. Isaac

Outer band from T.S. Isaac churned up the ocean -- 

view from 3360 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, FL

Photo by Maddy Greenberg

Rembaum's Association Chronicle

Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq.

Baby Boomers Club News

Century Village

Bob Bell