DEP Secretary Addresses National Beach Preservation Conference

ST. PETE BEACH- Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole today spoke to the nation’s leading coastal experts at the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association’s (ASBPA) National Coastal Conference. In his keynote address, Secretary Sole highlighted some recent milestones achieved by Florida’s beach management program, as well as provided an overview of many of the future challenges facing Florida’s beach managers.

“Over the last decade, Florida has successfully restored and maintained more than 208 miles of the state’s beaches and dunes,” said Secretary Sole. “We will continue to demonstrate our commitment to protecting one of Florida’s most valuable resources, despite challenges from Mother Nature, growth and development, and the effects of global climate change.”

Secretary Sole emphasized the important role that recently passed state legislation is playing in beach protection. In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1427, known as the beach management bill, which contained an Inlet Management Initiative that strengthens DEP’s ability to manage sediment around the more than 60 navigational inlets located throughout the state. These inlets, which interrupt the natural flow of sand along beaches, account for more than eighty percent of Florida’s coastal erosion.

As mandated by Legislation passed in 2007, DEP is also developing an inventory of identified offshore sand sources as part of Florida’s long-term beach management plan. The Off-shore Sand Source Inventory, known as OSSI, is being implemented in two phases, the first of which is already available online.

When completed, OSSI will give regulators, engineers and project managers a more comprehensive overview of the sand resources by providing information on location, volume, sediment character and environmental resources. The program will be housed on DEP’s Web site along with ROSS- Reconnaissance Offshore Sand Search-which is the first online tool of its kind in the nation for identifying sand sources in coastal waters.

Florida’s beaches play a critical role in the state’s economy, supporting an estimated $65 billion tourism and $14 billion marine and fishing industries. Florida’s beaches and dunes system also acts as the first line of defense during hurricane season. Because wide stretches of sandy beaches can reduce the impacts of storm surges and provide wave attenuation (or gradual loss in wave intensity), beach restoration and nourishment projects play an important role in storm protection, as well as providing recreational and economic benefits to the state.

Founded in 1926, the ASBPA represents the scientific, technical and political interests along the coast in an effort to shape national research and policy concerning shore and beach management and restoration. The theme of this year’s conference is Integrating Coastal Science and Policy, and will focus on shoreline processes and coastal management, coastal policy and global coast issues.

For more information on DEP’s beach management program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches. For more information on the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association, visit www.asbpa.org.