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| OUR STAND |
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Surfrider's Beach Preservation Policy
Introduction:
The Surfrider Foundation recognizes that beaches are unique coastal
environments with ecological, recreational and economic value. The Surfrider
Foundation further recognizes that beaches are a public resource and should be
held in the public trust. As human activities and development in coastal areas
increase, the need for preservation of beaches becomes ever more apparent.
"Hazards" occur when naturally dynamic coastal
processes encounter static human development, and when humans interfere with
marine and littoral systems. The Surfrider Foundation is working proactively to
promote conservation and responsible coastal management that avoid creation of
coastal hazards or erosion problems. The Surfrider Foundation supports coastal
research and science-based management of coastal resources to promote
sustainable, long term planning and preservation of beach environments.
This policy is general in nature; the Surfrider
Foundation recognizes that every specific case must be evaluated in the context
of its local setting.
Whereas:
Beaches are often perceived as separate habitats, but in reality are small
parts of much larger coastal ecosystems. These systems include watersheds,
wetlands, and nearshore marine environments.
Beaches are dynamic in nature and change on
multiple temporal and spatial scales. These changes are therefore difficult to
predict with certainty.
Therefore:
The Surfrider Foundation hereby advocates actions to promote long term beach
preservation for the benefit of the public.
Coastal areas that are free of development should
be protected via proactive means that do not interrupt coastal processes. These
include:
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Placement of beaches and beachfront lands in public trust
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Establishment of beach setbacks based on current and historical erosional
trends
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Restoration of natural sediment transport processes in coastal watersheds
In areas where erosion threatens existing coastal development, the Surfrider
Foundation advocates appropriate long-term solutions that maximize public
benefit. These include:
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Landward retreat of structures from dynamic shorelines
Where landward retreat is not feasible, beach nourishment** projects may be
considered, on a case by case basis, as viable alternatives for short-term
beach preservation.
Under no circumstances does the Surfrider Foundation support the installation
of stabilization or sand retention structures along the coastline. Such
structures can protect existing coastline development but have no place in
beach preservation.
** For the purposes of this policy, 'beach nourishment' is defined as: the placement of clean sand of the appropriate composition and grain size on the beach or within the littoral environment. Under no circumstances is the incorporation of sand retention devices of any form to be construed as included within this definition. |
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