State of the Beach 2006

The Surfrider Foundation State of the Beach report is an annual update on the health of beaches in the United States. It is intended to empower concerned citizens and coastal managers by giving them the information needed to take action.

For seven years Surfrider has been collecting information on beach access, surf zone water quality, beach erosion, beach fill, shoreline structures, beach ecology and surfing areas to get an understanding of the condition of the nation’s beaches. For 24 coastal states and territories they look at the availability of public information on these “beach health indicators” and also evaluated the status of the indicators.

In the report they point out the states that have model coastal programs to protect coastal resources and those that need to modify policies or implement new programs to ensure that beaches and a clean, healthy ocean are available for future generations to enjoy.

As with previous years, the 2006 Report findings point out the need for more comprehensive collection and interpretation of data in order to track the health of the beaches and the near-shore ocean environment. The data that does exist points to continued and widespread concerns over water quality, coastal access, erosion response and beach ecology, and the overall findings of Surfriders research suggests:

-Indicator information is (still!) difficult to find.
-Very little information is easily accessible and "user friendly".
-Indicator information can be confusing.
-We need better ways to determine the health of our beaches.
-The information that is available on beach health gives us cause for concern.
-Identifying and solving beach health problems requires looking at the big picture.

Surfrider concludes that unless something is done, there is a very real danger of losing beaches altogether--not only the ability to get to a sandy beach and swim in clean water or build a sandcastle, but much more: public health, habitat for key species, economic opportunities, quality of life, and the preservation of our coasts and oceans for future generations. It is crucial that all of us work to improve beach health.

To read the full report or join Surfrider Foundation see: http://www.surfrider.org/

Some Surfrider Beach Facts:
-Tourist expenditures in coastal counties of only 16 coastal states total over 4 billion, with more than 180 million people visiting the beach for recreation every year.

-The narrow coastal fringe that makes up 17% of the land in the United States is home to over half the U.S population.

-More than one in four of the nation's 4,025 monitored beaches reported advisories or beach closings in 2005

-A sewer spill in Honolulu due to a line break released an estimated 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal and closed beaches in Waikiki.

-In 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pumped 6 million of sand onto Florida beaches to replace what was washed away by rising sea levels and more intense storms,

-Male fish with female characteristics have been discovered in ocean waters off Los Angeles and Orange counties, raising concerns that treated sewage released offshore contains hormone-disrupting compounds

-Every eight months, nearly 11 million gallons of oil run off our streets and driveways into our waters

-An EPA report sent to Congress in August 2004 found that more than 772 combined sewer systems annually discharge around 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater into nearby waterways.

LINK :
Surfrider Foundation