Feb 15, 2008 12:18 am US/Eastern
Millions Wasted Trying To Stop Beach Erosion
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Every year, tens of millions of our tax dollars literally wash out to sea
What's more, many local politicians not only approve, they actively support the practice.
"It's welfare for the rich, of course, it's absolutely welfare for the rich," Dr. Orrin Pilkey, a coastal geologist from Duke University, told
CBS4 I-Team reporter Stephen Stock.
Having researched beach erosion around the world for more than three decades, Dr. Pilkey says beach re-nourishment projects waste of millions of your tax dollars every year and amount to taxpayer-supported welfare for rich beachfront property owners.
"They (private beach-front property owners) should not be allowed to protect their buildings at the cost of the public beach" says Dr. Pilkey of beach front homeowners in North Carolina and Florida.
Christian Beebe, who paid nearly 200 thousand dollars for his dream vacation home on North Carolina's Topsail Island, has a very different view than Dr. Pilkey. He says the re-nourishment projects not only restore beaches, the also protect coastal communities.
"There used to be many more houses in front of this," said Beebe, "this was strongly second row before"
Beebe says his vacation home, which used to be located blocks from the ocean, is now literally beachfront property. The home in front of Beebes', which was condemned, is now washing into the sea and Beebe is afraid his home will be next.
Dr. Pilkey said beach erosion is a natural process and doesn't emphasize with those who build or buy too close an ocean's shoreline and then lose their home to Mother Nature.
"That's what it's all about. Preserving beaches for future generations," Dr. Pilkey said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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