Beaches

Description

Beaches are in a state of disappointment all around the world. Where nature should be thriving and protecting our coasts, humans are using it as a place to build mansions and as a general-purpose toilet (sounds contradictory, but it's true). Typically, swamps, mangroves and barrier islands protect the shore from hurricanes and regular erosion. Humans have removed the mangroves, dredge up the swamps to lay pipes for fossil fuels, and built upon and drilled for oil on barrier islands.

Debris, chemical and oil slicks, and sewage are regular visitors to beaches, where most people would like to swim. Humans dam rivers and build structures on beachfronts, which prevent renourishment of sand. Seawalls built to protect houses only delay the inevitable. Urban runoff is ubiquitous and can be dangerous to human health. 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. The agency estimates these discharges lead to about 3500 to 5500 gastrointestinal illnesses every year. Half the population live in coastal communities. Beach pollution has become a part daily knowledge, and many do not set foot in the water for fear of what they might catch. The US Congress passed the Beach Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act in 2000 to decrease or eliminate the health risk by reducing public exposure to recreational waters potentially contaminated with fecal pollution.

All sea turtles species are endangered. Sea turtles reproduce only every few years, and most hatchlings do not make it to adulthood.

The oceans are rising an average of two millimeters a year. It may not sound like much, but that will amount to over three feet before the end of this century. Coastal development and coastal species will find it a challenge to remain where they are.

Beach renourishments costs are astronomical, and require new sand every few years. When they are applied, the sand is typically dumped on the habitat of hundreds of littoral species.

Humans are attracted to beaches and what they can offer. Unfortunately, the are also a convergence for many problems. Hopefully we may one day have these places to enjoy without a thought of e.coli, and all the other repulsive effects caused by humans along the water.