Hurricane Season

NOAA updated its hurricane outlook on August 8th, increasing the likelihood of an above-average storm season.

Source: NOAA

Stay up to date at the National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov and with Accuweather’s RealImpact tool.

Is Your Beach Getting Dunes? Maybe Not Anymore.

A strong decision came from Corps HQ last week to not allow the construction of dunes on Tybee Island, GA that were funded out of the 2018 Disaster Supplemental. WaterLog continues to investigate whether this is an isolated incident, or whether this decision may also affect your Federal beach project. Stay tuned.

Tragedy in Encinitas

On Friday August 2^nd around 3pm PST, a section of bluff on Grandview Beach, Encinitas, CA, fell on top of beachgoers. Three were killed and one was injured. Bluff collapses occur up and down the California coast and local governments have installed warning signs and sought to educate beachgoers about the risks of collapsing bluffs. Erosion from sea level rise and waves impact the base of the bluffs and undermine their stability. Bluff collapses have caused a total of 8 known deaths in this region. The location where the collapse occurred was within the study area of a Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Project looked at by the Corps in 2005, “San Diego County, CA”. The project received a signed Chief’s report in 2016 and was subsequently authorized for construction in 2016. According to one source, Grandview beach, where the tragedy occurred, was not recommended for solutions in the project because, at the time, it was not eroding.  “This is a naturally eroding coastline,” said lifeguard captain Giles. A project Scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego, said that most unprotected bluffs in the state are naturally eroding. The beach has since reopened.

Committee Unanimously Approves Highway Bill

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approves a $287 billion-dollar highway bill with $10 billion for climate provisions. Next stop is the Senate Banking and Finance Committee who will figure out a pay-for and then it will hit the full Senate floor. Then the House will have a voice on the bill before it is finally released. Trump has vowed to sign the bipartisan bill.

Zillow and Climate Central have issued a joint report Ocean at the Door: New Homes and the Rising Seas

A new report from Climate Central and Zillow has sheds light on a culture in America – We continue to build in risky places. Not only are some areas being heavily developed, some of those areas are developing 3x faster than safer areas nearby. We get it, its cool to be by the ocean, and even cooler to have a home there, but please do it correctly. That means raise your house, flood proof your first level and your utilities and if you need it, buy flood insurance. These things are not cheap, but what also isn’t cheap is bailing out American’s who made bad choices to build improperly in risky areas.

Changes to CZMA

A final rule from NOAA on CZMA change procedures will provide:

1. A more efficient process for states and NOAA to make changes to state management program
2. Remove unnecessary requirements in the current regulations and establish program change documentation that all states would adhere to
3. Continue to ensure that Federal agencies and the public have an opportunity to comment to NOAA on a state’s proposed change to its management program
4. Comply with the requirements of the CZMA and other applicable Federal law

Menendez wants beachgoers protected from flying umbrellas

Watch for flying umbrellas! Sen. Bob Menendez called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to improve its regulations and develop an aggressive campaign to educate beachgoers about the dangers of improperly secured umbrellas. CPSC statistics show that more than 31,000 people were treated at hospitals for umbrella-related injuries from 2008 to 2017.

An Interesting Approach to Algal Blooms

The Corps of Engineers, AECOM and Pacific Northwest National Labs are working on a system to remove algae from water systems and convert it into biofuels.

NEW!! Sediment Management Workgroup on LinkedIn

We know how important sediment is to the coast and to you and your job. That’s why we started the Sediment Management Workgroup on LinkedIn. Please join the conversation!

The SMW is a group of coastal practitioners who manage natural resources for land reclamation, ecosystem restoration, beach nourishment, dredging and beneficial use, port deepening and expansion. This forum will allow us to share knowledge and experience to learn how to better serve our local and regional needs.

To join the conversation, go here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12270820/