Evening star., 1937-09-06
j. s. ACTS TO STOP
SHIFTING SHORES
Beach Erosion Board Tries
to Keep Sands Where
Localities Want Them,
b the Associated Press.

6y the Associated Press.
Shifting sands along the Atlantic
Coast are a major worry for Uncle
Sans Engineers.
Congress gave the Beach Erosion
Board, closely associated with the
Army Engineers, the task OF finding
out how to tie the sands to the present
coastline. Vagaries Of tide and wave
make the Job difficult one and under
present conditions geographers would
alter their maps and charts almost
daily If they kept pace with new
beaches, islands and inlets.
Resort cities from Maine to Florida
have asked the Beach Erosion Board
to fnd out how wandering sands can
be persuaded to stay put. Millions OF
dollars damage are suffered annually
by these resorts from washing away of
beaches and the building of new ones
where they are not wanted.
The board Is studying erosion prob
lens all along the coast. particularly in
Florida, North Carolina and Vir-
ginia.
Reports on Florida Beaches.
Reports already are completed on
three Florida studies-at Hollywood
Beach, St. Petersburg and Miami. The
board has advised Louisiana how 1t
can stop the destruction Of Grand
Isle in the Gulf OF Mexico Five State
beaches on the North Carolina coast
are being studied to check erosion
The Engineers have a project under
way at Willoughby Spit, near Norfolk,
Va.
The reports already made and those
under way will tell local interests how
they can prevent further washing Of
sand and shoreline by tide and wave.
So far the Engineers have found no
Federal interest in any Of the projects,
and as q result the cost Of improve
ments must be borne by those most
interested IN their construction.
Hollywood Beach. Fla, was ad-
vised to build a steel sheet pile bulk
head with a system of groins ex-
tending 10000 feet northward from
the southern extremity of the beach
The cost was estimated at s735,0O0.
At st. Petersburg, Fla, the Engi-
neers were faced with possible de-
struction of the resort beach. After
q long study they recommended clos
ing Blind Pass, an inlet, by the con-
struction OF dixie costing about
$4,000.
Shifting 1t Miami Reach.
At Miami Beach the Engineers un-
dertook to determine sand movements
OF shore. They found little beach
erosion, but advised that over a long
period there was a general shifting
Of sand from north to south.
Grand Isle, La, can be saved in its
present form. the board reported, by
constructing jetty near Caminda
Pass, approximately 900 feet west of
the bridge and extending into the
gulf 1,500 feet. The cost would be
about s9s, 400.
At Palm Beach, Fla, the Erosion
Board has installed five sheet steel
eroins Of different types, with a view
to determining what type groin Is most
practical for beach preservation.
A report on beach erosion at Day
tona Beach Is nearing completion and
the Engineers recommendation will
be made soon. Independent Of the
erosion study there the Engineers are
conducting experiments with surface
and ground currents. Results Of this
study will be correlated with data
from other sections OF the coast to es-
taolish rule on the general affect
Of tides and waves.
In North Carolina the State re-
quested a cooperative erosion study
IN five sections where resort beaches
form principal resource. Federal
Engineers were called upon to aid
local interests in stopping destruction
OF these beaches.