Islander Groins blamed for beach loss
STAFF WRITER
editorial@lbknews.com
The en Provence Condominium Association is not happy with the effect the newly installed groins in front of the Islander Club is having on their beach. The groins, which are designed to retain sand and stem erosion in front of the Islander, are blamed for half of the beach being lost at en Provence.
A letter written May 20 by en Provence Board President Paul Bowman to town commissioners and Department of Environmental Protection officer Steve West states: “The installation of the two new groins at the Islander Club has resulted in 50 percent of our beach being lost. Please advise us of what action you plan to take in order to correct the situation.”
Public Works Director Juan Florensa said he is advising Town Manager Bruce St. Denis that the town should take advantage of the upcoming beach engineering report and profile analysis, which is about to be performed for the next renourishment. Florensa said he needs real data to substantiate or make sense of such a claim. He said that some erosion is normal and many variables are involved, but the town will respond to en Provence.
You can thank our highly paid beach consultants, Coastal Planning and Engineering for the loss of sand elsewhere. It’s time to dump this group and find a beach engineer to put on the Town’s payroll for a lot less money and heartache.