ERMA – People versus Mother Nature and the role humans play in Cape May’s “natural treasure,” the beach, that was the theme of a May 25 program presented to some high school students by the Cape May Environmental Commission.
Beach safety, how the beach changes from season to season, how humans affect the beach and what can be done to protect the beach for future generations, and the environment were discussed.
Joining was a local surfer and two Cape May lifeguards who spoke to about 40 marine biology and science students at Lower Cape May Regional High School.
The program was part of the Environmental Commission’s outreach program during Beach Safety Week to about 1,500 students throughout West Cape May, Cape May and Lower Township. It was sponsored by the Environmental Commissions of West Cape May, Cape May and Cape May Point.
According to Linda Steenrod, a commission member, “We wanted to get the students involved because they are our future. Humans play a role in both the positive and negative changes that we see as part of our environment. Beach safety is not only in the hands of the lifeguards, but it applies to all of us who want to have fun at the beach but still need to be safe.
“We have to be concerned about the environment,” she stressed to the students. “One big area that we are trying to have an impact on is the use of plastic bags. We are trying to reduce their usage or eliminate them because they can be deadly to sea life.
“We want you to think about protecting our natural treasure, our ocean,” she added, “and do something about it.”
Surfer Stresses Safety
Chad DeSatnick, a local surfer who has recovered from a severe spinal cord injury in a surfing/beach accident, provided history highlights indicating how the shoreline has changed over the years and stressed beach safety from his personal experience.
He referenced Turtle Gut Inlet on a historical map, noting that it no longer exists because the inlet, which was south of Wildwood, was filled in 1922. “During the Revolutionary War, the only battle that occurred in New Jersey occurred here. I believe the first person to die in the war is buried at Cold Spring Cemetery,” he said.
He spoke about other historical aspects of the area, including an area that was South Cape May. That community was nearly wiped out by a hurricane in 1944 and completely wiped out by a storm in 1950. “Now that area is a bird sanctuary to sandpipers, oyster catchers, and terns,” he noted. “You can walk through the meadows and realize there used to be houses here.”
Beach replenishment took place in the late 1980s, he said. That was when thousands of tons of sand were deposited onto Cape May’s beaches. He showed photos of the Cape May beaches before that time, pointing out that during high tide, the beach disappeared.
“Our sand is different from the sand that’s in the Wildwoods, for example,” he said. “The sand in the Wildwoods is powdery, and the beaches have a gentle slope. You can walk for a half mile on the sand to get to the water, and then walk for a way in the water to get to any depth. Here in Cape May, our sand is coarser because of beach replenishment, and we have a steep slope that you have to be careful of.”
His Encounter
DeSatnick was surfing at Poverty Beach, one of Cape May’s beaches, in 2001 when he said he caught a wave too close to the shore, went head first into the water, and broke two vertebrae in his neck. He endured 12 hours of surgery, only to be told he would never walk or surf again.
“As you can see, with lots of rehab and effort, I am now walking, and I do surf, although I am very careful about it,” he told the students. “There are no limits to what you can do. You need to see what’s out there in the world and do it.
“A lot of people make a choice when they come to Cape May,” he added. “It’s an absolute gem. You probably won’t realize that until your older, but the world of marine biology is out there and you can do whatever you want.”
Lifeguard’s Point of View
Ralph Atwell, a Cape May lifeguard since 1965, spoke about how the beach changes daily from a lifeguard perspective.
“I was around before beach replenishment, so I can tell you how it’s changed,” he said. “I think beach replenishment has been a good thing. Prior to beach replenishment, you couldn’t walk on the beach east of Convention Hall at high tide because the water came up to the granite wall. During storms, the water would wash up on Ocean Drive.
“Beach replenishment has changed the nature of lifeguarding,” he continued. “Prior to beach replenishment, the rip currents were our biggest concern. They would take people out 50, 75, 100 yards. If you were a strong swimmer, you might be able to go with it, but we would watch out especially for those who might not be strong swimmers.
“Now, after beach replenishment, we have that steep slope,” he said, “and within four or five steps, you are in chest-high water. We still have rip currents, but they don’t go out as far as they used to. Within 10 or 15 strokes, we’re there. Our biggest concern now is the surf that comes in and crashes into the beach, the shore break. People don’t realize it, and they get slammed from behind, hurt their neck, shoulders or head.”
Last year, there were 28 surf-related injuries where people were taken for further medical treatment, he said.
“The number remains about the same each year,” he noted. “Some years, we’ve had 22 injuries, two years ago it was 37. The lifeguards are helpless to prevent these from happening. You have to be aware.”
Rip Currents’ Toll
It is estimated that nationwide nearly 100 lives are claimed by rip currents each year. As waves break along sandbars, they transport water toward the shoreline.
Since water has no place to go once it reaches land, it begins to pile up where it is kept in place by the incoming waves.
Rip currents are formed when the pressure generated by the trapped water is strong enough to overcome the incoming waves, or when there is a lull in wave activity, and the excess water begins to flow back out to sea.
If caught in a rip current, the guard said you should swim parallel to the shore out of the current. “Don’t fight it,” Atwell said.
Sea Condition, Flags
Bob Cwik, another lifeguard of about 40 years, said the guards check the water conditions every day and post a colored flag to tell beach goers of the conditions. “If there is a strong south wind, that affects the beach conditions,” he said. “I usually guard at the Cove, and I see the storms coming across the Delaware Bay. You have to be aware of the changing conditions.”
Cwik noted that beach goers seem to leave a lot of trash on the beaches, especially plastic bags. “You have to take your trash with you,” he urged. “We’ve seen an increasing number of wildlife in the ocean, and the bags can be deadly.
“You live in a special place,” he said addressing the students. “Take care of it. You probably won’t realize how special it is until you’re older, but you can make a difference, and you can impact the younger children by your example.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
