Vital Sand Shifting Continues; Pine Clear-Cutting Lacks Plan

AVALON – The Borough of Avalon has been attempting to deal with the damage done to its north-end beaches by winter storms only to confront continued setbacks.
Council heard a report from borough Engineer Thomas Thornton at its May 11 work session. The borough’s strategy has been to skim sand from beaches to the south and truck sand to the area in need. 
The Public Works Department rented the equipment so the borough could do the work itself saving time that would have been involved in developing specifications and going out to bid for a contractor.
The work has been going well with over 17,000 cubic yards of sand transported in a brief time. However, high surf the week before the meeting resulted in Mother Nature reclaiming almost all of the sand relocated to the north-end beaches.
Thornton told the council that the good news in this scenario is that the beaches are no worse off than they were. “If we had not moved the sand, the high surf last week would have been devastating,” he said.
Having prevented worse damage to the hard hit north-end, the borough hopes for better luck as the “back passing” project continues.
Permits will allow the work to progress with a goal of 60,000 cubic yards of sand relocated by the project’s conclusion.
The ideal conclusion will be sufficient restoration of the north-end beaches to support the upcoming summer and a replenishment of the sand taken from more southern beaches through the natural migration of sand southward.
The entire Seven-Mile Island beachfront, Avalon and Stone Harbor, is in line for a federal beach replenishment in the fall.
Dune Pines
At its last April meeting, council heard from several concerned citizens worried about plans to remove large numbers of Japanese black pine trees in the borough maritime forest.
The action had been planned because of an infestation of beetles that target the trees leaving behind a fungus that kills them. Residents protested that a similar effort almost two years ago left large swaths of dune acreage barren of vegetation. They also maintained that “perfectly healthy trees” were removed in the process. 
Several on council had agreed to inspect the areas, especially the portion of dunes at the 48th Street beach path.
Council member John McCorristin was the first to speak at the May meeting. He toured the area three times and agreed that clear-cut areas from two years ago led him to be concerned that the fight against the infestation lacked a plan.
“We don’t have a plan or a strategy,” he said. “When we approached the problem of vines in Armacost Park we had a plan.” McCorristin said he understood the need for dealing with the tree infestation but hoped the borough would develop a plan for reforestation.
The borough is attempting to get a $24,000 grant to help pay for the removal of infected trees. McCorristin acknowledged that “we want the grant,” but argued for coordinated moves that would not result in the same barren landscape that resulted from clear cutting two years ago.
Both Borough Business Manager Scott Wahl, and Brian Reynolds, chair of the Environmental Commission, spoke to an effort to address McCorritin’s concerns.
Wahl quoted from a just-received report from Joseph Lomax, the borough environmental consultant. Reynolds talked about the borough’s Dune Vegetation Management Plan and efforts that will begin in the fall to replant in the impacted area.
McCorristin was heartened by the efforts but continued to note that the area previously impacted is still barren after two years. Concerns raised by the public in April have made the council aware. McCorristin said he hoped “We can make it look better sooner rather than later.”
Council left little doubt that it is an issue it will return to as the approach to the infestation takes shape.
Other Business
Wahl informed council that the Atlantic City Electric project to enhance the power distribution system is on schedule. The new substation at 60th Street will be distributing energy to the island within the week. While the project was underway, power has been fed to the island from substations on the mainland, a strategy that would only be possible in the quieter, less power intensive off-season.
Wahl also said that the borough had negotiated a temporary arrangement with Comcast to have a trailer located in the borough for one month, May 20 to June 18, in order to service homeowners returning for the summer season who may be unaware that the permanent Comcast office on the island has been relocated to Rio Grande.
“This is a one-time, one-season arrangement,” he said, “that should help our property owners” as they learn about and adjust to the new location.
Dig a Hole? Fill it
Council heard a report on the dangers of large or deep holes dug in the sand by beach goers. One proposal was a change to borough ordinances that would require beach goers to fill in holes before leaving.
William Burns expressed concern “We already have too many regulations.” He noted that the borough has no history of serious problems from the practice. 
Council decided that the best approach was to treat the potential problem as an information issue. Rather than alterations to an ordinance, the borough would prepare some form of information brochure and engage in some educational messaging pointing out the potential dangers and asking beach goers to fill in any holes they may have dug.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.