To: The representatives of Deerfield
Beach
From: Hillsboro Beach Advocates
We understand that a special meeting of
the Deerfield Commission is being convened on July 2. We want to
provide you some information related to this as we see it from
Hillsboro Beach. Our goal is not to have the groins removed; it is
simply to stop the downdrift erosion they are causing. We hope to
have a meaningful dialog with you over this beach erosion issue.
There are multiple studies that prove
there is ongoing damage being done to Hillsboro's beach as a direct
result of the Deerfield groins. The picture below captures the issue.
This is a picture from Google maps
obtained on June 6, 2014.**
It is both the moral and legal
responsibility of the 'updrift' community to assure that their
structures do not cause damage to 'downdrift' communities. This is
written into every permit issued for the Deerfield Groins since at
least 1961* (see paragraphs 2,4,5 and 6), and is standard language
for all permits for coastal structures issued by the FDEP.
Deerfield Beach was granted permission
from the State and USACE to build its groin field under permits G-37,
G-54, and several other permits. These permits contain requirements
for the City to adjust the groins “at the request of the owners of
adjacent property in the event of leeside erosion” and “…at
your own risk with understanding that this waiver of objection does
not relieve you of any liability….”. Perhaps
specific “requests of the owners of adjacent property” have not
made clear such requests in the past. This letter is to notify you
that Hillsboro Beach is now making such a request.
There are other permit conditions that the groins are also
violating.
Clearly, the
southernmost groins are not retaining sand the way they ought to, and
the visible erosion south of the last groin is self-evident. There
are numerous studies available that demonstrate the 'terminal groin
syndrome' from which Hillsboro seeks relief. This erosion affects the
first mile of beach south of the groins.
Hillsboro has spent many millions of
dollars in direct nourishment expenditures, the next scheduled for
this coming spring. Not all, but the majority of this cost is due
directly to the damage from the groins. We estimate that the
nourishment total attributable to the groins is $7,000,000. to date.
In addition there are additional expenses
including engineering studies. seawalls - 2600 feet of it in
the northernmost mile of Hillsboro Beach, unsuccessful attempts by
Hillsboro to prevent the groin damage such as PEMs, all of which
total many more millions.
The small tax
base of the Town and the ever growing cost and frequency of necessary
new nourishment make it impossible for this to continue. This
long-term erosion problem in Hillsboro, a direct cause of the
Deerfield groins, must be resolved. We in Hillsboro Beach are willing
to talk, listen and delay formal action at this time if we are making
progress toward resolving the issue. However, if such discussions
are not commenced, Hillsboro Beach will be forced to turn to the
agencies and if insufficient relief is found there, we may have to
ask the courts for relief. The best way for all parties to succeed,
we believe, is through cooperation, not through the intercession of
third parties. Fixing this problem has become a necessity for
Hillsboro.
It may well be to Deerfield's advantage
to pursue with the Army Corps of Engineers the fact that their
southernmost groins are not performing as they currently exist. Both
State and Federal funds are usually expended to preserve active
visitor serving areas such as Deerfield's prime asset, their beach.
As such, Deerfield may be greatly served by having the groins fixed
to preserve their beach, as originally envisioned, and possibly paid
for by government agencies.
The Town of Hillsboro Beach believes in
a good neighbor policy. It recognizes the
importance of the groins for protecting the Deerfield beach. The
groins could be declared derelict, decommissioned, removed, covered,
pulled back from the ocean, adjusted, modified, buried, prevented
from becoming wet, made adjustable and left alone to name a few
options. However, the groins must be fixed to mitigate the damage to
Hillsboro’s beach. We can no longer afford to ignore the issue as
we have in the past.
To repeat, our
initial goal is to have an open dialogue with Deerfield on this very
important issue.
Respectfully,
Your neighbors to
the south.
- 1961 Groin Permit (first 3 pages)
(removed here for the sake of brevity)
** Contrast to this picture of the
beach from 1957, prior to the groins' installation
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