Surfrider Economist Shows Flaws in Benefit Analysis

Dr. Richard Weisskoff, our economist, is an associate professor who teaches economics in the School of International Studies at the University of Miami. He also is author of the book The Economics of Everglades Restoration: Missing Pieces in the Future of South Florida. Yesterday he challenged a town consultant's assertion that beachfront property values will fall if the beach isn't rebuilt. Portions of Stronge's Reach 8 report were "very disturbing to me, as someone studying the economics of beaches," Weisskoff said.

The Town's expert had testified Aug. 27 that failure to rebuild the beach would over time diminish taxable property values by $180 million. But Weisskoff said Stronge's conclusion was based on a 1997 Broward County study in which he found beachfront condos were valued at 17 percent more than identical properties that didn't have a beach.

"He didn't take enough factors into account," Weisskoff said. "You have to look at market forces and insurance costs over time to determine the impact of erosion and nourishment on market values."

Weisskoff said he persuaded a real estate agent to research the market values of units in one Reach 8 condominium building and found they moved with the market, regardless of erosion to the beach. Even without a wide beach, beachfront condos still are prized for their ocean views — another factor Stronge didn't account for in his assessment, Weisskoff said.

Stronge also failed to examine the economic value of "ecological services" reefs provide as storm barriers and for recreation, Weisskoff said.

Weisskoff was our last expert witness. The hearing is taking place at the Emergency Operations Center on the third floor of the central fire station. It is open to the public. Tomorrow is likely the last day.

Important Hearing Update

The Hearing will be on hold until Monday, September 29th due to Judge Meale’s schedule. The location will be moved back the Town of Palm Beach’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on South County Road, 2nd Floor. There will be an announcement if this changes.

Surfrider Geologist Continues to Point Major Flaw in “Compatibility” of Beach Program

The ongoing discussion on what is “native” or compatible” sand for the Palm Beach County area came to a head when the Chapter’s expert, Dr. Hal Wanless, Chair of Geological Sciences at University of Miami, clearly identified the rules that require DEP and consultants to match sand to what exists on a beach prior to any cumulative impacts from previous projects in the area. Dr Wanless further pointed out that the offshore borrow area sand data could in no way support or match the "functionality" of the current native sand within the Reach 8 area.

“Sand grains can look similar in terms of size and color. However, which do you think would stay longer on a beach in a storm environment, a ping-pong ball or a golf ball? This is the reason why DEP cant just base compatibility decisions on size if you hope for any material to stay on a beach,” said Dr. Wanless.

Native Beach Sand

Fine Proposed Material

Chapter's Turtle Expert Points Out Assumptions

Dr. Mike Salmon of Florida Atlantic University pointed out very clearly that both the DEP and Town's turtle expert were trying to draw facts from unfounded assumptions. Dr. Salmon made solid points that the Town's expert had used an unfinished and nonpeer reviewed report to try to make his conclusions. In addition he focused on the fact that beach dredging does not ensure turtle nesting success and mitigation reef dont ensure turtle survival since there has never been an scientific literature to prove so. These are all assumptions that the dredging consultants and DEP have tried to use to justify their projects. Check out the news article.

Surfrider Biologist Expert Shows Swiss Cheese Permit

Dr. Charles Peterson of University of North Carolina appeared before the Judge today via video conferencing. His testimony started at 9am and continued until 4:30pm. He made a number of key arguements regarding DEP's proposed permit, including the fact that DEP had not even finished an anaylsis of the Town's monitoriing plan and conditions and that were no listed statutes on turbity requirements. Check out the story at the Palm Beach Daily News.