White blankets of sand, bright blue water and palm trees swaying with the breeze – it’s the picturesque landscape that comes to mind when you think of Florida’s beaches. But this stunning scenery comes at a cost with the need to regularly artificially replenish eroding shorelines, a process also known as beach nourishment.
Over the last 87 years, Florida has spent at least $1.9 billion on beach nourishment, and state and local governments pay $30 to $50 million per year to maintain their coastlines. While this may mean beautiful beaches, taxpayers should question if beach nourishment alone is the best investment for Florida in the long-term.
The economic impacts of beach nourishment
Leaders often turn to beach nourishment due to its immediate gratification and seemingly straightforward, practical solution to coastal erosion. The process quickly restores the shoreline, and…
Read the full article originally published at blogs.edf.org.