Sick story MDSURFER. Thanks for the info. Pretty cool. Now if only we could convince them to drops some giant rock slabs off, lets say 100th street, about 50 yards off shore, then we would be in business.
Awesome thanks for the sharing the story i remember hearing about it sometime ago just never really looked up the story or photos.
I seen a show on discovery or one of them learning channels about how they take old subway cars from NYC and the process on how they strip them . they take out anything that could contaminate the eco system of the enviorment they are being introduced to. All grease , oil, Abstetos, and other chemicals are removed cause on drop of oil can contaminate 5 gallons or water Its really a cool process, even more so when the do it to decomishioned ship from the navy
My idea . . . albeit some years ago now, was to utilize those oversized nylon bags like Mayor Kelly used to use along the shoreline. They are designed like a self sealing envelope and the opening on the side of the bag is where sand is blown into the bag while submerged. This is the same system they used in Australia's Narrowneck in Queensland artificial reef project http://www.coastalmanagement.com.au/R&D/reef_surfing/, only with much longer bags than OC used to use. At a price tag of over 2.1 million, it's highly unlikely that anyone on the east coast will be willing to spend that kind of cash just to give us a few more waves when a swell happens by. You'd have to sell it as the best possible way to preserve the beaches for vacationers, then maybe they'd listen. All too often they take a totally defensive approach building up shoreline defenses like groins, bulldozing (remember those days?), and perhaps the most laughable of all- the Duneline. A half day of big waves like we've had this past year and 1/2 the dunes are gone and all the groins are fully exposed. If only they'd read Bascom's "Waves and Beaches" and take a more offshore approach by stabilizing the sandbars. If the waves expend their pent up energy on the stable offshore reefs, there might not be so much beach damage and our fine grained sand might stay where it should be. . . on the beach. But that would make too much sense. http://coastalmanagement.com.au/projects/NGCBPS/ On this page you can download the video zip file to see how the whole process took place using a pontoon dredge much like the Currituck which is now working offshore from OC.
i went out at uppers again yesterday, it was fun and no one out besides 5 ppl a street down and then i think i saw stoher paddle out on a longboard. But people should try it out to get rid of some crowds, its a different break and wave and i think is really fun. it was bigger than oc durring high tide when i checked a couple days ago.
Two observations on the use of artificial reefs in OC-type settings (that are gonna make me seem anti-reef but im just being pragmatic). 1) That 2.1 million would protect what length of beach? If 1/2 mile, then we'd need 18 of them 2) Whatever sand gain the reef creates at the chosen site might come at the expense of the adjacent (downdrift) beach...after all art. reefs dont create sand, they shelter a reach of coast, littoral sand transport is disrupted and the sand accumulates. This is basically the rap on groins. But in concept i agree...beach preservation is the only way to market these things effectively around here, not surfing improvements.
Sand creation or entrapment? Agreed, reefs don't create sand, but much like a sand fence (which are quite effective when in place) create an underwater shoal where sand can settle. Littoral currents will still be active, but depending upon placement (i.e. depth, length, width, and angle) rips could be more predictable and less mobile. A million here, a million there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money. Or, we could just dump 10 mil into pumping offshore sand onto the shore to start the process all over again. I think something more permanent, even if more expensive, would be the preferable way to go. I've been by the ocean for 55 of my 60 years now from Cape May to Ocean City, MD and what I've seen attempted just hasn't worked. Time to get progressive and try something different. Speaking of Cape May- Is the concrete ship still there or even visible any more? This is close to what it looked like when I lived there from 1955 to 1966.
There are some shoals offshore off the Chincoteauge coastal area. I've had friends that've paddled out there and caught some waves when they're big. Lots of sea life out there. Its a few miles off shore. Theres actually a hole in them that allows the swell to come through. Would love to get out there sometime.
New artifcal reef is gonna be 30 miles from OCMD http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/...er become latest addition atlantic ocean reef
