U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell thinks he might have an answer to the erosion problems that threaten to wash away Tangier Island: anchor old barges along the shoreline, without any cost to taxpayers.
Rigell, a freshman Republican from Virginia Beach, also represents the Eastern Shore and Tangier Island. He says a local salvage company is willing to donate as many as four barges to act as breakwaters near the main channel leading into Tangier Harbor.
Wave action beats up many of the commercial fishing boats that call Tangier Island home. The fishing mecca in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay is losing between 4 and 12 feet a year to rising sea levels, exposure to storms, and sinking land.
"Also next week, Rigell intends to discuss another dicey issue on the Eastern Shore: beach parking at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge."
ReplyDeleteWhy can federal dollars be spent at Ocean City are Rehoboth Beach, but not at National Seashores like Assateague?
"Why can federal dollars be spent at Ocean City are Rehoboth Beach, but not at National Seashores like Assateague?"
ReplyDeleteFor starters, people visit Ocean City without paying an entrance fee. People that visit Assateague just to drive through it pay a fee. As far as I can tell, Federal employees and Federal funds are the only funds going into Assateague. After all, it's a NATIONAL seashore as you pointed out. Have you seen differently?
The lower end of Assateague Island is like an experiment in progressive thinking. Tried and true methods of maintaining the beach are not used - things like jettys, snow fence, grass planting - which are used successfully on other islands. One small nor'easter or minor hurricane and the parking lots are gone, road gone even the bathhouses.
ReplyDeleteMoney is spent on Assateague but it's "catch up" type of spending, rather than long-term investment.