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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Beach Pumping’s Impact On Currents, Waves Discussed: Bach Patrol Captain Reports Research Shows No Link

OCEAN CITY – Resort officials dismissed the notion this week that there is a link between beach replenishment and swimming injuries in the ocean.

Last Thursday, The Dispatch posted to Facebook a story about a victim suffering neck and back injuries on the beach near 55th Street around 1 p.m. and being transported to PRMC in Salisbury via helicopter.
The majority of The Dispatch’s followers, as has happened in the past with reports of other rescues, voiced their opinions that beach replenishment is to be blamed for the changing dynamics of the ocean floor causing shore breaks and rip currents in higher frequencies than before.

“The surf line in Ocean City is not what it was 40 years ago when I was growing up. Back then there was always a sandbar 200 yards out from the shore … you got the nicest waves for bodysurfing, nice rollers,” posted Marty Etzel. “Now you get this ‘flop’ right at the shoreline. Is this because of beach replenishment?”

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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

So, redesign replenishment to restore the 200 yard sandbar.

Gosh, I must be a GENIUS! I just thought of that ALL BY MYSELF!

Anonymous said...

Well, there you have it! Anything the Dispatch reports must be true, NOT!

Anonymous said...

So many experts

Anonymous said...

The first time they replenished back in the early eighties they posted signs on the newly filled beaches that said "DANGER SHOREBREAK" with a road sign sillouette man getting pitched on his head. Now apparently it isn't an issue