Surrender

In today's Globe Magazine, there's a great, brief article called "Surrender the Sand?" It proposes that our approach, in attempts to preserve beaches, is blind to the inevitable: We are at some point going to have to give up.

I'm not saying (neither is the article) that we cannot continue to enjoy our beaches, whether that entails lawn chairs or surf boards. What has to stop is building and maintaining 'permanent' structures on the sand, or on the soil just beyond the sand/dune line. Adding jetties, 'nourishment projects,' sand bags, and the like is futile and damaging.

On our many trips to the Outer Banks, we have stayed in homes that defy prudence, history, and logic. No doubt our dollars have helped sustain this very denial.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2009/09/20/surrender_the_sand/