Congratulations. You were elected as the head of your neighborhood beach association. Your neighborhoods are panicked because the local beach is...

Dear Coastal Neighborhood Association,

I write this letter today to communicate my concern over the decrease in the size of our beaches over the past several years. The shrinking of our beaches is due to the erosion of the sand. I write this letter in an attempt to identify some causes of the erosion and solutions towards decreasing such.

Many of us enjoy relaxing along the isolated barrier beaches along our coastline. Longshore driftshave...

Dear Coastal Neighborhood Association,

I write this letter today to communicate my concern over the decrease in the size of our beaches over the past several years. The shrinking of our beaches is due to the erosion of the sand. I write this letter in an attempt to identify some causes of the erosion and solutions towards decreasing such.

Many of us enjoy relaxing along the isolated barrier beaches along our coastline. Longshore drifts have helped in creating such barrier beaches. Longshore drifts occur when the ocean current or waves intersect the coast at an angle, instead of parallel. As a result, longshore drifts cause the sand to be carried down shore. Thus, longshore drifts are also one reason for the increased erosion. Therefore, we will be attempting to decrease such drifts in the near future. A groin may help prevent our beaches from being washed away from longshore drifts.

Erosion is not only reducing the size of our beaches, but it is also ruining our sand dunes. The primary cause of the erosion of our sand dunes is human traffic. We ask that all association members, children, and pets refrain from walking on the dunes. Additionally, beach grass will be planted in the early spring. The root system of the beach grass has been shown to hold the sand in place and prevent erosion from occurring.

Warmly,

Association Head