Pipes to help replace sand on the beach at
South Padre Island, TX.
Nature is involved, but not directly.
Pipes have been laid on the beach, up and down, for as far as you can see. The pictures show the pipes and they are not small!
Where does the sand come from?
The bottom of the Gulf of Mexico--Brownsville Ship Channel precisely. The dredging will take about two weeks.
(That's where nature comes in/the ocean floor.)
Why is this being done?
To replace the sand, that eroded into the water.
This will make the beach wider, abundant with sand, prettier, ready for spring breakers/which bring money, money, money, onto the Island.
Is this good for the environment?
The dredging, to renourish the beach is questionable. I have been reading about it and this site (http://www.erosion.com/dredging.asp) explains what happens to the ocean floor, the coral, the transmission of sun into the water, plus much more and claims this is a self-defeating remedy.
When I drove over the bridge the other day, on my way to Dolphin's Cove, I noticed the water was not sparkling as usual. It was brown. Due to the dredging?
I would assume this has all been researched and is being done with care. At least I hope so!
I guess it will be pretty for the spring breakers coming down for fun and frolic on the beaches of South Padre Island.
