Corps Of Engineers Says S. Fla. Has Depleted Its Sand Supply
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami/AP) - Is it possible to run out of sand for the beach?
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the answer is yes and both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have depleted their offshore sources of sand for beach renourishment projects.
As a result of the depletion, South Florida beaches have been left particularly vulnerable to erosion and damage from hurricanes.
The corps has prioritized Miami-Dade's problem this week in a series of public meetings from Miami Beach to Fort Pierce.
A corps senior coastal engineer says that while the ocean is full of sand, getting the right kind to shore in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way can be challenging.
There's more than enough sand for beach renourishment projects in five southeastern Florida counties for the next 50 years. However, almost none of that lies off Miami-Dade County.
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