Category Archives: Plants
Honeymoon Island Beach Renourishment: He wants more, don’t give it to him!
The t-groins are a bad idea, and encouraging this rate of sand loss by throwing more money at it is an even worse idea. Unfortunately, the groins just can’t hold sand. The water flow around and over them washes away the sand. These things are plain and simply the worst possible solution to the erosion problem at Honeymoon Island.
Take a close look at the sea grapes and sabal palms (state tree) from before the dredge in 2014, then take a look at the pictures of what’s left of those same trees in Spring 2018. Continue reading Honeymoon Island Beach Renourishment: He wants more, don’t give it to him!
Honeymoon Island State Park is About to Become Two Islands!
Honeymoon Island has for many years had a nice long beach you could walk along just north of the furthest most parking lot. You could walk the full length of the island all the way down to the northern tip where a nice white sandy sanctuary awaits. Somewhat recently, the beach to walk along has completely disappeared. And more shocking than that, the rapidly deteriorating island is Continue reading Honeymoon Island State Park is About to Become Two Islands!
They Lied To You – There’s No More Left – T-groins Are Ineffective
This is a gallery showing the little sand left at Honeymoon Island State Park since the dredge/fill beach renourishment, and t-groins were added. Conceptually, these rock t-groins, which were actually experimentally tried here first in the county, were supposed to be holding sand on the south side of the groin. The sand was also supposed to be transplanted to the area in front of the Cafe at Honeymoon Island. That means, in the pictures from the gallery, there’s supposed to be sand in front of the parking lot where you see water almost washing away the parking lot, at the end of the boardwalk were the water is washing under the boardwalk, and on the south side of the groin in general. There isn’t. The idea is that there be a beach for people to use. Of course, Florida is made of sand, so there will always be sand here. On the low tide you will always see sand. When we talk about beach we’re talking about the part where the high tide doesn’t touch. You can see from the pictures there isn’t any beach left. The parking lot will soon be dismantled like it was at the north lot years ago. The irrational idea that these t-groins are working is just absolutely absurd, and anyone who suggests it to you is out of their mind.
Surf’s Up Surf Report: Little Groundswell At Noon, 3pm, & 5pm, 04/24/18
The little west northwest swell is on the beach. It actually looks pretty fun. The surf looks about thigh high. It’s super glassy and fun. There is absolutely no tide today, only the slightest half a foot tide until later today. The conditions won’t fluctuate too much. Morning, afternoon, or night it should be fun. This swell could be a multi-day swell. Surf’s Up!
The manatees on the beach were pretty cool. There was a manatee swimming around. It’s actually been really common to see manatees on the beach in spring, although not but until a few years recently has there been so many. This one breached the water head first with its body trailing, and eventually its rounded tail was visible pushing the large sea cow along.
Down on Honeymoon the beach is clearing out. The wildlife is everywhere. The warming part of spring is here and the seagulls are starting to get a little feisty. Lots of noisy seagulls on the beach. There are also many other species of birds frolicking at the waters edge.