Press Release
May 21, 2008
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Julie Pappas
Telephone: 727-322-2392
Email: suncoast@surfrider.org
Free Upham Beach
Saint Petersburg, FL (May 9, 2008)- After a year of negotiations with the County Coastal
Coordinator, the Suncoast Chapter of Surfrider Foundation decided to reach out publicly. On
Friday, May 9th, the chapter published the Free Upham Beach Petition on the Care 2 Petition
website. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-upham-beach#signatures In so doing, the Suncoast
Chapter has achieved a major milestone in the National mission to preserving the diversity and
ecological integrity of Florida’s coastal environment and healthier waters – leading their first
local campaign.
The Suncoast Chapter will soon be seen patrolling neighbors in Pinellas County armed with
pictures, copies of DEP records, and a position paper by a PhD from Western Carolina
University, along with 42 others, have published a statement against the use of erosion control
structures. Education is a core mission of the Surfrider Foundation. Thus, the Suncoast Chapter
plans to rally support for their campaign by educating the public – one person at a time.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Engineering Manual describes
groins as: "…probably the most misused and improperly designed of all coastal
structures…(USACE, 2002)”. http://www.wcu.edu/4402.asp
“I worked with USGS and USF St.Pete campus on the original erosions studies for
Upham Beach placing a beach camera on the condo at the jetty to monitor the conditions
overtime. The conclusions then were that nothing would correct the problem of erosion
caused by man’s building and maintaining the pass/jetty. This is a known situation not
only at Upham but at all beaches where we continue to alter natural processes”, Randy
Johnson commented on the petition.
Supporters are logging countless volunteer hours on this campaign – and they have only just
begun. Over 400 electronic signatures have already been collected toward the chapter goal of
1,000 in under a month. The Suncoast Chapter wants the (five) 5 Geotextile tube
experimental project removed off of Upham Beach – with promise of no future
permanent structure.