Paging Canute: In Spite Of Scientists' Warnings, Coastal Towns Dump Money Into Beach Rebuilding [View all]

[hatrack]

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And as scientists declare with increasing certainty that the world’s climate is changing and seas are rising, beach leaders along the mid-Atlantic argue that resort shorelines must be armored against a future with more-extreme weather and tides that push higher and deeper into developed areas.

“The state of Maryland has invested millions of dollars into beach replenishment and has made it a priority primarily because of the economic impact of tourism in Ocean City,” said Melanie A. Pursel, executive director of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. Adds Carol Everhart, chief executive officer of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce: “Our whole engine for tourism is the beach.”

The economic impact of beaches fortified with fresh sand spills into service industries and real estate, attracting both entrepreneurs and retirees searching for a laid-back lifestyle near the shore. Should resort beaches ever show signs of serious decline, Everhart adds, “It would be hard to list the things that it wouldn’t touch.”

A recent University of Delaware Sea Grant report, funded by the federal government, concluded that coastal communities between Lewes and Fenwick Island sustain 59,000 jobs and contribute $6.9 billion annually to Delaware’s economy.

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http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120821/WCT01/120821001/Golden-sands-dollars