Pollution

Wed Feb 5 10:02:11 EST 2003

Dear Mr. Sheppard:

     About a month ago I responded to a request from Jim Hendee for comments
on setting priorities for the Coral Reef Task Force to focus on.  Topping
the
proposed list was "land based pollution."  I stated that material dredged
from offshore for beach restoration was not land based, but should be high
on
the list because it is one of the leading causes of direct coral
destruction.

 You will not find documentation of this in scientific journals.  The
acreage
estimates are scattered in Corps of Engineers EISs dating back to the 1960s.
Ken Lindeman of Environmental Defense attempted to compile a list of
projects
and add up impacts on coral reefs but, due to poor preproject documentation
and an absence of follow up studies, found it impossible to arrive at a
precise total.  The currently proposed Broward County project would bury, by
first estimate, 55 acres of nearshore coral community.  Following a public
outcry and as frequently happens, this estimate was mysteriously reduced to
35 acres; thirty-five acres for one project which would move 3.5 million
cubic yards of sand.  In Dr. Lindeman's Dissertation he found that 47.225
million cy have been dredged and deposited since 1960 in Dade, Broward, and
Palm Beach counties.  It stands to reason that a minimum of 100 acres of
reef
has been buried by beach fill.  Additional aceage has been destroyed by
dredges offshore and degraded by settling of suspended sediment.

                                       Truly yours,

                                       Chuck Sultzman

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<HTML>Dear Mr. Sheppard: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; About a month ago I responded to a request from
Jim=
 Hendee for comments on setting priorities for the Coral Reef Task Force
to=20=
focus on.&nbsp; Topping the proposed list was "land based
pollution."&nbsp;=20=
I stated that material dredged from offshore for beach restoration was not
l=
and based, but should be high on the list because it is one of the leading
c=
auses of direct coral destruction.&nbsp; You will not find documentation
of=20=
this in scientific journals.&nbsp; The acreage estimates are scattered in
Co=
rps of Engineers EISs dating back to the 1960s.&nbsp; Ken Lindeman of
Enviro=
nmental Defense attempted to compile a list of projects and add up impacts
o=
n coral reefs but, due to poor preproject documentation and an absence of
fo=
llow up studies, found it impossible to arrive at a precise total.&nbsp;
The=
 currently proposed Broward County project would bury, by first estimate,
55=
 acres of nearshore coral community.&nbsp; Following a public outcry and
as=20=
frequently happens, this estimate was mysteriously reduced to 35 acres;
thir=
ty-five acres for one project which would move 3.5 million cubic yards of
sa=
nd.&nbsp; In Dr. Lindeman's Dissertation he found that 47.225 million cy
hav=
e been dredged and deposited since 1960 in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach
cou=
nties.&nbsp; It stands to reason that a minimum of 100 acres of
reef=20=
has been buried by beach fill.&nbsp; Additional aceage has been destroyed
by=
 dredges offshore and degraded by settling of suspended sediment. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=

p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=

bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
 Truly yours,<BR>
<BR>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=

p;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=

bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
 Chuck Sultzman<BR>
</FONT></HTML>
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