As Beaches and Dollars Wash Away Rising sea levels have been disturbing geographers and geologists for some time now. Scientists are constantly trying to prevent the effects rising waters are causing, which mainly includes beach and island erosion. So far, their attempts with man-made development on beaches along the eastern coast of America have only made things worse. "Up and down the U.S. coast, public money is subsidizing private property on islands made of sand, the stuff on which, as the Bible says, only fools build" (Ackerman 7). In recent years there has been a trend towards living on the barrier islands of America's Atlantic Coast. High rise condominiums, numerous shops, and several businesses have been built to sustain large populations on these islands and continue to be built. As a result, this vital chain of islands that lies between the ocean and the mainland are at risk. While interfering with the natural configuration of these islands, human construction has advanced the rate of beach erosion, thus leaving the mainland with no barriers during times of high surf. This effect has also led to costly, unnatural ways to preserve the barrier islands. Saving these islands in their natural state by curbing human encroachment will both protect mainland populations from high surf and save a considerable amount of federal money.The barrier islands are a chain of islands, stretching from New York to southern Texas, that have served as a critical barrier from the Atlantic Ocean for well over the past 4,500 years (Ackerman 23). These islands however are not as stable as those who live on them would like it to be. Beaches, and in fact whole islands, are constantly eroded as they are subjected to varying winds, currents and changing sea levels. Along Florida's East Coast, roughly 368 miles, the average shoreline change is retreating 22cm per year. Under natural conditions, native vegetation and shifting sands constantly replace...
