Michigan: Beachfront Owners Sued By Army Corps of Engineers for 'Grooming Their Beaches'

Detroit News ^ | 6/22/02

[11th Earl of Mar]

CASEVILLE -- Beachfront property owners like to care for their sandy yards just as inland dwellers maintain their lawns.

Many shore-dwellers have had their work cut out for them as receding Great Lakes waters allow weeds and grasses to thrive on the emerging land.

[mewzilla]

Why are beaches being groomed in the first place? Nature happens. Beaches errode. If they want to spend their own money to try to hold back Mother Nature, okay. But I don't want a dime of taxpayer money to go for bloody beach grooming.

[11th Earl of Mar]

People are grooming the beach in front of their own dwellings at their own expense. Your tax dollars did not pay them to do it, nor did your taxdollars purchase their rakes and shovels. It is their own sense of pride that leads them to clean up their portion of the beach.

Do you mow your grass?

[mewzilla]

Your lordship, do you know how many millions of dollars are spent annually by the Federal government to fix erroding beaches? I'll see if I can find the figs for you. If these folks are using their own money, fine and dandy. But it's a drop in the bucket compared to what's spent by the Feds annually. And while I do mow my lawn (with a reel mower), I did NOT ask the Feds to buy it for me, or pay someone else to do it, or replace my grass when drought and/or bugs nail it :)

[listenhillary]

The Corps of Engineers has informed some property owners that they are being sued for grooming their beach without a proper permit from the state.

I shudder to think what would happen if an unlicensed beach groomer groomed my beach! That's why all my beaches get groomed at the pink poodle parlor.

[11th Earl of Mar]

It would help if you read the story before making comments. THEIR BEACH IS NOT ERODING.

IT IS EMERGING [getting larger] because of low lake levels.

And they are simply keeping it free of weeds AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.

[mewzilla]

FYI, since 1995 at leat 85 million by the Feds for beach maintenance. 85 mill. I'll see if I can find more up to date figs later. The 85 mill figure is from www.coastalcoalition.org.

[mewzilla]

I don't care why it needs messing with. As long as they don't use Federal dollars to deal with it.

[11th Earl of Mar]

But how much federal money is spent every year to sue property owners who are keeping weeds from growing on their beachfront property?

[11th Earl of Mar]

They are not using federal dollars. THEY ARE BEING SUED by the Army Corps of Engineers, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS.

[mewzilla]

I understand that, your lordship. The Army Corp has screwed up enough stuff around here to give it a rep. I'm just saying that I don't want Federal dollars used for any of this stuff, and now that I think about it, that would also preclude any money being spent on anything as assinine as this lawsuit.

[eno_]

The problem with articles like this is that they need to say WHO at the Corp of Engineers or other enforcement body decided to exercise their discretion and decide this is a priority. Crush a few of those bureucrat scum and see how reasonable the rest of them become.

[meenie]

The only solution to this problem is to reach a medium. Let the beaches grow up to sloughgrass with an assortment of tin cans, bottles, etc. For the beach-front owner to make the sacrifice of 'getting back to nature', the property owning 'land-lubber' should be willing to let his lawn go back to nature, let the weeds thrive, and the assorted trash build up.

Then both parties will be unable to criticize the other for not doing their fair share for the 'wilding of America'. God, isn't the ability to tell everyone what the other should do wonderful? In years past, Americans set on their rears and let the neighbors do as they please without interference. Fortunately, we have all put a stop to this!

[wita]

Amen, and to escape the direction this thread is heading, I offer the comment heard on the news yesterday, that none other than tommy two tongues daschle wants to eliminate the army corps of engineers. It might be the first time I ever agreed with traitorous tommy, but then one has to step back and think, what on earth would it mean to tom if he achieved his objective?

[capt. norm]

Don't you just love the way these bureaucrats insist on micro-managing our lives?

I think it replaces sex for most of them.

[Iscool]

IT IS EMERGING [getting larger] because of low lake levels.

The question is, who owns this piece of new land??? Does the property owner own x number of feet from the other end of the property or does it go to the water line, wherever that moves to???

Beach grass would certainly slow down the erosion process...And like they say, what goes down must come up again...The water will rise and wash away the new beach and may take more with it...

[capt. norm]

"what on earth would it mean to tom if he achieved his objective? "

To paraphrase an old Dave Gardner quote: "Dogs chase cars and Tom wants to eliminate the Corps...but neither one would know what to do if they succeeded in catching up with their objective."

[Catspaw]

No taxpayer money is used for grooming the beaches.

In addition to the weeds that have emerged with low lake levels, add in dead fish (a pile of dead alewives give off quite a stench) plus all the junk that ends up on the beach--fishing line & lures, all kinds of plastic (plastic bags, plastic rings from soda and beer), bottles, cans, you name it, just general crud.

I don't know what the regs are on the other side of Lake Michigan, but in Wisconsin, the property owner owns the land to the high water mark.

[Rebelbase]

Grooming the beach should'nt be a problem. Grooming the b!tch means Hillary is running for president.

[11th Earl of Mar]

and to escape the direction this thread is heading

Thank you. I think you saved the thread.