IV. Retreating Shorelines
4
Social Action
283
Soft action against coastal erosion can be buttressed by a series of socio-economic
measures. They include minimizing damage danger by allowing buildings only
back of the foredune crest, denying flood and disaster insurance and utilities
service in a delineated area, re-zoning areas which contribute to the erosion
problem.
The issue of "disappearing beaches" has been the subject of considerable concern
for a long time ; Charlier among many others discussed Long Island shore
problems and drew parallels more than three decades ago (1955, The
Professional Geographer ; 1956, Long lsland Business), but it is during the last
ten years that concern increased even more. A broad panorama of knowledge and
vulnerability of U.S. barrier islands and beaches was drawn at an Annapolis
workshop 29~. Increased demand for and use of beaches and dunes triggered a reappraisal of the laissez-faire of "patrons ''3°. And measures once thought in the
United States to be in the best interests of both public and property owners were
discontinued 3~. This illustrates second thoughts on the ecological impact of
counteracting erosion and controlling overwash by "traditional methods" on
barrier islands.