American Shore and Beach Preservation Association

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) is a private, nonprofit organization formed in 1926. It was founded to address coastal erosion and the loss of sand on America's beaches.[1] Today, ASBPA is an association of beach and coastal practitioners, including beach towns and managers, coastal engineers, coastal geologists, dredging and ecological restoration companies, coastal academics and students. ASBPA advances coastal science and coastal engineering through its peer-reviewed journal, Shore & Beach, and an annual technical conference. It also hosts an annual coastal summit in Washington, DC to advocate for coastal policies.

American Shore and Beach Preservation Association
AbbreviationASBPA
MottoAdvocating for healthy coastlines
Formation1926
President
Anthony P. Pratt
Websitehttp://www.asbpa.org

History

ASBPA was founded in 1926, and was initially instrumental in persuading the Congress to enact legislation authorizing federal funding of erosion studies and project works for shore protection. In 1930, ASBPA helped form the Beach Erosion Board.[2][3] ASBPA was politically engaged on coastal erosion and beach nourishment for most of the 20th century[4] and has had number of prominent coastal advocates and members of the Army Corps of Engineers on its board, including Morrough Parker O'Brien, who served as President from 1972-1983.[5]

After a long partnership, ASBPA merged with the American Coastal Coalition (ACC) in 2003.[6] In 2015, ASBPA formed memorandum of understanding with the Coastal Zone Foundation (CZF) to collaborate on a certification program for coastal practitioners.

Advocacy

ASBPA (and the ACC, which it merged with in 2003) has been the leading advocate for the United States Army Corps of Engineers shore protection program[7] which builds and provides federal funding for beach and dunes systems as coastal flood protection for vulnerable communities. The focus on sand and sediment has led the organization to advocate for the beneficial use of dredged material[8] and natural coastal infrastructure. In February 2017, ASBPA President Anthony P. Pratt was invited to testify before United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the value of beaches, dunes, wetlands and other natural coastal infrastructure to the nation.[9] In 2019, ASBPA Executive Director, Derek Brockbank, testified before the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure [10] and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on issues related to beach and coastal restoration in the Water Resources Development Act[11]

Publications

Shore & Beach is a peer-reviewed journal, published by ASBPA four times per year. It includes scientific articles and general interest features. Typically, one issue per year is a special issue devoted to single subject. Shore & Beach has been published since 1933.[12]

"Coastal Voice" is a member newsletter distributed by ASBPA eleven times per year. It includes coastal policy updates, science and technology updates, information on conferences and workshops, and changes to the board and staff of ASBPA.[13]

Best Restored Beach and Shore

ASBPA presents annual awards for Best Restored Beach to communities that have recently undergone nourishment or full restoration. And starting in 2019, ASBPA presents awards for Best Restored Shore to non-beach shorelines.

Inaugural 2019 Best Restored Shore winners were:

  • Virginia Point Wetland Protection Project, Texas
  • Mississippi River Long Distance Sediment Pipeline, Louisiana
  • Money Point Shoreline Restoration, Virginia
  • Mispillion Living Shoreline Project, Delaware

Recent Best Restored Beach winners have included:

2019 Winners

  • Caminada Headland, Louisiana
  • South Padre Island, Texas
  • Waypoint Park Beach, Bellingham, WA
  • Duval County, Florida

2018 Winners

  • Dare County, North Carolina Beaches, NC
  • Galveston Seawall Beach, TX
  • Cardiff Beach, Encinitas, CA
  • Sagaponack-Bridgehampton Beaches, NY
  • Thompsons Beach, NJ

2017 Winners

  • Dauphin Island, AL
  • Phipps Ocean Park, Palm Beach, FL
  • Popponesset Spit, MA
  • Prime Hook Beach, DE
  • Sandbridge Beach, Virginia Beach, VA

2016 winners:

  • Babe’s Beach, Galveston, TX[14]
  • Rosewood Beach, Highland Park, IL[15]
  • Seabrook Island, SC[16]
  • Topsail Beach, NC[17]
  • Redondo Beach, CA.[18]

2015 winners:

  • Galveston Island, TX[19]
  • Santa Monica, CA[20][21]
  • Western Destin Beach, FL[22]
  • Folly Beach, SC[23]
  • South Hutchinson Island/St Lucie, FL[24]

Chapters

References
  1. "Scientific and Technical Societies of the United States," National Academy of Science - National Research Council, 1961, pg. 94, https://books.google.com/books?id=hy4rAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA94&lpg
  2. "The History of the Beach Erosion Board,U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, 1930-63," by Mary-Louise Quinn, Miscellaneous Report No. 77-9, August 1977
  3. Moore, J.W., and D.P. Moore, "The Corps of Engineers and Beach Erosion Control 1930-1982," Shore & Beach, 51(January 1983), 13-17
  4. Pilkey, O. and A. Cooper. The Last Beach. Duke University Press, 2014
  5. Wiegel, R.L. and T. Saville "History of Coastal Engineering in the USA". In: Kraus, N (ed.) History and Heritage of Coastal Engineering American Society of Civil Engineers, 1996.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Dean, Cornelia Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches, Columbia University Press, 1999
  8. "Congress Wants to Stop Coastal Erosion--with Mud". Scientific American. 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  9. "Oversight: Modernizing our Nation's Infrastructure".
  10. "Water Resources Development Acts: Status of Implementation and Assessing Future Needs | the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure".
  11. https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/9/improving-american-economic-competitiveness-through-water-resources-infrastructure.
  12. "Summary of Shore & Beach issues and articles," Shore & Beach, 83(4), 3
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2015-12-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Restored Galveston beach named for A.R. 'Babe' Schwartz". Houston Chronicle. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  15. "Highland Park's Rosewood Beach among top restored beaches". ABC7 Chicago. 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  16. "Seabrook Island named among top restored beaches". Post and Courier. 2016-06-18. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  17. "Legislative savvy, good beach management win designation for Topsail Beach | WilmingtonBiz". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  18. "ASBPA: Celebrate America's beaches". asbpa.org. Archived from the original on 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  19. Ferguson, J.W. "Building tomorrow's beach: As one sand project is completed, another is set to begin", Galveston County Daily News May 22, 2015 http://www.galvnews.com/news/free/article_cb265e8c-0041-11e5-8659-97dd83cec1e5.html
  20. "City of Santa Monica Beach Project Named One of America's Best Restored Beaches for 2015," Santa Monica Mirror May 27, 2015 http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/City-Of-Santa-Monica-Beach-Project-Named-One-Of-Americas-Best-Restored-Beaches-For-2015/43409
  21. "Nonprofit Names Santa Monica Best Restored Beach," Santa Monica Lookout May 27, 2015 http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2015/May-2015/05_27_2015_Nonprofit_Names_Santa_Monica_Best_Restored_Beach.html
  22. "Western Destin Beach Restoration Project is a Winner," ETB Travel News, May 25, 2015 http://america.etbtravelnews.com/250811/western-destin-beach-restoration-project-is-a-winner/ Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  23. "FOCUS: Folly Beach is one of nation's best restored beaches," Charleston Currents May 25, 2015 http://charlestoncurrents.com/2015/05/focus-folly-beach-is-one-of-nations-best-restored-beaches/
  24. Gill, E. "Hutchinson Island renourishment project named one of America's best," Vero Beach Press Journal, June 4, 2015 http://www.tcpalm.com/yournews/st-lucie-county/hutchinson-island-renourishment-project-named-one-of-americas-best-ep-1121613073-340648501.html
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