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What Are They Smoking?

They must be dune grass!

 

I received an email from a reader who happens to have a masters in coastal management from a very well known state university:

 

Good evening,

Thought this might be of interest to the blog. Apparently, the town decided to plant dune grass in near the entrance ramps of the board walk. See attached photos. Instead of investing in a protective natural dune system, they are wasting money on landscaping fixtures that will likely not survive. Much like the palm trees they used to plant there. The sand in areas where dune grass is planted needs to be deep enough to retain moisture. Dune grass is amazing in that the root systems can support 25 foot dunes. I tend to think this grass will die from either not having enough sustained moisture in the sand its planted in or just because its in a high foot traffic area. A waste.
Of note, I did see new plantings north of Taylor Pavilion on the east side of the boards, but the dunes are very close to the boardwalk. This is clearly a beautification move because dunes that close to a structure will provide little to no protection, but to be fair that section of the beach is wider and has a higher elevation.
I think they should have used astroturf.
.

27 Comments

  1. Belle wrote:

    What a joke. So let’s just say these dunes in the picture do indeed grow. Aren’t they then going to be in the way of people using the sidewalk and the stairs? Just a stupid idea!

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 7:48 am | Permalink
  2. Anonymous wrote:

    The beach utility fund is a candy store for misuse by inept Belmar Administrators, 2010 through December 31, 2018.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 8:28 am | Permalink
  3. buhbyecolleen wrote:

    Heard that the last day for the Queen of Mean is Wednesday December 19th and DPW is having a party for her…..guess nobody in her office offered up to plan…haha they are all rejoicing knowing she is soon gone! For those that didn’t believe there really is a Santa Claus.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 9:02 am | Permalink
  4. Dead plants wrote:

    Take a walk,there must have been a 200 dead plants sale or giveaway somewhere, or maybe they bought this alive and killed it by leaving behind a shed at DPW with no water or sunlight! DPW = Dead plant workers

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 9:06 am | Permalink
  5. Glad I Left wrote:

    #3…I’ve been told that my former coworkers are counting down the days!! I’m so happy for them that they won’t have to put up with Colleen or her disrespect and discrimination anymore.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 9:17 am | Permalink
  6. OLD MAN wrote:

    Another dumb idea.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 9:21 am | Permalink
  7. Anonymous wrote:

    Who comes up with this stupidity ?!

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 10:27 am | Permalink
  8. Concerned Resident wrote:

    #7 I have a feeling the stupidity will end after 12/19.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 1:56 pm | Permalink
  9. Anonymous wrote:

    Bankruptcy…. there goes your bond values.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 2:00 pm | Permalink
  10. AreYaKiddin? wrote:

    Are you actually kidding? What a trash idea and a waste.

    Friday, December 14, 2018 at 5:44 pm | Permalink
  11. Anonymous wrote:

    We have the owner of a successful, large landscaping company living here in Belmar. Anyone who knows Bill knows that he would offer his professional advice free of charge. When it comes to planting anything, just ask him if it’ll work. Use our local resources.

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 7:31 am | Permalink
  12. Anonymous wrote:

    #11- But then we wouldn’t need Campbell’s input at $150k a year. Again, end of year wasteful spending. Cut these budgets 10% and start charging Marina Grill for the water they flush down their urinals.

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 9:52 am | Permalink
  13. Anonymous wrote:

    Do you think the Walsifer Administration will encourage pick up of Christmas trees for beach restoration this year? CAFRA allows this type of project. Try it at 19th. We will all benefit and no more sand berms. Free recycled Christmas trees at the beach program is cheaper than all the costs and erosion caused by those wind blown, destructive sand berms.

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 10:01 am | Permalink
  14. eugene r creamer wrote:

    the beach would revert to natural conditions (dunes, piping plovers, etc) by restricting any sand disturbance.
    Local elected officials don’t have the political will to move from a booze economy to environmental tourism. Bradley Beach may be an exception..

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 10:13 am | Permalink
  15. Polly wrote:

    Gene, it is possible. It’s our future.

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 2:28 pm | Permalink
  16. Guest wrote:

    11 – They probably already owe to many favors. In the end, don’t have high expectations of much change.

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 4:23 pm | Permalink
  17. Dead dunes wrote:

    #11. I remember years ago the owner of that large landscaping company planted a variety of plants with mulch, on our dunes, complete with an irrigation system, that did not last or fit in with the beach landscape. It all died and turned into a trash magnate. And I’m sure it was a costly project.

    Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 4:32 pm | Permalink
  18. Average Joe wrote:

    All these average mistakes equals monstrous above average mistakes

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 5:13 am | Permalink
  19. Tom Dilberger wrote:

    I’ve spoken to the DPW guy down in Bradley. I asked him if what I saw that he did was all there was to it and he said yes. So get the Christmas trees and let’s get started. This dune thing is not rocket science. Let’s operate on the KISS system.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 5:42 am | Permalink
  20. Guest wrote:

    #19, That won’t be so easy since Walsifer will probably have to run this and all other actions past Ken Pringle first.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 8:32 am | Permalink
  21. Anonymous wrote:

    #20, is another limp Richard.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 9:00 am | Permalink
  22. Glad I Left wrote:

    #20…I’m pretty sure Mark Walsifer can hold his own. You must not know him too well.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink
  23. OLD MAN wrote:

    #20 Uh Duh You are an idiot.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 10:17 am | Permalink
  24. Concerned Resident wrote:

    #20-apparently you’re a Colleen supporter, or you are Colleen. Don’t be a sore, unprofessional loser. Stop being rude, and accept the fact that you weren’t qualified for the cfo position. Had you been a nice and honest person, perhaps you’d still have a job in Belmar, but your actions and attitude have proven that you don’t care about us or OUR town. There is no place for you here. You are not welcome in OUR town.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 12:25 pm | Permalink
  25. Anonymous wrote:

    #24: How about incompetence and incredible labels. Personality defects surely affect management style but this chick has proven she just doesn’t have the metal to effectively lead or perform in either position.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 3:13 pm | Permalink
  26. Concerned Resident wrote:

    #25-I agree.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 7:19 pm | Permalink
  27. Glad I Left wrote:

    #25…I know from personal experience that Colleen is NOT a good leader. She is unprofessional, she lies, she discriminates against women, she’s sneaky and she will throw anyone under the bus if they don’t agree with her. I wish I could’ve stuck it out just so I could celebrate with my former co-workers, but because of the way Colleen treated me and other employees, I just had to get out of there. It’s really very sickening. The women who work in the borough offices (whether some readers here like them or not) have been abused, disrespected, and just flat out treated like shit by Colleen.

    Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 7:27 pm | Permalink

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