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Category Archives: Beaches

Isla Vista County Beaches Closed April 5-6, 2014

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The Santa Barbara County Community Services Department has announced that the beaches at Isla Vista will be closed due to the potential for a Floatopia event on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6, 2014.

The Santa Barbara County Community Services Department has announced that the beaches at Isla Vista will be closed due to the potential for a Floatopia event on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6, 2014. The closure is being declared to prevent a re-occurrence of the conditions that resulted from the 2009 Floatopia. The Santa Barbara County Code (Section 26-11) authorizes the Community Services Department to close any County recreation area includingbeaches.

Following the Floatopia event of 2009, the beaches at Isla Vista were left strewn with trash and debris, including human waste. This large scale event with thousands of participants had no provision for the health and well being of the public, including no facilities for human sanitation or refuse collection. The County of Santa Barbara, therefore took action to close the Isla Vista beaches for a similar event in 2010, 2011, 2012 and2013.

The Floatopia event planned for April 5, 2014 is not a sanctioned event and there are no approved permits issued. As such, the County Community Services Department will declare the Isla Vista beaches closed to public entry to protect public health and safety and to protect the beach from excessive waste and litter. The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department will enforce theclosure.

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Isla Vista County Beaches Closed April 5-6, 2014

Beaches vs. Homeowners

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By Catherine Cooper on April 04th, 2014

By Catharine Cooper.

The effects of rising seawater conjure images of Bangladesh and Greeces Kriti Islands places destined to disappear by the end of the century under encroachment of the sea. But what about here in Laguna? What might a one-foot rise mean for our beaches? A three-foot rise? At what point do preventative mechanisms to protect private property trump the publics right to beach access?

Two current struggles provide a framework for conversation. The first and closest to home is Broad Beach, in Malibu, where as much as 60 of beach had been lost in the past decade. As the sea continued to encroach into the front lawns of the rich and famous, they took matters into their own hands first with a sand berm that caused a huge uproar and finally with a 13 high wall of jetty-like stones.

The net effect has been a temporary solution at best, and one that has rendered what used to be a well-loved beach, unusable. The thin strip of sand in front of the revetment that is exposed during low tide is never dry enough to lay down a towel.

Bill Patzert, a climatologist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab, in Pasadena, calls it the Invisible Beach. The protection of a handful of property owners has eliminated access to the public.

On the other side of the country, in Nantucket, homeowners along Baxter Road, which fronts a steep cliff face called Sconset Bluff, are in a face-off that similarly pits the wealthy against the public. A lingering noreaster in March 2013 caused the surf to pound the unprotected bluffs for days. The resulting erosion chewed away at the foot of the slope, and one of the houses on the edge simply fell into the sea.

Remaining homeowners are desperate for a solution and have tried everything from a type of drain pipe buried under the sand to some burrito-shaped barriers of coir and jute.The drain system clogged and was abandoned; the burritos developed into individual islands as the sea simply swept over and around them.

At question are more than just property rights and beach access. The coastal bluff environment is integral to the health of the seas. And while we can slow erosion by extreme measures, it rarely stops it.

Sarah Oktay, vice-chairman of the Nantucket Conservation Commission states, Its a natural process If you take beach bluffs or dunes and you cover them in rocks so it cant go anywhere, then it no longer provides that feeder material to downdrift beaches, so youll lose the beach in front of those rocks and youll lose the beach downdrifts. Its basically telling your neighbors, Well, I want my home more than you want your beach.

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Beaches vs. Homeowners

Isla Vista Beaches Closed Through The Weekend

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ISLA VISTA, Calif. -

The beaches along the coast of Isla Vista will be closed off to the public this coming weekend during the so-called "Floatopia" or "Deltopia" event.

The Santa Barbara County Community Services Department made the announcement Thursday.

The past beachside bacchanals, known as "Floatopia," attracted thousands of partiers and left a large-scale mess that included mounds of trash and human waste.

University of California police and Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies said the last un-permitted event of 2009 caused public health and safety concerns.

The following year, up to this year, the IV beaches have been closed off during the weekend event. However, partiers moved their location to Del Playa, which led to the name change of "Deltopia."

County officials say this year's event is not a sanctioned event and there are no approved permits issued.

The beaches along Isla Vista will be closed Saturday and Sunday; the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department will enforce the closure.

On the beach today, NewsChannel 3 spoke with some young people who were tanning and drinking.

"We come out here and have a lot of fun," said Peter Sanders from Fullerton. Pointing to a large bottle of Old English 800, a malt liquor he said, "Of course we recycle. We do our part."

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Isla Vista Beaches Closed Through The Weekend

[News@1 Junior Edition] Doors to explore: 5 beaches to visit this Holy week [03|30|14] – Video

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[News@1 Junior Edition] Doors to explore: 5 beaches to visit this Holy week [03|30|14]
[News@1 Junior Edition] Doors to explore: 5 beaches to visit this Holy week (Reported by Mayie Mapili) [March 30, 2014] For more news, visit: http://www.ptv...

By: PTV

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[News@1 Junior Edition] Doors to explore: 5 beaches to visit this Holy week [03|30|14] - Video

Easter holiday warning about riptides on British beaches caused by winter storms

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By Travelmail Reporter

Published: 09:04 EST, 3 April 2014 | Updated: 10:19 EST, 3 April 2014

A safety warning has been issued to British families hoping hit the beaches during the Easter holidays, after winter storms dramatically changed the coastline causing lethal riptides in previously-safe waters.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) says holidaymakers will be startled when they see beaches in Devon and Cornwall, which have be changed almost beyond recognition.

As the Easter holidays begin and the mild weather continues, families venturing onto Britain's beaches are being advised to take care as 100mph winds over winter have shifted millions of tons of golden sands and shingle, creating new currents.

Bearing the brunt: Cornish beaches were hit hard by the winter storms which brought 100mph winds

Steve Instance, RNLI senior lifeguard manager for the South West of England, said: 'The winter storms have dramatically changed the make-up of most the beaches and many people returning to their favourite spots may be surprised at how different everything looks.'

He explained: 'This includes significant erosion of the sand dunes where gentle slopes have washed away, leaving sheer sand cliffs, some of which are 10 to 15 feet high.

'On other beaches, access points have altered and on some, the shifting sand has left deep channels that in turn create strong rip currents.'

Waterlogged: The South West was hit hard by storms in January and February this year

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Easter holiday warning about riptides on British beaches caused by winter storms

Safety on our beaches

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Story Created: Apr 1, 2014 at 11:13 PM ECT

Story Updated: Apr 1, 2014 at 11:13 PM ECT

THE recent drowning of 26-year-old Sashell Ross at Bacolet beach once again raises concerns about the safety of those who use our beaches. At present, Tobago is an ideal getaway and place of relaxation for many Trinidadians almost every weekend. Also, many Tobagonians and foreign visitors recognise the importance of a sea bath to their physical well-being. The fact that there are beaches on the island which are relatively free from pollution helps to add attraction for both local and foreign people seeking to enjoy sun, sea and sun. As the old saying goes, the sea has no branches. This means that safety is a priority at all beaches. Whether those beaches are on the Atlantic or Caribbean side of the island, the sea bathers cannot be ignored. Bacolet Beach, for example is a very beautiful and enchanting place to bathe when the water is calm. However, those who are acquainted with the beach, know there is a current pulling from east to west when the water is rough. Also when the inter-island ferry passes in the vicinity of the beach, there is always a vicious ripping of the waves. It means that it would be wise for those in the water to come out and allow the normality of the waves to return. Such native knowledge could well be printed on public notice boards at the beach, because to be forewarned is to be forearmed'. Lifesaving information could also be printed. Even though the Tobago House of Assembly's Division of Tourism will have its hands full at present with the upcoming jazz event, it is hoped that the operatives at the Division will ensure later on to remember the safety of the public on our beaches. It is also essential for the well used beaches on the island to have properly trained and fully equipped lifeguards. Also, members of the public must themselves be aware of certain basics when they go to enjoy a sea bath. There must be a limitation on alcohol or drug consumption which can cause an individual to lose his or her sense of judgement. Be careful of what games are played while bathing because in the heat of the moment, one can forget the principle of safety first. The Tobago Hotels Restaurants and Tourism Association is now calling on the Division to provide more lifeguard cover on the popular tourist beaches, like Grafton and Turtle Beach. While it accepts that the Division does put public notices on many unmanned beaches, it is warning that this shouldn't be a cheap option and that nothing replaces full lifeguard cover, who can often act as first responders to any beach related incident. We believe the Tobago beaches remain one of our island's primary attractions; we must therefore keep them safe for ourselves and our visiting friends.

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Safety on our beaches

Calls for more lifeguards on Tobagos beaches

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By Katy Stickland

Story Created: Apr 1, 2014 at 11:24 PM ECT

Story Updated: Apr 1, 2014 at 11:24 PM ECT

TOURISM leaders are calling on the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to provide more lifeguards for the islands beaches. It comes following the drowning of 26-year-old Sashell Ross at Bacolet beach earlier this month. The Maravel pre-school teacher was on holiday with friends in Tobago when she got into difficulty in the water. The beach has no lifeguard cover. The President of the Tobago Hotels Restaurants and Tourism Association, Nicholas Hardwicke says although it is impossible and impracticable to have lifeguard cover on all of Tobagos beaches, major public beaches should be covered. Some beaches such as Lambeau have no bathers but lifeguard cover. Grafton, Turtle Beach, Grange and Back Bay which are visited by hundreds of bathers a week during the season have no coverage, says Hardwicke. If lifeguard facilities are not provided on the beach then you should at least have enough adequate signage to warn the visiting public to exercise caution. The THA has taken some strides towards this, although it is not universal. But this should not be a cheap option. We need lifeguard facilities at all the key beaches. The THAs Division of Tourism and Transportation provides lifeguard cover for nine of Tobagos beaches including Store Bay, Pigeon Point, Mt. Irvine, Bloody Bay, Castara, Kings Bay, Charlotteville and Speyside. There are currently no lifeguards on duty at Little Rockly Bay (Lambeau) because the lifeguard tower is closed for renovation work. Hardwicke says the provision of lifeguards is a benchmark issue and one we have been aspiring to for a long time. Their importance is not just that theyre there for the protection of swimmers in the water but in many incidences lifeguards are the first responders to incidents which can happen in a beach environment. They are an authoritative presence which is required. They provide an important link to other law enforcement and emergency response agencies, said Hardwicke. I first raised this in1999 and there was a unanimous agreement by all stakeholders and government that something should be done. It is now 2014 and nothing has been done. From a public safety point of view we want to see the facilities with appropriately trained, manned and capable teams put in place. There is much more that they could do. Tobago News asked the THAs Division of Tourism and Transportation to respond to the concerns. Up until press time there had been no response.

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Calls for more lifeguards on Tobagos beaches

More rubbish than ever before found on UK beaches

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By Travelmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 03:32 EST, 1 April 2014 | UPDATED: 05:55 EST, 1 April 2014

More litter than ever before is being thrown on to the UK's beaches with seafronts in Wales almost twice as dirty as the rest of the country.

Some 223,405 pieces of rubbish were collected from coastal areas in the UK last year, new figures show, with seafronts in Englands North West deemed the filthiest in the country.

As part of the annual Beachwatch Big Weekend 2013, volunteers picked up on average 2,309 bits of rubbish on every kilometre cleaned the highest amount in its 20-year history.

Rubbish: Volunteers collected the most litter from Gwynedd (pictured), Anglesey, and Denbighshire in Wales

That figured doubled for beaches in Wales, with more than 4,000 pieces found.

Plastic was the top of the list of litter items, with 48,813 bits collected, followed by caps and lids, polystyrene, crisp and sweet wrappers and string.

Lauren Eyles, Beachwatch Officer at the Marine Conservation Society, which organises the annual event, said: This is a disgusting tide of litter which is threatening the safety of beach visitors both human and animal.

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More rubbish than ever before found on UK beaches

Those Relaxing Sounds of WAVES 2 Tropical Ocean Beaches Wave Sounds VIRGIN ISLANDS BEACHES video.mp4 – Video

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Those Relaxing Sounds of WAVES 2 Tropical Ocean Beaches Wave Sounds VIRGIN ISLANDS BEACHES video.mp4
Those Relaxing Sounds of WAVES 2 Tropical Ocean Beaches Wave Sounds VIRGIN ISLANDS BEACHES video.mp4.

By: Amit Panday

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Those Relaxing Sounds of WAVES 2 Tropical Ocean Beaches Wave Sounds VIRGIN ISLANDS BEACHES video.mp4 - Video


  1. Beaches