Turtle Beach

The reason Turtle Beach was named thus is because of the high concentration of turtle nesting that goes on here. By May 1st we noticed all outdoor lights in the adjacent high-rise had been switched out to red lights and parking lot lights had been blacked out 75% leaving the equivalent of a flashlight pointed inland.

Last year, at a cost of over 21 million dollars, acres of sand were pumped from the Gulf onto the beach to combat the erosion. Much of that sand has already disappeared.  

Last week storms wrecked many sea turtle nests on the beach. The erosion left a cliff of sand that the turtles could not climb and therefore eggs got buried where high tides and storms would destroy them. Some turtles did find paths above the berms, but storm erosion laid them bare.

Although the replenishment project was touted as a help to the turtles, it was an inadvertent trap. I am reminded of the saying "We're from the government and we are here to help".

Nests all up and down the beach. Note the sea weed marking the tidal reach.

One nest up high, but still cut open by erosion with one stake dangling.

Proof once more that it's not nice to fool Mother Nature.