Prime spots in jeopardy

[Dino]

Originally Posted by Reel Class

WOW

My question is why can't they just take sand from the miles of flat, unmitigated sand up and down the beach which isn't on a lump or high spot?

...I really don't get the rationale!!!

Apparently the reason why an inshore lump stays a lump, stays higher than the surrounding bottom, and doesnt get flattened down by currents, is because the larger grain sand is built up there. thats exactly the sand the Corps wants because it (just like when it was on the lumps), won't get washed away as fast. that seems to be the problem, they dont want the finer grain sand from the random open bottom.. they want the large grains from the lumps which are sensitive habitat for fish and crucial for fishermen.. kind of sux !

[Capt Sal]

Disturbing the bottom in any way,shape or form takes years to recoop. When Raritan Bay was reopened to clammers the bottom was destroyed. Areas that were full of life became void of fish. Mud flats as well as sandy bottom that held coral and natural bottom dwellers do not produce anymore. This destruction was all done by hand raking. Imagine what power dredging does? The Dredge" Sand Master" out of South Amboy has destroyed many areas along Ambrose channel. I can not count how many striper honey holes they ruined. Small wrecks and high spots that we had marked on our plotters are simply gone forever! Destroy more habitat and then turn down RR cars that could be a productive reef! They say we are leaders in America? Total revamp of the whole thing starting with Fisheries Management and adding the Army Corp of Engineers.

[TT2]

So, as if it isn't bad enough that we have to accept larger minimum fish sizes, reduced possession limits and shorter seasons when based on inaccurate data, we now stand to lose the very fishing grounds themselves. The lumps in question are the lump inside of the Axel Carlson Reef known as borrow area B and the Manasquan Ridge known as borrow area F2. They are both identified by the government as "prime fishing areas" This project will ultimately destroy these lumps. In the comment section of the Environmental Assessment dated May 2014, NMFS had recommended that both these areas be removed as a source of sand. The Army Corp's response is that they will only take 2/3s of Borrow area B and haven't officially determined if they'll take sand from Manasqun Ridge but if they do it will only be a small portion.

The JCAA, RFA and ALS are fighting this and have been in touch with our legislative representatives.

The Environmental Assssment can be found at on The Philadelphia Corp's website at http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Portal...ignedFONSI.pdf.

[Joey Dah Fish]

The Army Corp of engineers are by far the most stupid of all. They have trying to tame the Mississippi River how did that turn out? They are the ones that said they jetties would protect the beaches from erosion. The list is endless. They have destroyed everything they have touched. Don't get me wrong it's not the people running the equipment and or the machinery. It's the policies and the administration that suck. Yet another story of follow the money to see who they work for and why. The government f**ks up everything it touches.