BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The resurrection of the Jersey shore is underway, and Governor Chris Christie believes protective sand dunes are a large part of the rebuilding. But the question has come up about beach protection versus the rights of oceanfront property owners.

Bradley Beach had the dunes in place when Hurricane Sandy hit, and is undergoing a reconstruction project. The community is using wooden dune fencing and discarded Christmas trees to construct or reinforce dunes in the spirit of protecting the shore from future storms. The Christmas trees catch blowing sand and wind up covered, and take the shape of a dune.

Christie was concerned with providing that protection. He said, according to an Associated Press report on Newsday, "What I care most about is that an aggressive dune system is built and maintained. I hope that a group of homeowners doesn't place the lives of an entire town at risk because they want a little bit better of a view. That's extremely selfish and short-sighted."

In an opposing point of view, Harvey and Phyllis Karan of Harvey Cedars sued the community for building a line of two-story sand dunes in front of their $1.7 million oceanfront home because it damaged their ocean view. The Daily Journal reported that the Karans won a $375,000 judgment in state court last year. Harvey Cedars is appealing the case.

Long Beach Island seemed to feel Hurricane Sandy’s effects based on the placement of the dunes. NJ.com reported that in Holgate, older homes were ripped from their foundations and many houses on the beach saw their first floors break away. Meanwhile, areas featuring the protective dunes saw little damage.

According to newjerseyshore.com, the state Department of Environmental Protection sets the standards for maintaining dunes. Changes to the beach area can only be made with a Coastal Areas Facilities Act permit.

In desert areas such as western and northern China, sand shifts have moved at rates of twenty meters per year.