A Crusade To Protect Florida's Beaches

Florida residents seek new zoning and laws to protect their beaches' 95%-pure quartz sand.

1 minute read

July 25, 2001, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Tthe beaches of the Florida Panhandle are something to see. Their brilliant sand particles are at least 95% pure quartz. Washed downstream over the ages from the Appalachians, they are filtered by the Apalachicola Bay before collecting farther west. The sand is so pure, it squeaks when you walk on it." Local crusaders fight any attempt by developers or beach goers to modify the sand: "In recent years, though, the Panhandle has faced a number of threats. Red clay, brought in by the truckload and shoveled into the foundations of ever-larger real-estate developments, invariably finds its way to shore."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Tuesday, July 24, 2001 in Wall St. Journal

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