Mica Hears Erosion Concerns

By Jessica Clark First Coast News

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FL -- It's been three weeks since the Zimmerman family evacuated their South Ponte Vedra home because of a nor?easter's waves that quickly eroded away their backyard.

As of Monday, they?re still staying at a house in Jacksonville.

Jim Zimmerman said he hasn?t moved back ?because the ocean's still coming up. We don?t have one hundred percent protection at this point.?

Zimmerman has trucked in sand to create a back yard again, but he's still working on the seawall.

Like Zimmerman, many people in South Ponte Vedra Beach face rapidly eroding backyards and an ocean that is only feet away from their homes. Zimmerman?s neighbor?s home is even condemned.

Ladders are now the way homeowners get from their back yard, down the cliff, and to the beach.

Congressman John Mica checked out the coastline and stopped by Zimmerman's house Monday morning. Mica said it's not a pretty picture for homeowners, and in order to fix the problem, the federal government needs to know what's causing the quick erosion.

?First of all you've got to have a study conducted by the Corps of Engineers which is going to cost substantial money,? Mica told First Coast News. ?It would give us the engineering and the recipe for correction, if correction is possible.

After leaving Zimmerman?s home, Mica held a public forum with representatives from the county, state and federal government. Homeowners were also there.

People who have homes in South Ponte Vedra Beach urged their representatives to move quickly. In Zimmerman's case, permitting and construction of his wall has taken eight months and $100,000.

Zimmerman said, ?Something to stop the erosion is going to have to be done -- other than beach re-nourishment because beach re-nourishment is of course, temporary. These [sea] walls are temporary. As soon as the ocean wants them, they're going to be gone.?

Three main items came out of Mica?s meeting. First, he said he plans to set up a meeting with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and homeowners to sort out the details about the sea walls.

Secondly, Mica said he will send a letter to the state DEP. In it, he will ask for an explanation about the rule which says a homeowner cannot start the sea wall permitting process until their home is 20 feet from the ocean. He wants to know if 20 is an arbitrary number.

Lastly, Mica said he will also meet with the Army Corps of Engineers to see if the feasibility study along St. Johns County?s coastline can be expedited so people won?t have to wait until 2010 for results.

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