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Why Doesn't Galveston Take Better Care Of Their Beaches?


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I saw this thread started by our old buddy greystone08 on SSC. Since he never posts here on HAIF anymore, I thought i'd start the same thread here and see some viewpoints as to why Galveston doesn't take better care of their beaches. Maybe since there's all kinds of new development, hopefully they might start.

This question is more for Galvestonians or anyone who knows about real estate. But why? Why doesn't the city of Galveston take better care of their beaches. Galveston is perceived as "gross" by a lot of visitors and even people who live their. Most of the time when i go down there, the sand looks caked up and muddy, there's alot of seaweed washing on the coast and weeds growing up on the shoreline.

What's the problem? Galveston could be more of a tourist spot and is working on becoming one. More and more new developers are coming in trying to snatch up some of their property. Do you think the demand will cause Galveston to get its act together?

Thoughts please...

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I saw this thread started by our old buddy greystone08 on SSC. Since he never posts here on HAIF anymore, I thought i'd start the same thread here and see some viewpoints as to why Galveston doesn't take better care of their beaches. Maybe since there's all kinds of new development, hopefully they might start.

Galveston will ALWAYS be dirty, it gets the direct current from the Mississippi river.

Clean up the Mississippi, and Galveston will get cleaned up too.

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Not necessarily the Mississippi river but certainly the Sabine, the Trinity, the San Jacinto, the Brazos, and the Colorado all add to the problem. That combined with the fact that the Gulf is very shallow comparitivly speaking to other gulfs and oceans. It takes almost ten miles off shore to get past the hundred foot depth mark. Add it all up and you get murky water that deposits darker sand onto the beaches giving it a "dirty" look.

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  • 2 months later...
Its the dark sand. Truck in white sand and you will have the bahamas.

Regardless of the color of the sand, it would be nice if the city would pick up the trash. I understand they leave the seaweed there to control erosion, but I don't think that oil company hard hats, plastic bottles, and bits of styrofoam coolers are part of Mother Nature's plan to keep the sand from washing away.

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Import sand like they do in Florida. White sand would look nice in Galveston.

Well, then it wouldn't be Galveston, would it?

I've talked to several Galvestonians, and they have suggested that those that want fake beaches go to Florida where fake beaches are all the rage. This is a win-win scenario. Fake beach lovers will have a great time in Florida, and real beach lovers will enjoy a less crowded Galveston.

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Well, then it wouldn't be Galveston, would it?

I've talked to several Galvestonians, and they have suggested that those that want fake beaches go to Florida where fake beaches are all the rage. This is a win-win scenario. Fake beach lovers will have a great time in Florida, and real beach lovers will enjoy a less crowded Galveston.

Well the so called "fake" beaches are so much more beautiful to look at and more comfortable to lay out on, too... just my opinion.

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Well the so called "fake" beaches are so much more beautiful to look at and more comfortable to lay out on, too... just my opinion.

Anyway, which one would be easier to pretty up, the sand or the water? I am sure its not asking too much to have at least one of them not suck.

How much work would be involved to do either one?

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Well the so called "fake" beaches are so much more beautiful to look at and more comfortable to lay out on, too... just my opinion.

That is a very true statement. You know, sometimes a city such as Galveston just needs a little push to go in the right direction. Letters to the Editor regarding "trashy beaches" would help. Also, as the city builds up with all these new high rise condos, hotels, and possible casinos, the investors will insist that the beaches look as good as possible and it will follow. In the meantime, am a great believer in calls to the city and editorials, they have worked for me in my area.

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Anyway, which one would be easier to pretty up, the sand or the water? I am sure its not asking too much to have at least one of them not suck.

How much work would be involved to do either one?

Well, "prettying up" the water would involve damming up the Mississippi or reversing the prevailing currrent in the Gulf of Mexico.

I doubt either is a weekend project. ;)

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Well, "prettying up" the water would involve damming up the Mississippi or reversing the prevailing currrent in the Gulf of Mexico.

I doubt either is a weekend project. ;)

Would it help just to dam up the Mississippi without reversing the current? The current just prevents the stuff from the Mississippi river from flowing out or does the current also bring crap in?

Edited by webdude
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Well, then it wouldn't be Galveston, would it?

I've talked to several Galvestonians, and they have suggested that those that want fake beaches go to Florida where fake beaches are all the rage. This is a win-win scenario. Fake beach lovers will have a great time in Florida, and real beach lovers will enjoy a less crowded Galveston.

Great move, Galveston. By sticking to "real" beaches, they're really hurting Florida's tourist economy. I bet Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Saint Pete Beach, and Key West are going to turn into ghost towns any day now that people know they're sunning themselves on "fake" beaches.

In the words of Marshall Field, "Give the woman what she wants."

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Whats strange is when you are in one of the hotels on the seawall and look out towards the Gulf it can appear blue. Its been a few years that I have been up there but we were like what? did the hotel tint the windows for that effect? Hilarious. :lol:

Honestly though, Galvez has imported white sand before must have been about 10 years ago I recall. The storms constantly wash away most improvements so I believe the locals know its a waste of $ and time to make appear as a FLA beach. As far as trash is concerned it was agreat idea to ban glass bottles 1st of all. Nothing like a bloody foot while trying to frolic in the surf. Plastic bags being banned is next, they get caught up on animals beaks, etc. Sticking to topic, I am sure Galvez wants to takle better care but its all about volunteer efforts and manpower which there is always a shortage.

By the way the new causeway looks nice and modern but it purposely was designed to block drivers from viewing the Gulf, not very nice. :( Glad we got to enjoy the old one, seeing the bay was part of the excitement and allure of arriving in Galveston. What gives?

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Bottomline is that Galveston doesn't rake the beaches every morning because Tillman Fertita won't pay for it to be done. I keep saying that Galveston should take this ONE page from Mississippi Gulf Coast shores and rake the beaches at least 3 times a week. Take the debris(driftwood, seaweed, natural stuff, NOT bottles and cans), and build dunes with it.

Find a way to create 9 $30,000 a year jobs. That's 3 teams of 3, with nice new Tractors or convert some old ones in the motorpool. Yes, it is about a $500k a year to keep the beaches clean, but what does anyone think the projected return revenue would or could be from potential tourists and Houstonians alike that would go to Galveston more, if you have clean beaches, NOT pristine, "WOW, this looks like Hawaii!" beaches, just clean, no seaweed to get tangled up in or no soda cans and empty pork rind bags strewn all over, beaches ?

Edited by TJones
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I strongly believe that Texas needs to compare itself to other coastal towns, this is how we learn.

I was greatly impressed with the west coast (as much as others here knock it). The beaches for example in Santa Monica dont allow cars near the sand or near the edge of the water like we do. That would be the first place to start cut down or eliminate auto access. Well, not truly ban cars but have nice large parking areas so tourists can carry belongings. Rest rooms in most locals are elevated and made of concrete. Our's should be made solid so storms dont destroy and have to be rebuilt.

Anyway keeping autos farther away is a start.

Restroom.JPG

Edited by Vertigo58
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Great move, Galveston. By sticking to "real" beaches, they're really hurting Florida's tourist economy. I bet Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Saint Pete Beach, and Key West are going to turn into ghost towns any day now that people know they're sunning themselves on "fake" beaches.

In the words of Marshall Field, "Give the woman what she wants."

Key West - 2.5 million annual visitors

Galveston - 6 million annual visitors

Emerald Coast 7 million annual visitors

The Emerald Coast is over 100 miles long, and includes Fort Walton, Destin and Pensacola. Galveston does very well considering its lack of marketing. Florida advertises itself as one big, long continuous beach. It advertises its beaches everywhere. When one thinks Florida, one thinks beach.

Texas? Cowboys, cattle, oil. Rarely does the state advertise its beaches. Galveston must go it alone. Even so, it outgains Destin, Pensacola and Fort Walton individually, as well as Key West.

Galveston needs to clean up its image, to be sure. It cannot do anything about its water or sand.

BTW, show me the trash on the beach. Here's a few webcams for your perusal.

http://www.galveston.com/webcams/

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You go, Red!

And Galveston does groom its beaches! But all of y'all are still sleeping when they do it.

Do you expect to see the groom the beaches in the middle of the day while people are there?

stewartbeachmp.jpg

Edited by MidtownCoog
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EC%20Mtng-Moody%20Gardens-Galveston%20Area%20076.jpg

Restroom.JPG

My God, You are right, these two beaches are virtually twins !

How about frolicking in front of the Flagship ?

galveston5.jpg

Yeah, that looks like a goodtime there. Nevermind the seaweed, apparently it was the beachcombers day off ?

Apparently, there are alot of people like me, that wouldn;t go out of their way to actually take photos of TRASH on the beach. Who wants to show their kids hangin' out by that stuff, but here is a nice picture of the Jetties.

Trashy.JPG

Edited by TJones
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Trashy.JPG

Man, you can sure tell when the tourists have been here...most Galveston residents (such as myself) respect our environment and clean up after ourselves. Hell, most of us don't even go to the beach. A lot of the trash washes up from other coastal communities as well (but most of it drives down).

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That's not exactly the Beach, Boy, now is it?

No sand? That's Seawall.

TJones knows you can't groom rocks every day. Those toothless wonders a couple of states over don't even have a Seawall, and they paid dearly for it.

And a picture of the "No Swim" beach near Flagship? The only punks who go under there are the surfers on the other side.

Edited by MidtownCoog
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