As our local Lake Worth tabloid is forever taking jabs at Scientist and Commissioner Christopher McVoy whenever he talks about sea level rise and global warming, I thought it necessary to print Drew Martin's letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post.
Letters to the EditorPalm Beach Post
January 9. 2016
Soil subsidence’ cannot be ignored
The issue of sea-level rise in South Florida has serious implications for the future. Evidence indicates a 7- to 8-inch rise in sea level over the last century.
In an area that is near sea level, and that is dependent upon drainage through canals, this is significant. Land-use decisions regularly made by the county are based upon the continued ability to drain land for development. Recent decisions to develop open areas and agricultural lands disregard the risks of sea-level rise.
Much of our area is dominated by drained land that is dependent upon the ability to quickly move water during tropical storms. A good portion of this has been gravity-driven. For the last 100 years, significant areas of cypress and mangroves have been removed, with the loss of soils and wildlife.
We seldom hear the term “soil subsidence” when we discuss these projects. (This is where soil shrinks and loses elevation due to lack of hydration.) The county cannot claim to be concerned about these issues while permitting continuous development in areas that were wetlands.
DREW MARTIN
LAKE WORTH
Drew Martin is the conservation chairman of the Loxahatchee Group of the Sierra Club and is a candidate for Palm Beach County Commission.
2 comments:
Go Drew. You have my vote.
Does LW have any wetlands? I thought these areas were out west in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
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