Harrison County tackles problem of blowing sand - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Harrison County tackles problem of blowing sand

Posted: Updated:
By Steve Phillips - bio | email

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Friday, May 24 2013 6:49 AM EDT2013-05-24 10:49:03 GMT
    It's a voyage that helps introduce tourists to those small waterfront towns that they may not ordinarily think to visit. A cruise ship docked in Biloxi on Wednesday night. Then on Thursday, passengers
    It's a voyage that helps introduce tourists to those small waterfront towns that they may not ordinarily think to visit. A cruise ship docked in Biloxi on Wednesday night. Then on Thursday, passengers visited several attractions including the Biloxi lighthouse and the visitors center. The Grande Caribe set sail from New Orleans and will continue on until it reaches St. Petersburg. Crew members said it's the stops along the way that makes these small cruises stand out.

  • Monday, May 13 2013 12:24 PM EDT2013-05-13 16:24:04 GMT
    MARION COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - A weekend-long drug raid left 22 individuals behind bars, and more arrests to come. According to Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall, the drug raid is the result of several
    A weekend-long drug raid left 22 individuals behind bars, and more arrests to come.

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 5:38 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:38:18 GMT
    The picture of a George County dog set on fire is disturbing. Authorities say the circumstances surrounding how fire consumed the dog are shocking. According to George County Sheriff Dean Howell, 20-year-old
    Socks, the dog reportedly burned this week by his owner, has died. That word comes from a George County Sheriff's deputy.  Socks succumbed to injuries suffered after 20-year-old Brandon Pierce allegedly set his dog on fire Tuesday night. The suspect told deputies he torched the dog because he "wanted to help the dog go to heaven."
    •   
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -

Harrison County is looking at ways to keep 26 miles of sand on the beach, where it belongs.

For many years, tons of sand have blown onto nearby Highway 90, creating a driving hazard and costly clean-up. The county has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to halt or at least reduce the blowing sand problem.

Next month, supervisors will hear a report from the Corps about some potential solutions.

"The board has been actively involved with this for over a year, trying to come up with something to eliminate that problem on the beach," said Supervisor Marlin Ladner.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been working with the county and next month will present recommendations for keeping the sand on the beach. Part of that plan will include a demonstration plot.

"We're going to do a trial area, hopefully in the near future, of lowering the template of the beach to a certain level to try and take care of the problem of the sand blowing onto the roadway," said Sand Beach Director Chuck Loftis, "We have to be sure not to damage the seawall in any way with removing too much sand. So, that's what the Corps is coming in and telling us, how low we can put the template of the beach."

Blowing sand is more than a driving safety issue, it also requires costly clean-ups.

"It's been costing M-DOT over a million dollars and I think it's costing Harrison County over $250 or 300 thousand a year to work on that sand on that highway," said Supervisor Ladner.

Adding dunes and vegetation will also be part of the long term solution.

"It took us 20 years to get those dunes up and running on the beach and Katrina took it out. And it's just going to take time. I hope it doesn't take another 20 years," said Supervisor Connie Rockco.

Along with the Army Corps of Engineers, Harrison County supervisors have also reached out to Mississippi State University for help and suggestions on how best to control that wind-blown sand.

Copyright 2012 WLOX. All rights reserved.