PETITION IN FAVOR OF REPLENISHING THE GLASS BEACHES OF FORT BRAGG, CA.
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
The Fort Bragg City Council
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Sponsored By:
The Glass Beach Replenishment League -
More Info at:
These petitioners are in favor of Replenishing the Glass Beaches of Fort Bragg, California, and would like the Fort Bragg City Council, as the local Coastal Act authority, to begin the process in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act that will allow replenishment to be undertaken.
Fort Bragg has the highest concentration of sea glass (or seaglass) in the world because the rock formations here set up unique wave patterns that keep everything on the beaches. Because nothing washes away, there are three main old dump sites and many auxiliary coves with sea glass, and the glass beaches of Fort Bragg are a constant major tourist draw. These Glass Beach tourists are critical to Fort Braggs economic health, and very important to the economic health of the county and state. Many tourists come to Mendocino County and Fort Bragg solely because of our now famous glass beaches.
The glass beaches not only bring a great deal of money into the economy through tourism, they also are already supporting a fledgling sea glass industry with products ranging from photography, to candles, picture frames, tiles, mosaics, fine jewelry and a sea glass museum.
As depletion cannot be stopped, due to Article 10 of the California State Constitution, and the impossibility of enforcing any sort of ban on collecting, and since the tourists are coming here to collect the sea glass, (not just look at it), if the glass beaches are to be preserved they must be replenished with pre-broken, pre-tumbled, non-sharp glass and terra cotta pieces.
Breaking and tumbling glass is how fake sea glass is made. Fake sea glass is an industry in other parts of the country and world that recycles glass in a constructive, profitable, way and the fake sea glass is often used in fish tanks, gardens, etc. Fake sea glass is often etched with acid to give it a frosted look. The glass and pottery used for the replenishment would be the same as this fake sea glass but without the acid etching and would come from contributions of items from the local community. Instead of making fake sea glass to recycle our glass and china, we would be making real sea glass, actual gems, and constructively recycling items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
The North Coast Water Quality Control Board, who performed the cleanup studies for Glass Beach, considers the glass benign but it actually enhances the marine environment. Glass is made from sand and is colored with minerals. As the glass dissolves in the water, it releases the silica from the sand and the minerals used to color it. The same is true of Terra Cotta shards from pottery to fine china. These minerals form the basis of the food chain so each piece of glass or pottery is literally a mineral supplement that forms the very basis of the food chain. Marine biologists now study the marine environment in Fort Bragg because it is healthier than the surrounding area. Fort Bragg has 48 variety of the Chiton snail, for instance, which is more than anywhere else in California.
In addition, extensive ecological impact studies have already been performed by Broward County, Florida, before they deposited hundreds of tons of glass on the beaches of Fort Lauderdale in order to stabilize them. Those interested in signing this petition can read these studies by simply searching for Broward County Fort Lauderdale glass beaches on the Internet.
THE PETITIONERS ALSO OPPOSE the current policy of the city council of misinforming people about the legality of collecting sea glass here. To say it is forbidden only serves to confuse many of the tourists who come here for the glass beaches and drives away others who would come here and support our economy if they knew they could collect sea glass here.
We would like Fort Bragg promoted for its sea glass and sea glass industry, rather than the current policy, which is accomplishing nothing but creating confusion and diminishing tourism. Fort Bragg is the Sea Glass Capital of the World and should be promoted as such for the health of the local economies.
WE CANNOT STOP THE DEPLETION, WE MUST BEGIN THE REPLENISHMENT
Fort Bragg has the highest concentration of sea glass (or seaglass) in the world because the rock formations here set up unique wave patterns that keep everything on the beaches. Because nothing washes away, there are three main old dump sites and many auxiliary coves with sea glass, and the glass beaches of Fort Bragg are a constant major tourist draw. These Glass Beach tourists are critical to Fort Braggs economic health, and very important to the economic health of the county and state. Many tourists come to Mendocino County and Fort Bragg solely because of our now famous glass beaches.
The glass beaches not only bring a great deal of money into the economy through tourism, they also are already supporting a fledgling sea glass industry with products ranging from photography, to candles, picture frames, tiles, mosaics, fine jewelry and a sea glass museum.
As depletion cannot be stopped, due to Article 10 of the California State Constitution, and the impossibility of enforcing any sort of ban on collecting, and since the tourists are coming here to collect the sea glass, (not just look at it), if the glass beaches are to be preserved they must be replenished with pre-broken, pre-tumbled, non-sharp glass and terra cotta pieces.
Breaking and tumbling glass is how fake sea glass is made. Fake sea glass is an industry in other parts of the country and world that recycles glass in a constructive, profitable, way and the fake sea glass is often used in fish tanks, gardens, etc. Fake sea glass is often etched with acid to give it a frosted look. The glass and pottery used for the replenishment would be the same as this fake sea glass but without the acid etching and would come from contributions of items from the local community. Instead of making fake sea glass to recycle our glass and china, we would be making real sea glass, actual gems, and constructively recycling items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
The North Coast Water Quality Control Board, who performed the cleanup studies for Glass Beach, considers the glass benign but it actually enhances the marine environment. Glass is made from sand and is colored with minerals. As the glass dissolves in the water, it releases the silica from the sand and the minerals used to color it. The same is true of Terra Cotta shards from pottery to fine china. These minerals form the basis of the food chain so each piece of glass or pottery is literally a mineral supplement that forms the very basis of the food chain. Marine biologists now study the marine environment in Fort Bragg because it is healthier than the surrounding area. Fort Bragg has 48 variety of the Chiton snail, for instance, which is more than anywhere else in California.
In addition, extensive ecological impact studies have already been performed by Broward County, Florida, before they deposited hundreds of tons of glass on the beaches of Fort Lauderdale in order to stabilize them. Those interested in signing this petition can read these studies by simply searching for Broward County Fort Lauderdale glass beaches on the Internet.
THE PETITIONERS ALSO OPPOSE the current policy of the city council of misinforming people about the legality of collecting sea glass here. To say it is forbidden only serves to confuse many of the tourists who come here for the glass beaches and drives away others who would come here and support our economy if they knew they could collect sea glass here.
We would like Fort Bragg promoted for its sea glass and sea glass industry, rather than the current policy, which is accomplishing nothing but creating confusion and diminishing tourism. Fort Bragg is the Sea Glass Capital of the World and should be promoted as such for the health of the local economies.
WE CANNOT STOP THE DEPLETION, WE MUST BEGIN THE REPLENISHMENT
128 Signatures
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Joseph Forrington
- Comments
- Our Economy Needs This!
- Address
- P. O. Box 56, Fort Bragg, Ca 95437
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Tammy Davis
- Comments
- I feel certain that the implementation of this project would have only a positive impact on our community and would be a major factor in actually keeping Fort Bragg a thriving coast town, and not another forgotten ghost town.
- Address
- 230 Riverview Drive, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
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Judith Shoup
- Address
- 1960 Trenton Avenue, Whiting, NJ 08759
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Sandra L.Grimm
- Address
- 820 Garnet Ave.
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Cassandra Forrington
- Address
- 334 G St, Arcata, CA 95521
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Eric Palmer
- Address
- 20 Briarwood Lane, Scituate, MA 02066
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Lisa D Walker
- Address
- PO Box 2745, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
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Tami Ewing
- Address
- 3210 Park Ave. N. Renton, WA 98056
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Joanne Bottenfield
- Address
- 746 West St., Fort Bragg, Ca. 95437
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Jeanne Hansen
- Comments
- Collecting seaglass is a wonderful activity which only benefits the participants as well as the observers.
- Address
- 3032 S. Carolina St., San Pedro, CA 90731
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Dee Fredson
- Comments
- please listen to the people of Fort Bragg
- Address
- 400 South St. #3
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Jo W
- Comments
- I'm 12 hours drive away and would gladly come spend money in Fort Bragg if only I could take away one sandwich bag of sea glass and deposit at least three pounds of "not quite done" sea glass from other beaches.
- Address
- Des Moines, WA 98198
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Tracy Kruser
- Comments
- I want to come to Glass Beach from years to come and still see glass there.
- Address
- 305 E. Mills Dr.
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Jeff Goodliffe
- Address
- 1937 Veterans Blvd.
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Michelle Forrington
- Comments
- given the scientific data and the tourism the beach brings, replenishing is a very good idea
- Address
- 15270 Mitchell Creek Drive
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Gloria Hunt
- Address
- 510 Rachel Ct. Fallon, NV 89406
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Debora Grover
- Comments
- Glass Beach is a tourist destination and replishing the sea glass just reinforces that destination for the future economy of Ft Bragg
- Address
- 40 camino del diablo, Orinda Calif
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Debbie De Luna
- Address
- 2427 Lakewood Drive Prescott AZ 86301
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Leslie Davis
- Address
- 1545 Vine Street Belmont, CA 94002
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Ruth Sparks
- Comments
- Good Idea
- Address
- P O Box 2478
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rosemary smith
- Comments
- great idea!!!!!
- Address
- P O Box 1577 Fort Bragg Ca 95437
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Margi Walters
- Address
- 1807 So. Nevada St.
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Loretta Pressley
- Address
- 24701 Raymond Wy Lake Forest, Ca 92630
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alice chouteau
- Comments
- great idea!!!
- Address
- 31901 airport road
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Rene' Figueiredo
- Comments
- It could be a great opportunity to bring Fort Bragg back to life.
- Address
- 170 Riverview Drive
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Nancy Tulley R.N.ret.,L.Ac.
- Comments
- I have been advocating this for 20 years.
- Address
- 19841Riverview Drive
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Jiro Tulley
- Address
- 19841 Riverview Dr. Fort Bragg 95437
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Becca Smith
- Address
- 21200 Jefferson st Middletown CA 95461
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Garth Chouteau
- Comments
- I've been visiting Glass Beach for 36 years and believe it to be a truly unique spot in N. America, perhaps the entire world. It requires repleneshing!
- Address
- 1927 Tulare Ave., Richmond, CA 94805
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Beth Kalish
- Address
- 8900 Valjean Ave North Hills, CA 91343
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rowena lee isaacs
- Address
- 1680 n hwy 101 #41
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Ralpha Jeanne Duncan
- Comments
- This would be great for local crafts and tourism.
- Address
- 511 Cypress St., #13, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
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Ann Meadlin
- Address
- 810 North Harrison St. Fort Bragg, CA 95437
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Pamela L Little
- Comments
- Keep our beaches free!
- Address
- 1204 Hygeia Ave., #3, Encinitas, CA 92024
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Tammy Holicky
- Comments
- please, please, please keep this state treasure alive
- Address
- 502 Bush Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
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Desi McKinnon
- Comments
- В
- Address
- 1233 29th Street San Diego, CA 92102
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natalie jackson
- Comments
- В
- Address
- 31500 Little Valley Rd. Fort Bragg
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Julie Loveless
- Address
- 4534 SW Buddington Street, Portland, OR 97219
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Katie Shellman
- Address
- 606 N Main Fort Bragg, Ca
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Shelley Jackson
- Comments
- В
- Address
- Casilla 10 03 10 Ibarra Imbabura
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John Kopchik
- Comments
- I have never been to Ft. Bragg,CA. but if it would help their economy as well as the art form, its all worth it.
- Address
- 3035 E Hwy 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604
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Joseph Christopher Byrne
- Comments
- Ft. Bragg needs more tourist attractions.
- Address
- 17801 N, Highway One
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James A Smith
- Address
- 4006 Heather Lane, Napa California 94558
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Jasper Jackson
- Comments
- Please keep our beaches open
- Address
- 38321 Amaryllis Place, Newark, CA 94560
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Diana Martinez
- Address
- 115 S. Lincoln St , Ft. Bragg, CA
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Elaine Horner
- Comments
- I plan to vist this beach on my next trip to N. California!
- Address
- Mesa Arizona
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Jaima Stelzenmueller
- Comments
- Glass Beach is awsome..please replenish!
- Address
- 440 E. Vassar Fresno,ca
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Michael Shields
- Comments
- We go to Glass Beach and Fort Bragg every summer. The kids love Glass Beach
- Address
- 1221 14th street Oroville, CA 95965
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Alana Gillespie
- Address
- 100 Stewart Circle
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Caitlin Wik
- Address
- 1574 Baywood Lane Bayside, CA 95524
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128
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