PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 



Plam Beach is situated on the east coast of Florida about 70 

 miles north of Miami. The area studied comprises the northern half 

 of the island on which the Town of Plam feach is located. This island 

 or barrier beach, separates Lake Worth from the Atlantic Ocean and ex- 

 tends about 16 miles between Lake Worth and South Lake Worth Inlets. 

 The barrier is composed principally of sand^ part of which is artificial 

 fill over former marsh areas. There are occasional mitcroppings of 

 soft limestone on the barrier and in the offshore area. 



The northern half of the island is extensively developed, including 

 many large estates, hotels, and establishments providing for the needs 

 of visitors. The permanent population is less than 4,, 000 but during 

 the winter the population approaches 20,000. Of the 8§-mile ocean 

 shore frontage comprising the study area a total of 3/4- mile is 

 publicly-owned landward of the high-water line. Of that 3 A mile of 

 aggregate frontage, owned by the Town of Palm Beach, four tracts 

 totaling about 0.6 mile constitute public parks or public bathing 

 beaches, the remaining frontage consisting of putlic streets. 



Bie purpose of the Bsach Erosion BDard's study was to develop a 

 plan or plans for the rehabilitation and future protection of Palm 

 BBach from Lake Worth Inlet on the north to a point 9,000 feet south 

 of the Bath and Tennis Club on the south, a distance of 8-| miles. 

 The BDard reviewed the physical history of the area; and^-studied the 

 winds, currents, wave action, changes in hydrographic details, sources 

 of supply and the movement of beach material, the effect of storms 

 and structures on the shore; and, pursuant to statutory requirements, 

 analyzed the public interest involved in improving the publicly-owned 

 beaches. 



Ihe Board found that because of the absence of an assured natural 

 supply of beach material, rehabilitation and future protection of 

 Palm Bsach require artificial nourishment. The Board concluded that 

 the most suitable minimum plan of improvement for the rehabilitation 

 and protection of Palm Beach comprises (1) placement of 1,000,000 

 cubic yards of suitable material dredged from Lake Worth in 5 stock- 

 piles on the beach at an estimated cost of $250,000, (2) periodic 

 subsequent replenishment, at an average annual cost of $50,000, of 

 the material in these stockpiles and in the stockpile placed in 194.4- 

 near the north end of the beach, (3) maintenance of existing sea walls 

 bulkheads, and repairable groins. 



The Baard reported its opinion that the public interest involved 

 in the proposed improvement is associated with the benefit therefrom 

 to the publicly-owned shore. The benefits were considered by the 

 Baard to be sufficient to justify, in accordance with the provisions 

 of Public Law 727, 79th Congress, approved August 13, 1946, the 

 United States bearing a share of the expense equivalent to one-third 

 of the first cost of that portion of the entire proposed improvement 

 which will provide protection for the publicly-owned shore. 



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