Lewes group debates beach dunes environmental issues

LEWES, Del. – Beachgoers in the City of Lewes are getting a different view than what most people expect to see on a beach.

Visitors and local residents say beach dunes near the shore have been transformed into something they are not supposed to be. They say they have become a place for storage and a place for people to relieve themselves.

“One of the biggest issues is the dunes and people getting on the dunes, children playing on the dunes, people leaving their boats, their catamarans and even leaving chairs and umbrellas,” said the City of Lewes Deputy Mayor, Fred Beaufait.

“Personally it doesn’t really bother me, but I can see how it could bother some residents,” said Janet Young, a local resident.

“They may be concerned for the dunes themselves, you know the erosion, people dragging them off and on,” said Young.

When it comes to people looking for a place to urinate, according to Beaufait, there are not enough bathrooms, mostly between Savannah Road and the Roosevelt Inlet.

“For nearly a stretch of over a mile, there are no restrooms and that presents a problem,” said Beaufait.

According to Beaufait, city council members are now coming together to create solutions that will make the beach a much cleaner and safer place for all visitors in the years to come.

“There’s a possibility, we’ve talked about putting fencing up, putting notices out and then enforcing the situation perhaps with beach patrol,” said the Deputy Mayor.

“We want to welcome our visitors, and we want them to be comfortable…but we also need them to help us protect the beach,” said Beaufait.