| "Since we started this service, we've gained a lot of valuable information about the causes of the shoreline erosion and bluff recession, and what the best solutions are." | |
| Shamus Malone, Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program |
|
Erosion along the shoreline of Lake Erie is one of the biggest issues facing Pennsylvania coastal resource managers. An innovative education program for coastal property owners has led to a better understanding of the problem, improved solutions, and exceptional customer relations.
"Erosion is erosion. All coastal managers are dealing with this issue," said Shamus Malone, assistant program manager for the Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program. He said the Technical Advisory Service they provide "gives the right information to the right people at the right time."
Through the service, Malone and other program staff conduct on-site consultations with coastal property owners. They provide state-of-the-art recommendations on dealing with issues such as shoreline and bluff erosion, shoreline stabilization structures, and best site management practices. The analysis is non-regulatory in nature. It encompasses the domains of a variety of agencies, and is generally viewed by the property owners as an educational, preventive maintenance service.
Malone began the advisory service in 1981, shortly after joining the coastal management staff. "We have a high coastal plateau, and our bluffs are receding an average of 1 foot per year," he said. "We knew we needed an organized, consistent effort to assist the property owners."
He organized a group of experts from regulatory agencies to work as a team to provide free technical assistance for coastal property owners to help stabilize the bluff areas and shoreline. "We had as many as eight people at a time who would go out and do a walking survey to determine property characteristics and conditions," Malone said. "The entire site was examined from the upland areas to the shoreline. We looked at everything that played a role at the site."
As Malone gained knowledge, some of the experts were able to drop out of the group. "Finally the team of many became a team of one, and that was me," he said. "We've educated the public to a point where they seek out our recommendations. We provide information that is needed, and therefore, the service is really well received."
The service has also resulted in better management of Pennsylvania's erosion problems, he said. "Since we started this service, we've gained a lot of valuable information about the causes of the shoreline erosion and bluff recession, and what the best solutions are."
Another benefit of the service is that Pennsylvania now has site histories on each property. The information compiled from the service has been entered into a geographic information system (GIS), which puts the "reams of information" collected into a usable format, he said.
"This service has been successful because of the one-on-one contact it provides with coastal property owners," Malone said. "We go out and meet with the property owners, instead of just dealing with them through the mail or over the phone. We walk the site, and explain all of the processes. The key is the personal delivery."
For more information on Pennsylvania's Technical Advisory Service, contact Shamus Malone at (717) 772-5621, or e-mail him at malone.shamus@a1.dep.state.pa.us.
