It likely comes as no surprise to island residents that the sandy shores of Key Biscayne are being called one of the best beaches in America.  Coastal expert Dr. Stephen leatherman, popularly known as "Dr. Beach" put Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at number nine on his 2008 Top 10 list of the nation's best beaches.

Caladesi Island State Park in Clearwater/Duendin topped the list; the only other Florida beach to make the cut was Siesta Beach in Sarasota, coming in at number three.  Bill Baggs Manager Robert Yero was pleased with the news, noting one of the reasons the park makes the list consistelntly is its focus on managing a "natural beach. "

"We're very happy to be on the list again," Yero said.  "It says a lot for hte way we try to manage our beach naturally."  He explained natural beach management means sea turtle nests are left in place, the beach area is hand-cleaned daily instead of being raked with heavy equipment, crews maintain a healthy dune system, etc. Furthermore, Yero noted, the location of Bill Baggs is a natural asset.

"We're one of the few beaches that doesn't have condominiums or anything directly behid it, so you really feel like you're in anatural environment," he noted.  Leatherman, the director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research, has been selecting the nations's best beaches since 1991.  He uses 50 criteria to evaluate candidates, such as water and sand quality, facilities and environmental management.

Leatherman has over 30 years of experience studying the impact of storms, beach erosion and ways to improve beach health and safety.  The entire list is as follows: Caladesi Island; Hanalei Beach in Kauai, Hawaii; Siesta Beach' Coopers Beach in Southampton, new York; Coronado Beach in San Diego; Main Beach in East Hampton, new Yor; Hamoa Beach in Maui; Cape Hatteras, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; Bill Baggs; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island , South Caroline.

More Informatoin is available at ww.DrBeach.org. or ww.NHBC.fiu.edu.

Source; Islander News. May 29,08.  by Kelly Josephsen.

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