Key Biscayne’s Beaches
Key Biscayne Beaches
Key Biscayne is fortunate to be bounded on it’s eastern side by beautiful beaches extending the entire length of the Island. The beaches can be divided into 3 areas distinguished by the managing government agency.
The northern end of the Key, Crandon Park falls under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade county. The central portion of the beach is managed by the Village of Key Biscayne and the southern portion, Bill Baggs Park, by the State of Florida.
All three areas have public access, with some public access limited by condominiums and hotels on the Village portion. The two parks have entry fees.
However, the entire length of the Key is accessible for walking on the ocean side of the high tide intrusion. The beaches provide environmental protection to the Key as well as significant economical benefits.
As well, the beaches and associated sand dunes provide protection from most storm induced salt water inundation of neighboring residential areas.
Economically, for example, the beaches provide opportunities for both residents and visitors to shop at local stores to buy provisions to participate in the recreational activities provided by the beaches. These activities include swimming, sun bathing, recreational fishing, launching of surf board type craft, snorkeling, etc.
However, the beaches are subject to both natural and man-made hazards. Natural hazards include storm induced beach erosion and damage to sea grass and sand dunes.
Man-made damage includes trash, pollution caused by vessel discharges and oil spills, and beach front construction that does not factor in the natural path of sand along the island’s boundary. Protection from these hazards is complicated by the often random nature of their occurrences which can delay implementation of mitigation strategies.
Citizen Scientist understanding of these hazards provides means to reduce their impacts and raise participation in hazard control activities when possible, limitting the damage done to this valuable Key resource.