Nature

This paper will discuss the reason why did Virginia Beach VA took Ocean City MD in Federal Court on allegation that Ocean Citys breakwaters are destroying Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach accuses Ocean City that its breakwaters are destroying Virginia Beachs coast due to erosion. The breakwaters build in Ocean City are responsible for the lack of fresh supply of sediments in the Virginia Beach area, which results in the shrinking of the coastal area as a result of erosion. Moreover when these breakwaters deflect incoming waves these waves are then redirected to other nearby places like Virginia Beach from Ocean City thus creating damage to the coastal property of the city and its residents.

    The accusation of Virginia Beach is based on the fact that breakwaters never protect the entire coastal area, on the contrary the area where breakwaters are built is saved on the cost of the damage of other nearby coastal areas. In this case Ocean City has tried to save its own property and beach by endangering the neighboring cities and coastal areas like Virginia Beach. Thus it is a selfish act and should not be allowed and any damage which has been caused due to these breakwaters should be paid. Since coastal areas have a very fragile ecosystem and inhabiting these areas and industrializing them exerts a lot of pressure on these fragile areas, it is necessary to take necessary measures in order to keep the marine and coastal environment safe. On the contrary breakwaters are never a good solution for a heavily occupied coastal area, since it will damage the neighboring localities and neighborhoods. Breakwaters are only useful where there is no other inhabited coastal area in the proximity of the building site of the breakwaters.

This is the primary reason why Virginia Beach considered Ocean Citys decision to built breakwaters an illegal action and went in the Federal Court against Ocean City.