INTRODUCTION

Maintenance of beaches is fundamental to their recreational value and economic worth to the tourist economy. International visitors were expected to spend $77 billion in the United States during 1995, which will make this country have the largest tourist income of all nations more than twice the tourist income of France, the second-ranked nation. (Lekic, 1995) The World Tourism Organization estimates that by the end of the century the number of people traveling internationally for vacations will double the 1985 levels. A similar increase is expected for the national population. The majority of the visits to this country include a trip to the beaches as a part of the vacation. Therefore it is imperative for the stability of the tourism industry as well as the stability of the United States coastline that the beaches must be maintained. Maintenance of the nation s beaches requires a commitment on behalf of all levels of government, especially the Federal government, which has a national perspective. Without a Federal commitment, the efforts will not be consolidated and coordinated. This commitment should take the form of continuing efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers in designing and constructing these projects for the people of the country and by the consideration of the true value of the recreational aspects of the beaches.

Beach nourishment has been ongoing in the United States since 1922, when the Coney Island project was constructed.