Digging deeper into the sand trap

The recent wind swell has abated and the beach transplant operation pushes on towards Punta Cancún.

But everything in its wake has changed, and there’s a bit of a hoo-hah over the suddenness that 10-20 metres of recovered beach washed away, leaving a ‘wall’ several feet high in places.

An article (language: Spanish) in today’s La Jornada features another photo.

Was this anticipated and factored into the models, or has Cancún suffered a setback? Frankly, it’s hard to make a judgment.

I sense some unease however, even from my long-distance vantage point.

The dredgers, bulldozers and tractors kept us all mesmerized for weeks - I said as much last month - as they miraculously restored miles of beach.

Then came the northerly. The landscape is now more confusing.

Yesterday, Quintana Roo Transport Secretary Gabriel Mendicuti Loría (a former mayor of Playa del Carmen) moved to ressure the tourist community.

He was quoted by at least two news sources: "the Belgian contractor, Jan de Nul," he said "is contractually committed to delivering an average 25m [of beach] along the 12km stretch from Punta Cancún to Punta Nizúc by the end of April."

Well, that bit we knew.

But, apparently up to 58m of sand has been pumped onto Cancún’s beaches, and allowing for wave erosion, approx. 28-30m will be left once things settle into their natural state.

Hmm… measuring pole anyone?

Gabriela Rodríguez Gálvez, Tourism Minister for Quintana Roo, made light of the recent blip, and even hinted that Jan de Nul would move on to Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.

On Monday, oceanographers from the Federal Electricity company (CFE), who are supervising the work, inspected the beach and concluded, Mendicuti added, that the loss of sand "was normal and predicted from the outset."

Meanwhile, Jan de Nul has wisely kept its counsel but is reportedly preparing a statement for release next week, as the second month of the project comes to a close.

I wrote on February 1st that Jan de Nul recommended that breakwaters be built to protect the beaches against further erosion. To my non-expect eye, this is a no-brainer.

However, there is no great appetite for spoiling the view and neither is there any hard evidence to suggest more money will be forthcoming.

But the Mexican authorities will do well to heed that advice and collectively get their heads out of the sand.

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