~~~ Vero Beach Lifeguard Association Monthly Beach Report for October 2020 ~~~ Vero Vine ~~~ Vero Beach, FL

Jaycee Park / Humiston Park / South Beach Park

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Our Mission:

To promote lifeguarding and water safety in Vero Beach and the surrounding communities

Website: www.VBLA.org

*STATISTICS
Total Park Attendance	40,255
Preventative Actions	703
Minor Medicals	10
Major Medicals	0
Rescues	2
Average Water Temperature	78
Beach Erosion	Moderate
Stinging Marine Life	Moderate

*Does not include extended hours statistics

General Conditions

October 2020 beach attendance did not break any attendance records (record high 2019: 49,500, record low 2018: 22,000 due to Red Tide). The COVID-19 pandemic along with some showers, large waves and windy conditions may have kept people off the beach. Over the years, VBLA has noticed that beach patrons are spreading out along our four miles of City beach. We have seen a steady migration away from guarded areas, filling in the approximately one mile distance between each of the three lifeguard towers. It is to be noted that beach attendance is taken within the guarded beaches (200 yards each) and 50 yards north and south of each tower. Patrons outside these areas are not counted in our report. Moderate beach erosion has occurred especially around the south end of Conn Beach and the hotel district at Central Beach. Tides, winds and currents have smoothed out the two-tier shelf dunes on most of our beach. There were many afternoon thunderstorms in October. Sea turtle nesting season ended October 31^st. Beach grooming (the removal of seaweed from the beach) will resume on Noverber 1^st. The ocean water temperature has dropped to 78 degrees. Lifeguards responded to 10 minor medical calls during the month. Lifeguards rescued 2 people from rip currents during the month of October bringing the total number of water rescues in 2020 to 31.

All swimmers are advised to pay close attention to beach condition signs and flags, swim near lifeguard towers and avoid swimming during non-guarded hours.

Areas of Progress

With help from Idea Garden, Waldo’s, Minuteman Press, Coastal Technology Corporation, Hoos Architects, Mills Short Engineers, Farrow Construction, City of Vero Beach and City Council, VBLA’s goal of giving our lifeguards the ability to see more of the beach and react to emergencies faster by building a lifeguard tower and command center at Humiston Park will be a reality once we find a donor.

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Nikki Kalin literally has the Treasure Coast, especially Vero Beach as her home and her office. Having grown up and educated in Indian River County Nikki works with a deep knowledge to tend Vero Vine with a continual reach into all the communities of the Treasure Coast. She is in the vineyard virtually every day. Following its growth, nurturing start-ups, longtime roots, and branches of businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and everyday people. Nikki makes certain Vero Vine is connected.

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