The next 12 months will bring their share of sunny days, beach days, and northeast storms. Storms and the beach don’t mix. In a century, Gloucester and Mathews counties have lost a heartbreaking area of sandy beach to the ravages of hurricanes, northeasters, and everyday run-of-the-mill storms.

Some blame the loss on the rising sea level, some on removal of dunes decades ago for road building. We have seen ads in our old papers promising prosecution of persons who removed dunes.

The deed is done and the dunes are gone, and the beaches are mostly gone, and still going. Anyone visiting our sandy shorelines may encounter the roots and stumps of long-dead pine trees offshore. These are the roots of trees that once held the beaches in place.

Before another year of loss passes, we urge state and local authorities to investigate a program of beach replenishment that is being tried in other locations.

A quick internet search discovered such programs at Gulf Shores State Park in...