By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE chairwoman of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council on Tuesday expressed the concern that continuing erosion along Micro Beach will “take down” the restrooms and other facilities at American Memorial Park.
The portion of the pathway that was damaged by strong waves during a typhoon last year remains to be fixed, according to Marian DLG Tudela.
This portion of the pathway, she added, is behind the only restroom in the area.
She said she noticed that the erosion “is slowly inching its way” toward the facility.
Tudela said she has informed the Coastal Resource Management Office about the matter and requested the agency “to conduct an immediate investigation.”
She added that the “tremendous damage to the coastline” also threatens pine trees, coconut trees and remaining portions of the pathway in the area.
The erosion, she said, “will eventually take down the only pavilion there, and if this continues unabated, we will soon have no Micro Beach to speak of.”
In a letter to CRMO, Tudela said due to the “unmitigated erosion,” she fears valuable Carolinian cultural artifacts will be damaged as well, or lost if nothing is done to prevent further erosion,
Micro Beach, Tudela said, is a favorite spot of tourists and local residents.
Something needs to be done to reverse the degradation of Micro Beach, she added.
She asked CRMO to provide rescue and relief assistance “to save what is left of the beach park, if not to find ways to upgrade it.”