When Florida lawmakers passed House Bill 631, they ignited a battle for the soul of Walton County's beaches. Through expert interviews, legal history, and raw local voices, the Eroded traces how a once-unified coastline is now divided by lawsuits, signs, and security guards. What began as an intention to legally clarify Customary Use has evolved into a crisis that could reshape the future of Florida's beaches—and public coastlines across America.
Eroded: 30A's Battles for Florida's Beaches
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Podcast Overview
When Florida lawmakers passed House Bill 631, they ignited a battle for the soul of Walton County's beaches. Through expert interviews, legal history, and raw local voices, the Eroded traces how a once-unified coastline is now divided by lawsuits, signs, and security guards. What began as an intention to legally clarify Customary Use has evolved into a crisis that could reshape the future of Florida's beaches—and public coastlines across America.
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12/26/2025
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Recent Episodes
May 15, 2026
Bonus 1: HBO Fame to Flame
<p>In this Bonus Episode, Jared Schnader (host) speaks with Sara Day. She was interviewed for a previous episode of the Eroded Podcast, and came back in to speak with Jared about her involvement with the HBO series, <a href= "https://www.hbomax.com/shows/neighbors/s1/b422f6c6-351f-4a27-be69-ba7e6b89b3c8/e1-shoreline-defender/6b84f8da-cdb0-4d32-887a-61d09fde18c7"> Neighbors</a>. If you haven't seen it, the series highlights absurd and sometimes violent altercations between neighbors. The first episode, "Shoreline Defender", revolved around the battle over 30A's beaches.</p> <p>Sara Day is highlighted in the episode along with some other locals. While Sara and Eric Wilhelm, a local Beach Front Owner, are spotlighted to discuss the issues, HBO was able to find a cast of characters to draw in the audience through outrageous antics and some creepy interviews.</p> <p>Sara details her ongoing work to support free and open beaches in Walton County and what comes next.</p>
December 26, 2025
Episode 4: Who Are You Representing?
<h2 data-start="71" data-end="120"><strong data-start="74" data-end="120">Show Notes – Who Are You Representing?</strong></h2> <p data-start="122" data-end="866">In this episode, we dive into the political maneuvering and legal battles that shaped the future of Walton County's beaches following the passage of HB 631. The discussion details how state legislation—authored by lawmakers outside the county—ultimately rolled back Walton County's customary use ordinance, forcing the county into litigation against more than 1,000 beachfront properties. Though the bill passed with overwhelming support, former State Representative Brad Drake's reversal in his vote remains a point of contention and speculation. According to firsthand accounts, his reluctance to advocate against the bill raised concerns about potential political influence and alignment with private beachfront interests over public access.</p> <p data-start="868" data-end="1583">We hear from longtime Walton County advocate Dave Raushkolb, who recalls urging Representative Drake to request a veto from Governor Rick Scott, only to experience an hour-long effort to dissuade him. Despite initial signals that the governor would veto HB 631, he ultimately signed it into law, later issuing Executive Order 18-202 which encouraged access but did not halt the law. Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder, who helped found Florida Beaches for All, expands on highly strategic and largely undetected legal actions—such as quiet title filings—that repositioned beachfront boundaries to favor private ownership. These efforts, according to Uhlfelder, frame the legislation as part of a broader organized "land grab."</p> <p data-start="1585" data-end="2151">As the episode unfolds, we explore how lobbying and influence campaigns contributed to legislative decisions contrary to local interests. Uhlfelder reflects on the deeper lesson: what happened on Walton County's beaches could happen anywhere, and only through active civic engagement can such efforts be challenged. His personal motivation stems from family history and a belief in speaking out against injustice, even without personal gain. The episode closes with a call to recognize that while the fight may not be won, silence ensures defeat.</p> <hr data-start="2153" data-end="2156" /> <h2 data-start="2158" data-end="2178"><strong data-start="2161" data-end="2178">Key Takeaways</strong></h2> <ul data-start="2180" data-end="3179"> <li data-start="2180" data-end="2335"> <p data-start="2182" data-end="2335"><strong data-start="2182" data-end="2207">HB 631 passed in 2018</strong>, overturning Walton County's customary use ordinance and requiring property-by-property litigation to reestablish beach access.</p> </li> <li data-start="2336" data-end="2495"> <p data-start="2338" data-end="2495">Former Representative <strong data-start="2360" data-end="2391">Brad Drake changed his vote</strong> between rounds and later resisted engaging publicly in the reasoning, despite inquiries from residents.</p> </li> <li data-start="2496" data-end="2629"> <p data-start="2498" data-end="2629"><strong data-start="2498" data-end="2537">Governor Rick Scott signed the bill</strong>, though he later issued Executive Order 18-202 urging continued public access to beaches.</p> </li> <li data-start="2630" data-end="2786"> <p data-start="2632" data-end="2786">Attorney <strong data-start= "2641" data-end="2693">Daniel Uhlfelder co-founded Florida Beaches for All</strong>, organizing advocacy efforts, legal intervention, public education, and social mobilization.</p> </li> <li data-start="2787" data-end="2912"> <p data-start="2789" data-end="2912"><strong data-start="2789" data-end="2853">Quiet title actions involving beachfront property boundaries</strong> played a significant role in reducing public beach access.</p> </li> <li data-start="2913" data-end="3047"> <p data-start="2915" data-end="3047">The broader issue extends beyond Walton County—highlighting the <strong data-start="2979" data-end="3046">power of lobbying and political influence over public interests</strong>.</p> </li> <li data-start="3048" data-end="3179"> <p data-start="3050" data-end="3179">Civic engagement, persistence, and willingness to act are presented as the only means to resist similar erosion of public rights.</p> </li> </ul> <hr data-start="3181" data-end="3184" /> <h2 data-start="3186" data-end="3225"><strong data-start="3189" data-end="3225">Referenced Resources & Materials</strong></h2> <ul data-start="3227" data-end="4110"> <li data-start="3227" data-end="3352"> <p data-start="3229" data-end="3352"><strong data-start="3229" data-end="3274">HB 631 (2018) – Public Reform Legislation</strong><br data-start="3274" data-end="3277" /> Florida House Bill text: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="3304" data-end= "3352">https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/631</a></p> </li> <li data-start="3354" data-end="3481"> <p data-start="3356" data-end="3481"><strong data-start="3356" data-end="3404">Executive Order 18-202 (Governor Rick Scott)</strong><br data-start="3404" data-end="3407" /> Review: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel= "noopener" data-start="3417" data-end= "3481">https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EO-18-202.pdf</a></p> </li> <li data-start="3483" data-end="3633"> <p data-start="3485" data-end="3633"><strong data-start="3485" data-end="3536">Florida Beaches for All (Advocacy Organization)</strong><br data-start="3536" data-end="3539" /> General Info: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target= "_new" rel="noopener" data-start="3555" data-end= "3603">https://www.facebook.com/FloridaBeachesForAll/</a> (public-facing social page)</p> </li> <li data-start="3635" data-end="3782"> <p data-start="3637" data-end="3782"><strong data-start="3637" data-end="3672">Customary Use Doctrine Overview</strong><br data-start="3672" data-end="3675" /> Florida Bar Journal: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="3698" data-end= "3782">https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/customary-use-and-beach-access/</a></p> </li> <li data-start="3784" data-end="3923"> <p data-start="3786" data-end="3923"><strong data-start="3786" data-end="3818">Quiet Title Legal Definition</strong><br data-start="3818" data-end="3821" /> Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute: <a class= "decorated-link" href= "https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/quiet_title_action" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="3871" data-end= "3923">https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/quiet_title_action</a></p> </li> <li data-start="3925" data-end="4110"> <p data-start="3927" data-end="4110"><strong data-start="3927" data-end="4000">30A Sand & Beach Access Community Efforts ("Stand Your Sand" Marches)</strong><br data-start="4000" data-end= "4003" /> Archived news coverage: <a class="decorated-link cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="4029" data-end= "4110">https://www.wjhg.com/content/news/Stand-Your-Sand-Local-Protest--475064493.html</a></p> </li> </ul>
December 26, 2025
Episode 1: Before the Storm
<p> </p> <h2>🎙️ Eroded – Episode 1: 30A's Battle for Florida's Beaches</h2> <p>Over the past year and a half, this issue has been examined and is one of the most intense and consequential local issues in recent Florida history: the struggle over using the beach and property rights in Walton County—specifically the 27 miles of coastline along County Road 30A. What began as a seemingly isolated conflict has steadily escalated into a county-wide crisis shaping local politics, economics, tourism, and community trust. This episode lays the foundation for the series, explaining how a local battle over sand turned into a precedent-setting legal and political fight with implications for coastlines across the state and nation.</p> <p>This episode explores the tension between private beachfront owners asserting property rights and residents and visitors who have used these beaches freely for generations. Despite attempts to speak with all sides, some individuals declined interviews due to fear of retribution or ongoing litigation. All information included in this series is based on firsthand interviews or verified public records. The story includes uncomfortable truths, and listeners may find themselves angry—but as the host explains, that reaction is appropriate given what has transpired.</p> <p>Central to the conflict is the passage of <strong>Florida House Bill 631 (HB 631)</strong> in 2018, which created a pathway for beachfront owners to legally challenge customary use rights. Though presented as a neutral property bill, the legislation targeted Walton County specifically and intensified existing disputes sparked by earlier battles over beach nourishment projects. Altercations, signage campaigns, and political maneuvering followed, culminating in a community divided over what it means to live next to the water.</p> <p>The host makes it clear: this is not an agenda-driven production. There are <strong>no financial interests at stake</strong>, and the series is not funded by any organization or individual involved in the conflict. Instead, it is an effort to present all sides clearly, without spin, and to help listeners understand what happened, how we got here, and why it matters. By the end of this series, the goal is simple—ensure the public understands the stakes and the importance of choosing leaders who protect both rights and community.</p> <hr /> <h2>🔑 Key Takeaways</h2> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Both can be true:</strong> You can believe in private property rights and public access to the beach.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>HB 631 (2018)</strong> significantly changed the legal landscape and targeted Walton County specifically.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Beach nourishment projects</strong>, and rulings that newly placed sand becomes public, were earlier flashpoints leading to the current battle.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Many experts declined to comment due to fear of retribution or active lawsuits</strong>, underscoring the sensitivity of the issue.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Tourism vs. local needs:</strong> South Walton has ~20,000 residents but welcomes 4.5 million tourists annually.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>This issue is bigger than beaches</strong>—it's about governance, policy influence, local representation, and the long-term economic health of the region.</p> </li> </ul> <hr /> <h2>📚 Resource Links & Documentation</h2> <blockquote> <p>(All sources referenced are public domain records, legal rulings, or original interviews. Below are key documents and organizations listeners can explore.)</p> </blockquote> <h3>Legal & Government Resources</h3> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Florida HB 631 (2018) – Customary Use Law</strong><br /> Florida Senate Bill Text & Analysis (search "Florida HB 631 full text").</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Florida Supreme Court – City of Daytona Beach v. Tona-Rama Inc., 1974</strong><br /> Landmark ruling establishing customary use doctrine.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>U.S. Supreme Court Case on Beach Nourishment (Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection), 2010</strong></p> </li> </ul> <h3>County / Local Policy</h3> <ul> <li> <p>Walton County Customary Use Ordinance (repealed after HB 631; archived records available via Walton County Clerk of Courts)</p> </li> <li> <p>Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) – Public Access & Beach Ambassador Program</p> </li> </ul> <h3>Organizations Referenced</h3> <ul> <li> <p>Florida Beaches for All – community advocacy group</p> </li> <li> <p>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – documentation on renourishment projects</p> </li> <li> <p>Walton County Board of Commissioners – public meeting minutes</p> </li> <li> <p>South Walton Fire District & Sheriff's Office – beach incident reports (public request available)</p> </li> </ul> <h3>Individuals / Interview Subjects Mentioned</h3> <ul> <li> <p>Kent Safriet (Holtzman-Vogle law firm, Tallahassee)</p> </li> <li> <p>Dave Rauschkolb (local business owner of <a href= "https://www.budandalleys.com/">Bud and Alleys</a>, founder of Florida Beaches for All)</p> </li> <li> <p>Former Governor Mike Huckabee (referenced in media campaigns)</p> </li> </ul> <hr /> <h2>📍 Listener Note</h2> <p>This series is based only on <strong>verified and firsthand accounts</strong>. If you have documentation or personal experiences that may support future episodes, contact the show confidentially.</p> <hr /> <p>Disclaimer: The views, information, and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organizations or sponsors. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, portions of this episode may include personal narratives, subjective interpretation, and evolving research. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify information and consult original sources. Some content may be sensitive for certain audiences.</p>
8 total episodes available
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