A considerable amount of sand displacement occurred at Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve in Mathews during last week’s storms and high tides. A large amount of fine sand was deposited in the marsh and in the parking area at the end of the access road, while the shoreline stands eroded, with a wide swath of blackened seagrass exposed. The remains of a former asphalt road that once led almost into the water were further uncovered, with chunks of asphalt and concrete visible, along with a length of black heavy-duty electric cable. Zach Bradford, Chesapeake Bay Region Supervisor for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, said he visited the beach after the storms and that, while the changes might be startling, they are “what we would expect.” He said the narrow sand spit is undergoing rollback, with sand moving westward, and that it’s “a fairly common occurrence at Bethel Beach.” He added, “It’s a dynamic system that’s always changing along with the currents, high tides a...