Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Responses to Beach Erosion
Abstract
Prior to considering beach renourishment, it is important to understand
the potential alternative means of managing beach erosion, and consider beach
renourishment in the context of one of many responses. Structural methods are
briefly outlined before discussion on non-structural and adaptive methods.
As well as being necessary to know the causes of beach erosion prior to consider-
ing beach renourishment, it is also important to understand the potential alterna-
tive means of managing beach erosion, and consider beach renourishment in the
context of one of many responses to beach erosion. Responses to beach erosion
have historically been through structural engineering methods, but in the past cen-
tury, and particularly the past few decades, adaptive and non-structural methods
have become far more widespread. Each of the two general responses to beach
erosion are briefly outlined.
Attempts to counter beach erosion have often been stimulated by a particular
storm. For example, in Port Phillip Bay, Australia, a storm surge in 1934 caused
extensive coastal damage, and the response of the local government was to set up
a Foreshore Erosion Board (Mackenzie
1939
), which surveyed the damage and
decided which sectors required coastal defence works. In due course, this led to a
3.1 Structural Engineering
A widespread response to beach erosion has been to build solid structures
designed to protect and maintain existing beaches, or prevent further recession of
a coastline. The two aims have often proved incompatible: retreat of a coastline
can be halted by building structures such as sea walls or boulder ramparts along
the eroding land margin, but this often leads to the depletion of beaches in front
