Reintroducing structures for erosion control on the open coasts of America Science Technology Committee American Shore & Beach Preservation Association January 2011

摘要

After a long hiatus, coastal managers are reconsidering the inclusion of erosion control structures along with beach nourishment and sand bypassing to maintain America's open coast beaches. Over the past 40 years, beach nourishment has been preferred (and, in some states, the only) method to address open coast erosion problems. Prior to that, structures had been the method of choice to protect upland properties and to attempt to hold sand on the beach. The current focus is on improving regional sediment management and not choosing sand vs. structures, but on developing cost-effective solutions that may include both. The primary goal in erosion control projects is to provide a relatively uniform design beach along the project and adjacent areas that can be maintained at the lowest cost over time. The tools include sand bypassing at inlets, beach nourishment and structures to control and manage the erosion and sand placement in a manner that accomplishes this goal. The purpose of this paper is to identify how structures can be used in concert with regional beach management approaches that may include beach nourishment and sand bypassing. The challenge to the coastal engineering community is to design erosion control solutions that can improve regional sediment management programs and avoid or manage downdrift consequences. Sand shortages, higher dredging costs, and environmental impacts on nearby habitats are constraining designers to use less sand in beach management projects. How well designers meet these challenges will affect coastal policy for the future.