May 8, 2012
Contact: Ken or Kate Gooderham, ASBPA executive directors -- (239) 489-2616
Harry Simmons, ASBPA president -- (910) 200-7867
Coastal structures: A quiz
Recently, the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association’s Science and Technology Committee studied the idea of reintroducing structures along the coast as part of a broader coastal management toolkit, and prepared a policy paper based on its research. This quiz is based on that paper. You can take an “open book” quiz by going to http://www.asbpa.org/publications/white_papers/ASBPAPress%20Release_Feb142011.pdf for the executive summary or http://www.asbpa.org/publications/white_papers/ReintroducingStructuresforErosionControlFINAL.pdf for the longer version! Good luck!
1) How should a beach be managed:
A. As a total system.
B. Just the areas with high erosion.
C. Just the adjacent beaches.
Answer: A. As a total system. Each beach is different, but an individual beach is part of a larger system with sand moving along it. It is imperative to take into consideration the impact of wind, sand and waves along the entire beach system to best determine how to manage it.
2) True or false: Coastal structures (groins, breakwaters and the like) are always detrimental to the coast.
Answer: False. Studies have found that coastal structures used in conjunction with beach nourishment (replenishment) or sand bypassing can be cost-effective management solutions to erosion if they are properly designed.
3) True or false: The combination of beach nourishment and coastal structures can help extend the life of the beach fill.
Answer: True. Placing sand on the beach combined with using groins and breakwaters will help keep the sand from moving so quickly in highly eroding areas.
4) Considerations when planning to use coastal structures include:
A. Will the structures reduce the erosion in high erosion areas?
B. Will the structures help extend the life of a beach nourishment project?
C. Will the structures negatively impact adjacent beaches?
D. All of the above.
Answer: D. All of the above. Some areas erode faster than others. Structures can reduce erosion in the high erosion areas which should extend the life of beach nourishment projects. One of the reasons structures lost favor is they caused additional erosion on adjacent beaches. With careful design and including sand with the structures, those problems can be solved.
5) Hot spots are:
A. Areas with high erosion.
B. The best bars on the beach.
C. Areas with low erosion.
Answer: A: Areas with high erosion. From a beach management perspective, areas with high erosion are called “hot spots.” As we’ve seen, they need special consideration to reduce their erosion without causing harm to their neighbors.
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ABOUT ASBPA: Founded in 1926, the ASBPA promotes the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to www.asbpa.org, facebook or www.twitter.com/asbpa. |
