Accelerated beach erosion in the south Atlantic coastal zone: is mitigation of artificially renourished beaches in SE Florida a rational practice or folly
The natural erosion of sandy beaches is a world wide problem that is often exacerbated by the structural controls that are designed to mitigate shoreline recession. As seen elsewhere, the deployment of groins and other erosion-control structures has met meager success along the Atlantic coast of south Florida. Artificial renourishment, placement of sand on the beach from land or offshore borrows, is a relatively new nonstructural attempt to reduce shoreline retreat. Our study of sandy shores lying downdrift of jettied inlets identifies restricted sand bypassing that results in classical shoreline offsets. Many of the beaches that were previously renourished are again classified, by the Corps of Engineers, as critically eroded and local governments are now requesting additional rounds of renourishment. Attempts to stabilize renourished shores by planting dune grass, beach scraping, and scarp reduction, as in the Port Everglades area, have failed. Sediment loss at the John U. Lloyd Beach since 1976, for example, is in excess of 500,000 m/sup 3/. In this area, erosion is accelerated and chronic. The severity of localized erosion is highlighted here by assuming a worst case scenario without renourishment or structural control. Hurricane-induced storm surge and overwash could, before renourishment is attempted in 1986 or 1987, cut through the barrier even sooner. Such a breach would expose the port facilities to direct effects of the sea. Joint studies by geoscientists and planners are needed to determine whether continued renourishment of eroded beaches in developed areas is essential, practical, or even advisable.
- Research Organization:
- Coastal Education and Research Foundation, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6653714
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
COASTAL REGIONS
EROSION
LAND RECLAMATION
SOIL CONSERVATION
FLORIDA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVEGETATION
SAND
FEDERAL REGION IV
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
510500* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)
580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)