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Sustainable management of coasts text (USA Eastern Seaboard (Factors…
Sustainable management of coasts text
USA Eastern Seaboard
Along the east coast of the USA many beaches have been disappearing over the last 100 years (e.g. Marshfield, Massachusetts, and Monmouth beach, New Jersey).
This is a huge problem as many companies and industries with billions of dollars lie along the eastern coast.
Factors putting the coastline at risk
The flat topography of land
The flat coastal plains mean that a small rise in sea level can make the ocean advance a long way inland, rise of a few mm each year in sea level could push the ocean a metre inland.
Land is sinking relative to ocean
Local sea levels are rising faster than global average
Coastal development has accelerated erosion
As sea levels rise many buildings have been built along the coast
Types of coastal management used
Many hard engineering techniques are used, mainly sea walls
Strategic retreat
This means that buildings and properties are moved away from the coastline to allow nature to take its natural course
However the problem with this is that the nature of erosion is not always uniform and predictable so some areas of the coast will erode more quickly than others.
Beach replenishment / restoration
Many geologists believe the best course of action to take is to pump sand from other areas to replace eroded material from the beaches
Land use management and restrictions
New Zealand
A proposal was to mine sand from areas of the continental shelf around Auckland for 2 million metres cubed of sand
Sand is a very important mineral as it used in the making of concrete, glass and other infrastructural products
However clean sand is becoming very rare and the sustainability of this sand is put into question and muddy sand is filling up the coastal areas
The coarse sand needed to re-nourish America's most popular beaches, is already running out. Clean sand for making glass is indeed a rare commodity, and becoming rareR
Australia, The Queensland Coast
The reef is carefully managed however it suffers from tourism, agriculture and recreational activities
Each year 77,000 tons of nitrogen, 11,000 tonnes of phosphorous and 15 million tonnes of sediment are washed into the coasts of Queensland.
Off the coast of Queensland, Australia is the Great Barrier Reef
The reef is over 2000 km and supports over 5000 animal species and
The main type of management used is land use zoning
Land use zoning is when some areas can be used for recreational activities while other areas for other activities such as science research.
AIMS
Preserve some untouched area
Separate conflicting activities
Allow human use of the reef as well as protecting it
Provide protection for selected species and ecosystems
Ensure permanent conservation of the are
The Giants Causeway
The causeway attracts over 370,000 tourists each year which puts much strain on the attraction, the cliffs, the headlands and the paths.
Problems facing
Footpath erosion as a result of both natural and human processes.
The footpath erosion hazards are divided into two categories: The nature of the footpath (even or rough/safe to walk on) and The position of the footpath in the landscape (top of cliff or base of cliff
Erosion from wave action, freeze thaw weathering, and landslides
Landslides are common due to the large amount of wave erosion on the flanks of the headland destabilising the slopes above.
Techniques used to protect the paths
Pinning the slope
Spraying slope with concrete
Using wire mesh to catch falling rock
However all of these are an eye sore and in the end the footpath was closed
