Coastal Management

Coastal Management

1. Hard Engineering

   • Cliff-foot strategies To protect the beach from sea erosion
     • Sea walls
       • Purpose or description : made of rocks or concrete, used to absorb waves Strengths : to protect valuable resources Weaknesses : Expensive and easy to break
     • Revetments
       • Purpose or description : Used to reflect rather than resist wave Strengths : Relatively cheap Weaknesses : Can't hold back strong waves
     • Gabions
       • Purpose or description: Wire cages holding smaller rocks Strengths : cheaper than revetments Weaknesses : Relatively lightweight and small scale solution
     • Offshore bars (artificial reefs)
       • Purpose or description : Reduce power of waves offshore Strengths : Can be built of waste materials Weaknesses : may not work at large scale and can have an environment impact
     • Rip-rap (Rock amour)
       • Purpose or description : large rocks in front of sea walls or cliffs to absorb waves Strength : Effective and prevents large- scale undermining Weakness : Not a cheap option more of a expensive. May move in severe weather.
   • 2. Cliff-face strategies : To reduce damage from sub-aerial erosion
     • Cliff drainage
       • Purpose or description : Cliff drainage prevents landslides and slumping Strengths : Ideal cost Weaknesses : Drained cliffs can dry out and lead to collapse
     • Cliff regrading
       • Purpose or description : Lower the angle of cliffs to stabilise ground Strengths : Works on clay or loose rock where little else will Weaknesses : Retreat of cliff line uses up valuable land

2. Soft Engineering. This involves working with natural processes

   • Beach nourishment Purpose or description : Sand pumped or transported to replace losses by LSDStrength : Appears ‘natural looking’ Weaknesses : Expensive and may erode.
   • ‘Do nothing’ Purpose or description : Land no longer worth defending Strengh : Saves expenditure on defense Weaknesses : May allow problems to get worse
   • ‘Red-lining’ or zone management Purpose or description : prevention of planning permission for new development Strength: Cost effective in long term Weaknesses: Unpopular with residents and business

3. SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT : This approach involves ADJUSTMENT, working to secure the future of a coastline

   • ‘Managed retreat’ Purpose or description : Incentives given through grants/buyouts to encourage re- location and‘set-back’schemesStength : Cost effective Weaknesses : Difficult to argue politically if residents involved
   • Coastal resilience (ecosystems) Purose or descrition : Partial flooding allows salt marsh and wetlands to adjust to sea.water. Allowing erosion in some places Strength : Very cost effective and environmentally valuable. Weaknesses : Loss of agriculturally productive land.
   • Shoreline management plans Purpose or description : Detailed consultation getting local groups to work together to find best solution for each littoral sub-cell Strength : Solutions tailored to specific places and particular needs of local community Weaknesses : May be seen as delaying tactic by those who want action

Images and files in the map