Soft engineering

Soft engineering

1. Beach nourishment

   • The addition of sand or pebbles to the beach to make it larger. Normally dredged by a nearby seabed
   • Cost effective and easy to maintain. It blends in with the original beach and allows more tourist potential
   • Needs constant maintenance due to natural erosion and longshore drift
   • £300,000/100M
   • Sustaiablity- 2
     • Allows a larger beach and can use beach material from areas which are in less danger. However it can cause other beaches to shrink.

2. Cliff regrading and draining

   • Cliff regrading: Reducing the angle of the cliff to stabilise it Drainage: Removes water to prevent slumping/landslides
   • Is more effective on clay or loose rock where other methods do not work. Drainage is very cost effecive
   • Regrading can cause the cliff to retreat and drained cliffs can dry out and collapse
   • Cost is variable
   • Sustainability- 4
     • Can cause landslides and erode areas , however is a last resort and is cost effective

3. Dune Stabilisation

   • Marram grass can be planted to stabilise dunes. Areas can also be fenced off to prevent disruption of newly planted dunes
   • Maintains a natural coastal environment and provides important wildlife habitats. They are also relatively cheap and sustainable.
   • Time consuming to plant the grass. Some people may respond negatively to being kept off certain areas
   • £200-£2000/100m
   • Sustainability- 1
     • Dunes provide natural habitats and are not using resources which effect other beaches. They provide more than what the beach currently offered as well as protecting it

4. Marsh Creation

   • A type of managed retreat. It allows low lying areas to be flooded which then turns into a saltmarsh
   • Relatively cheap and creates a natural buffer for powerful waves . It also created an important wildlife habitat
   • Agricultural land can be lost and landowners need to be compensated, losing money.
   • Variable depending on size
   • Sustainability- 2
     • Provides natural habitat, adding to the coastline a valuable resource, however removes usable land for infrastructure

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