If you head to the beach this summer, you may encounter areas of our coast that have experienced severe erosion. What can be done to restore beaches? Well, some of the sand that has been stripped from the beach by high energy winter waves is stored in the nearshore area, waiting to be deposited back up on the beach by the gentler summer waves. In cases where too much beach has eroded, beach nourishment may provide a solution.
Besides restoring the physical profile of the beach with fresh sand, what are the other co-benefits of beach nourishment?
- protects life and property through hurricane and storm damage reduction
- protects threatened or endangered plants in the dune area
- protects habitat behind dunes or next to beaches
- creates/restores habitat for sea turtles, shorebirds and other beach organisms
- creates new nesting areas for endangered sea turtles and spawning grounds for other species
- increases beach width to support fishing and boating
- protects vital infrastructure
- increases local property values
- increases vacation rentals, retail sales, and demand for services
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