What can I do at work?
Controlling beach erosion will help protect waterfront
property, preserve species which live on the coastline and prevent
a loss of tourism.
While natural factors and rising sea levels account
for some of the loss, human factors -- such as developing too
close to the coastline and building sea walls -- play a significant
part.
It is estimates that 43% of businesses never reopen
following a local disaster, such as a coastal erosion. It is important
that business owners take proactive steps to protect their business,
because they are a vital part of the community. The mitigation
activities for business owners is similar to the activities for
homeowners.
Links for additional
information are provided at the end of this page.
Support Shoreline Setbacks.
The intent of shoreline setbacks is to establish
a coastal-hazard buffer zone to protect beach-front development
from coastal erosion. Adequate setbacks allow the natural erosion
and accretion cycles to occur and help maintain lateral beach
access. Furthermore, setbacks provide open space for the enjoyment
of the natural shoreline environment.
A 40-foot shoreline setback has been often inadequate
because they are not determined by historical site-specific rates
of coastal erosion. Coastal-erosion hazard maps could be used
to establish rate-based building setbacks. Setbacks would be site-specific
in order to reflect the nature of coastal erosion. These setbacks
would also incorporate the proposed style of development. Construction-style
considerations would include the size and expected lifetime of
the planned structure. Larger, immovable buildings and those with
lifetimes of more than 50 years would have deeper setbacks than
small, movable structures.
To support increasing shoreline setbacks in Hawaii
County contact the Department of Planning East Hi: 961-8288
West Hi: 327-3510.
Encourage Beach Nourishment.
Beach nourishment is a technique used to restore
an eroding or lost beach or to create a new sandy shoreline It
involves the placement of sand fill with or without supporting
structures along the shoreline to widen the beach. It is the only
management tool that serves the dual purpose of protecting coastal
lands and preserving beach resources.
Some homeowners associations on Maui have implemented
small-scale, privately-funded successful beach nourishment projects.
Business owners interested in learning more about beach nourishment
should contact the State Department
of Land and Natural Resource, Coastal Lands Program at (808)
587-0446.
Beach Nourishment at Sugar Cove, Spreckelsville,
Maui. Before and after small-scale beach nourishment project
implemented entirely with private funding. Above photo taken June
1996; below photo taken October 1997.
Develop and Install Best Management Practices.
When coastal erosion threatens property, coastal
landowners are usually unaware of the different types of coastal
protection measures that are available and the applicable environmental
concerns and permitting requirements.
Conventional coastal protection structures (i.e.,
seawalls and revetments) cause beach narrowing and loss.
Instead (for example) the use of sand bags and
large sand-filled geotextile tubes ("sea bags") will temporarily
control coastal erosion. Another example may be concave or "V"
shaped structural hardening designs that may retain sand better
than linear structures.
In addition, developers and landowners should consult
with various experts and governmental agencies, such as the Department
of Land and Natural Resources, Coastal Lands Program at (808)
585-0446. These agencies are familiar with coastal erosion in
order to get appropriate recommendations on project design.
Comply with Building Codes and Land Use Regulations.
During the planning phase, the applicant should
incorporate the advice of the County Planning Department East
Hi: (808) 961-8288 West Hi: (808) 327-3510, comply
with building codes and land use regulations to decrease the risk
of coastal hazards.
Developers and landowners should also acknowledge
developments along the shoreline are subject to the risk of coastal
erosion and any request to protect structures and property with
shoreline armoring is currently discretionary.
For more information on mitigation
advice for businesses you can visit the following websites: