Revise the 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.
Conduct Beach nourishment
This is a technique
used to restore an eroding or lost beach or to create a new
sandy shoreline, 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.
Beach nourishment
requires large volumes of beach-quality sand. The initial nourishment
project typically requires thousands of cubic meters of sand
per kilometer of shoreline, and most beaches need periodic re-nourishment.
Preserve Sand Dunes
Sand dunes trap windblown
sand, store excess beach sand, and serve as natural erosion
buffers. Therefore, preserving and restoring sand dunes would
protect beachfront property and coastal infrastructure during
storms and high-wave events. Healthy dunes are vegetated by
salt-tolerant species with a dense root system, making them
effective wind-breaks and wave buffers.
Utilize Inter-agency communication
Better cooperation
between State Parks and the Counties' Parks and Recreation should
be sought since these departments maintain many of our beach
parks. In addition, discussions should be enhanced with the
State Department of Transportation (DOT), because some highway
facilities are threatened or will soon be threatened by coastal
erosion. In most cases, state highway facilities are the major
or only thoroughfare between regions. Proactive planning of
new highway construction, widening, and realignment could reduce
the threat of coastal erosion and beach loss by anticipating
future shoreline trends.
Increase Public Awareness
Coastal erosion is
largely promulgated by the activities of humankind. Increasing
public awareness of the importance of seasonal beach erosion,
and how their activities can exacerbate coastal erosion, becomes
extremely important.
Promote Research Projects
Projects that focus
on coastal processes can lead to improved erosion management.
Further research, along with beach monitoring, is necessary
to increase our understanding of coastal and marine science
and to insure effective and efficient management of the coastal
zone.
Conduct Land Banking
Acquiring and holding
land threatened from coastal erosion for a future use may be
in the best public interest. This funding mechanism, falling
outside of the normal process of budget appropriations, provides
a way to regularly set aside funds for land acquisitions in
both good and bad economic times.