Assessing the Utility of Beach Ecolabels for Use by Local Management

Ecolabels for beaches have been around since 1985 and have grown rapidly over the past decade. However, effects from ecolabels on beach ecology and local coastal cultures are unknown. This study reviews the literature on tourism ecolabels and environmental certification for beaches, analyzes the criteria of the most prominent beach ecolabel, and identifies considerations and proposes recommendations for local management that address sandy beach ecology and local cultures. The Blue Flag ecolabel is evaluated for how well the program criteria balance tourism, the processes of sandy beach ecology, and accommodate for local cultural values. This Blue Flag's criteria leave out protecting sandy beach ecology and fail to incorporate local community values in program design. The results of the study include three areas that beach managers need to consider for better understanding the utility of beach ecolabel programs: opportunity costs of participation and consequences of losing certification; evaluate investment in multiple certifications; and identify potential changes from the implementation of ecolabels.     

Coastal erosion and sea level rise: Implications for ocean beach and San Francisco's westside transport project

Abstract

One of the consequences of sea level rise resulting from the greenhouse effect is increased coastal erosion. This article discusses a model of erosion that can be used to estimate the response of beaches to sea level rise. The model is applied to Ocean Beach, California, with particular attention to the consequences of accelerated erosion for the San Francisco Westside Sewer Transport. Results obtained show that erosion produced by accelerated sea level rise could cause substantial damage to the structure. Large expenditures on beach nourishment will be required to protect the transport and the recreational value of the beach.     

人工沙滩在堤后次生波作用下的稳定性试验

基于波浪泥沙物理模型,考虑不同水位条件、不同重现期的波浪作用以及复坡和单坡2种不同坡度的沙滩坡面,对斯里兰卡科伦坡港口人工沙滩的冲淤情况及稳定性进行试验研究。结果表明,在次生波作用下,沙滩出现了不同程度的冲刷,沙滩剖面出现冲刷的主要部位一般位于水面线以下的波浪破碎带内,但当波浪条件增大时,人工沙滩剖面在水面线以上也呈普遍冲刷状态。在试验工况范围内,外海水位越高,波高、周期越大,防波堤堤后的次生波越大,所造成的沙滩剖面变形越大,冲刷深度越大。复坡和单坡2种不同坡度方案滩面泥沙在次生波作用下的冲淤部位基本相似,剖面稳定性相当。     

Development of Beach Analysis Tools for Caribbean Small Islands

Beach erosion presents a hazard to coastal tourism facilities, which provide the main economic thrust for most Caribbean small islands (CSIs). Ad hoc approaches to addressing this problem have given way to the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) approach, which recommends data collection, analysis of coastal processes, and assessment of impacts. UNESCO's Coast and Beach Stability in the Caribbean (COSALC) project has provided most CSIs with an opportunity to monitor their beaches and collect over 10 years of data. Research has been directed at integrating these data with geographic information systems (GIS) and other information technologies to develop a prototype beach analysis and management system (BAMS) for CSIs. This article presents the results of phase I development of this effort, which includes the development of tools for integrating spatial and non-spatial coastal data, estimating long-term beach erosion/accretion and sand volume change trends at individual beaches, identifying erosion-sensitive beaches, and mapping beach erosion hazards. The Southeast Peninsula, St. Kitts, is used as a case study to develop these tools and demonstrate system functionality.     

An Alert System for Beach Hazard Management in the Balearic Islands

A real-time beach hazard level associated with nearshore hydrodynamics is presented in this article. The suitability of the discussed alert system is illustrated via its application to fifteen beaches in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean Sea) providing nearshore safety conditions for beach safety manager. The system provides daily forecasts of nearshore wave conditions using the deep water wave forecasts. The shallow water wave data (wave height, period, and direction) together with the morphology of the site (presence of bars, capes, beach type, etc.) are used to define a hazard level (low, medium, and high) associated with local conditions. The resulting hazard level is transmitted via SMS to lifeguards and local authorities for real-time beach management. The low computational cost of this system after the initial implementation and subsequent calibration results in a very suitable approach for beach management in order to mitigate risks related to local hydrodynamics.     

Classification of Beach Erosion Vulnerability on the Yucatan Coast

Beach erosion can have important socioeconomic and environmental consequences, particularly in tropical regions where tourism is a significant source of income. Although caused by natural processes, erosion is often aggravated by disorderly anthropogenic modification of the coast and extreme events. In Yucatan, Mexico, increasing urban development and deficient coastal management strategies as well as hurricanes have affected beach stability. This has highlighted the need for adequate coastal planning and policies that ensure the protection of key coastal ecosystems, such as beaches and sand dunes. To address this, a methodology to classify the coast according to its vulnerability is presented in this work. This methodology assumes that morphological features are indicators of beach evolution and the processes driving it and that these can be associated with different levels of vulnerability. The features considered are beach width, dune vegetation, anthropogenic pressure, and shoreline orientation, which were analyzed through aerial images and a multicriteria evaluation. It was observed that the most vulnerable areas are found near the most developed parts of the coast, where narrow beaches with little dune vegetation dominate. It is expected that this index will be of use to coastal planners and decision makers, particularly in the identification of critical zones.     

Review of Countermeasures against Beach Erosion on the Taiwanese Coast

Beach erosion is one of the most significant coastal preservation problems in the world. This study first briefly addresses the influences of human activity on beach erosion. The seriousness of beach erosion in Taiwan has received considerable attention since the 1960s, following rapid population growth and economic development in the coastal areas. Hard solutions of stabilized structures against beach erosion in Taiwan at that time are reviewed based on their effectiveness in protecting property and their ability to produce a landscape that harmonizes with the adjacent coastal environment. Soft coastal defense solutions implemented recently in coastal regions in Taiwan are introduced and their benefits are discussed. This study concludes that various methods designed to prevent wave- and current-induced beach erosion should be based on analyses of nearshore hydrodynamics, sediment transport, coastal processes, and physiographic features of beaches.     

Land use implications of sea level rise: A case study at myrtle beach,South Carolina

Abstract

the prospect of global warming and consequent sea level rise will have important implications for coastal communities. this article examines the land use implications of alternate sea level rise scenarios on the city of myrtle beach, south carolina. current trends as well as high and low sea level rise scenarios are superimposed on the city's beach profile and near shore contours to estimate the type and value of land development likely to be impacted.

It is found that losses associated with accelerated sea level rise would be particularly high in the city's hotel district and that overall property loss could range from 21 to 60% of the city's total property value. to lessen these potential losses, coastal communities such as myrtle beach must choose among one of three policy options including: (1) barricade the beach, (2) raise the land, and (3) implement a strategic retreat. specific alternatives within each of these options are explored in turn. the article concludes that successful development plans will incorporate ground rules sensitive to and consistent with dynamic coastal processes.     

港口岸线环境补偿人工沙滩工程理论与实践

依托港口岸线建设环境补偿人工沙滩工程是践行国家生态文明建设战略,实现港、城一体化发展的有益举措。针对人工沙滩建设中的理论和关键技术问题,通过自主研发,取得以下主要创新性成果:1)发展了沙、泥并存下沙滩动力地貌学基础理论;2)形成先进的数值、物理模拟技术;3)提出适用于各种复杂泥沙环境下的人工沙滩设计原则;4)研发了人工沙滩防侵蚀、防泥化的整治与养护措施。研究成果已成功应用于不同复杂泥沙环境下的实际沙滩工程中,实现了良好的经济、社会和生态环境效益,具有广阔的推广应用前景。     

滩海工程环境因子与人工岛工程相互作用初探

综合国内外人工岛现状和相关研究,初步探讨分析了滩海工程环境因子与滩海工程的相互作用,结果提出了与滩海构筑物相互作用的关键环境因素为风浪、强潮流、海冰、海底地质灾害4个因子,并最终以泥沙迁移和海床失稳两种方式与构筑物相互影响。     

The First Step for the Environmental Management of Australian Beaches: Establishing an Effective Policy Framework

Beach management and coastal management are interwoven and scale-dependent activities in Australia. Present coastal policies are broad and designed for large, national, and statewide scales. They specify ecologically sustainable development as the overarching goal for coastal management and provide the context for beach management. On smaller scales, an approach focusing on the reduction of geomorphic hazards as the basis of beach management was established by the Coastline Hazard Policy, with nonhazard aspects of beach management such as ecological, economic, and social concerns assuming secondary importance. Although beach management can occur effectively under these coastal management arrangements, better guidance is required to make this process as effective and efficient as possible. This guidance - the policy framework - could be better developed for beach management and better integrated with existing coastal management arrangements. While this policy development is not strictly necessary to achieve positive outcomes from beach management, it is necessary to effectively guide implementation of the existing broad coastal policies. Effective goals for beach management are yet to be thought out and clearly articulated in Australia. A good start would be to couple the present goals of ecologically sustainable development and hazards reduction into a coherent goal for beach management. A specific policy for beaches should be developed given the importance of beaches in Australia.     

连云新城海滩清淤工程维护效果研究

淤泥质海岸人工沙滩的维护问题日益为人们所关注。在平衡水深概念推导出的海床冲淤公式的基础上,通过对平衡流速的假设,增加了因水深改变而引起的海床冲淤,推广了适用于计算自然滩面下海床冲淤的公式。通过推广后的公式计算了连云新城海滩清淤工程的泥沙冲淤。计算结果表明：各清淤方案有使海床恢复到自然水深的趋势,且均有泥滩出露的现象,需要进行定期的疏浚维护。     

The Economics of Using Ocean Observing Systems to Improve Beach Closure Policy

Beach closure policies in the United States suffers from two shortcomings. Type I errors, in which clean beaches are closed, results when managers resort to extensive beach closures because they are unsure of the spatial extent of water contamination. Type II errors, in which contaminated beaches remain open, occur because the time from sampling to public notification can be between two and nine days. Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (COOS) could reduce the impact of both Type I and II errors. The COOS could reduce the spatial extent of beach closures by better predicting the fate of contaminants in coastal waters. An improved COOS also could reduce the time from sampling to public notification of contamination events. I estimate the lost recreational value associated with Type I errors (unnecessary closures) and the public health costs associated with Type II errors (unnecessary exposure to waterborne illnesses) for beaches in Southern California.     

Greenhouse effect,sea level rise,and coastal zone management

Abstract

Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other gases are expected to warm the earth several degrees in the next century by a mechanism known as the greenhouse effect. Such a warming could cause sea level to rise two to five feet by expanding ocean water, melting mountain glaciers, and perhaps eventually causing polar glaciers to melt and slide into the oceans.

A rise in sea level of even three feet could cause substantial erosion of beaches and coastal wetlands, increased flooding, and intrusion of saltwater into rivers, bays, and aquifers. Fortunately, many of the adverse consequences can be avoided by taking timely measures in anticipation of sea level rise. Nevertheless, many coastal zone managers are reluctant to take these measures until the prospect of sea level rise becomes more certain.

This article examines the implications of future sea level rise and identifies anticipatory measures that may be appropriate today in spite of current uncertainties.     

Climate Change and Tourist Comfort on Europe's Beaches in Summer: A Reassessment

Major impacts of climate change have been projected for tourism in Europe. Typically, these projections took general tourism activities such as sight-seeing and their climate requirements as their point of reference. The purpose of this study is to reassess the impact of climate change, by looking specifically at beach tourism in summer, a crucial market segment in Europe and more specifically in the Mediterranean. As beach tourism requires relatively high temperatures, relatively modest shifts in attractiveness are found. With respect to climate, the Mediterranean is likely to remain Europe's prime region for summer-time beach tourism for at least the next 50 years. Coastal managers in Mediterranean destinations are advised to focus some of their attention on other climate change impacts such as sea-level rise or water availability, and include environmental quality and diversification of activities in their deliberations. In non-Mediterranean regions, a promising strategy may be to focus on short- and medium-distance visitors who can take advantage of the new opportunities for beach tourism, and to explore the merits of seasonal climate forecasting.     

Financing Beach Improvements: Comparing Two Approaches on the Georgia Coast

Fifty-five percent of Georgia's developed coastline has been armored with various types of erosion protection devices. This article is about beach improvement projects at Jekyll Island that would operate under (a) a nourishment policy or (b) a retreat policy. Benefits are calculated from an intensive, on-site survey of beach visitors and the costs are calculated from observable sources. Two financing methods are considered: general revenue and user fee financing. The analyses imply recommending beach improvement as an effective policy within the considered time frame.     

Modeling Potential Impacts of Beach Replenishment on Horseshoe Crab Nesting Habitat Suitability

Beach replenishment has been proposed to increase nesting habitat for horseshoe crabs, but its environmental consequences may compromise the egg development and viability of this declining species. Horseshoe crab habitat requirements were used to build a habitat suitability model in STELLA to predict the potential impacts of beach replenishment on horseshoe crab eggs. A habitat suitability index (H.S.I.) comprised of six variables (dissolved oxygen, sediment grain size, sand temperature, sand moisture, wave energy, and salinity) was developed and compared between replenished and natural beaches. Sediment grain size and dissolved oxygen were higher in the natural beach, whereas sand temperature and moisture were higher in the replenished beach, resulting in significantly higher suitability of the natural beach (p = 5.39 × 10^?15, df = 30). The model was most sensitive to air temperature, rainfall, tide, and sediment grain size. This model is useful for understanding the processes affecting horseshoe crabs and predicting impacts of coastal management activities on habitat suitability. Based on the results of this model, beach replenishment is not recommended for increasing or improving horseshoe crab habitat, unless care is taken to match fill sediment to natural grain size and color.     

Measuring the Cost of Beach Retreat

We estimate the cost over the next 50 years of allowing Delaware's ocean beaches to retreat inland. Since most of the costs are expected to be land and capital loss, especially in housing, we focus our attention on measuring that value. We use a hedonic price regression to estimate the value of land and structures in the region using a data set on recent housing sales. Then, using historical rates of erosion along the coast and an inventory of all housing and commercial structures in the threatened coastal area, we predict the value of the land and capital loss assuming that beaches migrate inland at these historic rates. We purge the losses of any amenity values due to proximity to the coast, because these are merely transferred to properties further inland. If erosion rates remain at historic levels, our estimate of the cost of retreat over the next 50 years in present value terms is about $291 million (2000$). The number rises if we assume higher rates of erosion. We compare these estimates to the current costs of nourishing beaches and conclude that nourishment make economic sense, at least over this time period.     

Visitor Preferences for Public Beach Amenities and Beach Restoration in South Florida

Coastal erosion threatens many sandy beaches and the ecological, economic, social and cultural amenities they provide. The problem is especially chronic in South Florida. A frequent solution for beach restoration involves sand replacement, or nourishment, but is temporary, expensive, and has usually been funded by governmental sources. However, as such agencies reduce their share and require more local funding, beach nourishment must rely on other funding sources, including beach recreationists. Our study characterized three South Florida beaches and probed visitor willingness-to-pay for beach nourishment. We found that even beaches within close proximity attract different user types. Users are amenable to higher fees if they lead to greater resource protection.