M2UK in Uncategorized December 11, 2016 727 Words

Types of Coastal Protection Structures and

their Details
The main and prime reason to construct coastal protection structures is to protect harbor and
other infrastructures from sea wave effects such as erosion. Not only are they useful for changing
current and sand movements but also to redirect rivers and streams.

Types of Coastal Protection Structures

There are various structures that considered or used as coastal protection structures for example
groins, seawalls, bulkheads, break waters, and jetties. Description and advantages of these
structures will be discussed in this article.

1. Seawalls

This large coastal protection structures can be built using different types of construction
materials such as rubble mound, granite masonry, or reinforced concrete.

Seawalls are commonly built and run along shoreline to prevent coastal structures and areas from
the detrimental influence of ocean wave actions and flooding which are driven by storms.

There are various arrangements or configurations that might be employed includes curved face
seawall, stepped face seawall, rubble mound seawall. These forms will be explained in the
following sections:

a- Curved face seawall

Curved face seawall is designed to withstand high wave action effects. Foundation materials
loss, which might be caused by scouring waves and/or leaching from over topping water or storm
drainage underneath the wall, is avoided by employing sheet pile cut off wall.

Moreover, the toe of the curved face seawall is built from large stones to decrease scouring.
Figure-1 show curved face sea wall with its components.

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 Figure-1: Seawall with Curved Face Configuration

b- Stepped face seawall

Stepped face seawall is used to oppose or resist moderate wave actions. Reinforced concrete
sheet piles with tongue- and- groove joints are employed to construction this type of seawall. The
spaces which is created between piles is either filled with grout in order make sand proof cut off
wall or install geotextile fiber at the back of the sheet pile to form sand tight barrier.

Applying geotextile is beneficial because it allows seeping water through and consequently
prevents accumulating hydrostatic pressure. Figure 2 shows stepped face seawall with the
components and details.

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 Figure-2: Stepped Face Seawall and its Components

c- Rubble Mound Seawalls

Design and construction this type of seawall configuration might be easier and cheaper. It can
resist substantially strong wave actions. Despite scouring of the front beach, quarry stone
comprising the seawall could be readjusted and settled without causing structural failure.

Figure 3 provide components of rubble bound seawall. The rubble bound seawall dimensions are
determined based on site conditions.

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 Figure-3: Rubble Mound Seawall

2. Bulkheads

Bulkheads can be constructed by concrete, steel, or timber. There two major types which are
gravity structures and anchored sheet pile walls. The bulkheads might not have exposed to
substantially strong wave actions and its main purpose is to retain earth but scouring at the base
of the structure should be considered by the designer.

Cellular sheet pile bulkheads are employed for situations where rock is close to the surface and
enough penetration cannot be achieved for the anchored bulkhead type. Moreover, sheet pile
should be sufficiently reinforced for bending moment, soil conditions, hydrostatic pressures, and
support points.

Both Figure 4 & Figure 5 show gravity and anchored sheet pile bulkhead seawall.

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Figure-4: Gravity Bulkhead Seawall

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 Figure-5: Anchored Vertical Sheet Pile Bulkhead

3. Groins

Groins are shore protection structures that decrease erosion affects to the shoreline by changing
offshore current and wave patterns. Groins can be built by materials such as concrete, stone,
steel, or timber and are categorized depend on length, height, and permeability.

Furthermore, groins are commonly constructed vertically to the shoreline and it can either
impermeable or permeable. Figure 6 show prestressed sheet pile groin seawall.

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 Figure-6: Prestressed Concrete Sheet Pile Groin

4. Jetties

Jetties are usually built of materials such as concrete, steel, stone, timber, and occasionally
asphalt used as binder. This structure is constructed at river estuary or harbor entrance and
extended into deeper water to oppose forming of sandbars and limit currents.

Both Figure 7 and Figure 8 show jetty component details and constructed jetty at site
respectively.

Figure-7: Quadripod and Rubble Mound Jetty Details

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 Figure-8: Jetty Construction for Coastal Protection

5. Breakwaters

There are three major types of breakwaters namely: offshore, shore-connected, and rubble
mound. Not only are they used to protect shore area, anchorage, harbor from wave actions but
also to create secure environment for mooring, operating, and handling ships.

Details and application of breakwater are provided in Figure 9 and Figure 10.

Figure-9: Rubble Mound Breakwater

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 Figure-10: Breakwater Application

Types of Foundation

Control Of Corrosion On Underwater Piles

Offshore concrete structures

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 Waterfront Management
A New Approach to Waterfront Development and Use Control

By David M. Taylor of Hanson-Taylor Planning,

Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Developmental Management

"The Port Cochere Seawall" located near San Diego, California at the Loews
Coronado Bay Resort, helps create a beautiful waterfront and complements both
the landscape and structural elements of the resort. The expansive Seawall
project was added to an existing seawall and encompasses 4,200 facial square
feet. Construction of the wall, which cost $18 per square foot, began in May of
1991 along the southern property margin and was concluded in October of 1992.
The Seawall, which stretches for 410 feet and is over 12 feet high, was designed
for a ground acceleration of 0.29 and was built below the mean sea level. With
normal tidal activity the Seawall is completely submerged at high tide. The water
surface is restricted to approximately the bottom two feet.

To achieve a successful waterfront management strategy, a unique blend of legal, economic,

urban planning and waterfront design expertise must be employed. The application and success
of such expertise is seen as an emerging direction for both the exercise of effective public policy
for Landscape Architects, and the successful implementation of private urban waterfront
projects.

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Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is recognized as one of America's significant maritime communities.
From its own official documents, the City recognizes this preeminent status. Yet, the City is
facing great pressure to meet the myriad demands being placed on the maritime industries and
the finite waterfront resources. Against the backdrop of these increasing demands, Fort
Lauderdale is taking strong but measured responses to yield a balanced waterfront strategy.

A cut section of the wall shows the basic elements for a successful in-harbor
seawall. Originally designed as a cast-in-place wall, the designer, Fred J. Nove,
C.E., used retaining wall units from Keystone, stabilized with regular rip-rap, and
supported with Miragrid wrapped rip-rap. The project was installed by Noveco,
Inc. of Torrance, California.

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Like so many other aspects of urban development, the dynamics of waterfront utilization in Fort
Lauderdale have become increasingly complex. This complexity largely parallels the national
experience:

 The ongoing economic changes, and often fallout or decline, in the general maritime
industry;
 A lack of understanding or appreciation by the community of the role and significance of
the maritime industry and waterfront activities;
 The potential conflicts, which may arise when a independent industry faces regulation,
especially in economically sensitive times;
 The competition for waterfront locations, both public and private, by non-water
dependent uses; and
 The significant environmental protection and regulatory concerns, coupled with
heightened demands for public access to the water.

These unfolding conflicts and complexities may be more fully appreciated within the context of
traditional and emerging waterfront trends and dynamics. Contemporary uses of the waterfront
may have one or more primary characteristics?(TM)water dependent, water related or water
enhanced.

Water Dependent Uses - These are uses, which cannot exist in locations other than the
waterfront because of their primary functions. Such uses have been the traditional occupants of
the waterfront.

Water Related Uses - This tier of uses is helped by a waterfront location, but can still operate or
function away from the water's edge.

More than just slope stabilization, waterfront development requires the

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 integration of mixed uses like this very popular riverside restaurant providing
private access to the marina.

Water Enhanced Uses - These are uses for which a waterfront location primarily brings a
marketing advantage through greater user satisfaction and through design treatments that
enhance such uses.

The primary conflict is between the sharp and significant shift from water dependent to water
enhanced uses. A resolution to the conflict takes place within the community as it engages in
dialogue to resolve such key questions as:

 Is the waterfront a resource or a commodity?

 How important is the traditional maritime industry?
 How effective is current public policy?
 Are there specific design standards, which impede or encourage desired results?
 What are the means of balancing the highly competitive forces at work on the waterfront?

Elements of a New Approach

As Fort Lauderdale faced such serious questions, it employed erratic, incremental approaches to
the management of its waterfront. When individual issues emerged, quick responses were
initiated, often without a full consideration of the multiple implications. At one turn, a specific
legal remedy was applied. Another crisis generated a certain planning response. Economic
factors were only marginally considered. Within this incremental environment lies the seeds for a
new approach which, when brought to fruition, yields effective public policy and coordinated
private development.

Gazebos provide shelter during a pleasant walk next to the water.

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The most effective approach is to develop a targeted, driving strategy to address complex
waterfront development issues. Because of the changing economic, political, regulatory and
development environment, four fundamental principles are integrated in a meaningful way.

The approach, recommended and accepted by Ft. Lauderdale, correlates and considers four
fundamental principles for waterfront development and design: (see graphic above) In
themselves, there is nothing "new;" what is a breakthrough is that results are beneficially
enhanced by the application of all four principles in a coordinated fashion. Individual aspects of
the principles may be defined as follows:

Sunbathers enjoy public access to a bench lined dock facing the new performing
arts center.
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Legal Parameters - Identifies the key legal issues related to the public ownership of affected
water bodies; define the basic police powers inherent to zoning of the land/water interface;
establish the need; and utilization of innovative techniques.

The Waterfront at Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The proximity of office, commercial and marine use demonstrates the mixed
utilization of available waterfront. The landscape architect must reach beyond the
normalcy of aesthetics and provide cooperative solutions to the intense
competition for available waterfront access.

Economic Analysis - Incorporates the changing value of land as displacement of waterfront use
occurs: anticipates the economic impact of regulations on project feasibility: and explores the
incentive and negative impacts of tax policies.

Urban Planning - Provides within the Comprehensive Plan single, exclusive-use zones to
protect important maritime uses; defines mixed use projects which blend marine, residential,
office and commercial components; and identifies compatible and incompatible use
relationships.

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 St. George, Utah. Waterfront management applications are used in larger and
smaller projects.
Pictured below is a new retirement subdivision by Ence Homes called "West
Springs" located in St. George, Utah. Here, a retaining wall system called
Diamond Wall was incorporated into the pond. The 1,600 square foot project
consists of three-way split block units, used for their flexibility in design when
creating curves. The wall now provides a raised edge for the turf area, which
increases the ease of maintenance. These retaining wall units were also chosen
for their color (desert tan), which complements the terra cotta roof tiles.

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Waterfront Design - Focuses on the details of the land/water interface; prepares small area
plans, which give design and development guidelines; details private use and public use zones;
and relates the landside to waterside structures.

Through a comprehensive, multifaceted approach, conflicts along Ft. Lauderdale's waterfront are
being resolved and sensitive solutions to difficult problems are being found. Waterfront conflict
resolution and development is now being screened through the matrix of legal, economic, urban
planning and waterfront design parameters to ensure community sensitive solutions.

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 Along the Coast
Dune Restoration Reduces Impact of Major Storms

Wood fencing and beach grasses provide the beach with a rustic ambiance while
catching sand and thus providing security to the inland developments. Pipe is
layed for drainage and as a foundation within the dunes.

Ocean City, Maryland has a history of devastating storms including a 1933 hurricane and the
virtual leveling of the city by a 1962 nor'easter. Almost thirty years later, in 1991, another series
of brutal nor'easters took their toll. After that storm however, the Army Corps of Engineers,
along with the T.L. James Company and Ruppert Landscape, decided to incorporate a relatively
new and emerging method of maintaining shoreline stability...Dune Restoration.

Bruce Ware of the Army Corps of Engineers explains that restoration of the dunes is an
environmentally-aesthetic protection feature. "Once established, the new dunes (90' wide and 6-
7' above the beach berm elevation) will provide a barrier against wave and high water damage
and also provide a reservoir of beach sand during severe storms. Dune fencing and planting
greatly assists in the stabilization of the dune line and captures windblown sand."

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Man made efforts seem futile in the face of the tremendous forces of the sea. Yet
these devices do work and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare.

Ruppert Landscape oversaw the repair of decks, stairs, handrails and access ramps to the beach,
the installation of 22 miles of sand fence, and the installation of 210 vehicle and pedestrian
crossovers from the street-ends over the dune to the beach. According to Rupperts' Ken
Hochkeppel, "the finished planting was to include over three million pieces of beach grasses and
fertilizing of the entire area."

Hochkeppel sees this type of restoration as an ongoing trend. "This is now one of the methods
accepted to protect shorelines. Although the dunes may be battered again and again, they take the
brunt of a storm and save millions of dollars in damage." And that's just what happened!

A major storm hit the coast in mid-December of 1992, before the project was complete.
Although a third of the plant material was yet to be installed, and in spite of the fact that almost

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one third of the seven-mile-long project was damaged by the storm, the dune restoration still
served its purpose.

Three million pieces of beach grass provide a root base that can limit the erosive
impact of storm waves.

By establishing a catch zone for sand and debris, the elevated dunes keep the water from
reaching the business and population centers. Donna Meiras, a spokesperson from the Army
Corp of Engineers confirmed that "while the storm did damage much of the project, it served its
purpose by protecting the oceanfront and Ocean City."

So...they have again begun to rebuild. Will another storm hit the coast? Most likely it will, and
with devastating power. Yet Ocean City can rest just a little bit easier thanks to the protection
provided by sand dunes.

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 Choosing the Right Vegetation and Making it Work

The challenge of dune planting is to use vegetation that can thrive in an environment, which is
dry, low in nutrients, based in unstable sands and frequently bathed in salt spray. Even an
application of fertilizers and root enhancers cannot guarantee solid performance from all plant
materials.

At the Marco Island Beach and Dune Restoration Project about 1 million cubic yards of sand
from offshore sources, "borrow areas," was pumped ashore to restore the beach and dune to
match that of a naturally created beach and dune system. After delivery of the beach material, a
12-acre dune was sculpted and planted with over a quarter million plants.

The dune planting was designed to provide both quality erosion control and color at the lowest
possible price. The Landscape Architect selected Sea Oats and Seagrape as the primary
vegetation for low cost dune stabilization. Wild flowers, such as Beach Sunflower, Railroad Vine
and Blanket Flower were planted around the dune walkovers to provide colors and highlight the
beach access points.

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To minimize some of the harsh conditions of the dune environment, the planting effort started in
February and finished in April. This timing proved to be ideal for the planting. The weather had
become cool and unusually rainy. The cool and wet conditions helped reduce the plant shock,
which in turn allowed them to adapt quickly to the site. The Sea Oats responded quickly and
provided full coverage throughout the project within three months after planting was completed.

On several sections of the dune a root growth enhancer was applied. The intent was to test the
new product's potential to stimulate a faster rate of dune vegetation growth as well as to improve
on the planting's survival rate. The results of the test proved to be quite favorable. The enhancer
was applied by diluting it with water and spraying it on the dune from a water truck. Roughly a
one-acre area was sprayed with this product. The plants that were sprayed with the root growth
enhancer responded quickly showing new growth throughout the experimental area. The problem
however, is that after months of bathing from salt and rainwater the root enhancer had dissipated,
leaving the soil inhospitable to some of the plant material.

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The entire beach spans for 200 feet, and while the project has survived through subsequent
storms the vegetation itself is now struggling.

From the '91 project, according to Jerry Neal, Engineering Project Manager for Collier County,
the wildflowers used to accent and highlight the sight are not thriving. The Railroad Vine and
Blanket Flower are very stressed while the Beach Sunflower and Glaillardia did not survive at
all. Of the primary vegetation, Sea Oats and Seagrapes, the Sea Oats survived but are now
yellow and they do not intend to plant any more. The Seagrape is thriving and doing very well.

From the test sites using compost, the dormant seeds from the '91 plantings now have sprigs
coming up. From this it appears the compost will create a soil mixture in which plants will not
only survive but thrive.

So remember to choose your plant material for both their long and short-term effectiveness and
plan for frequent revitalization of the soil and nutrient base.

Stormwater Best Management Practices in

an Ultra-Urban Setting: Selection and
Monitoring
Fact Sheet - Infiltration Basin
An infiltration basin is a shallow depression created by excavation or berming that captures
stormwater and stores it until it can infiltrate into the soil (Figure 5). Infiltration basins typically

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serve drainage areas from 2 to 20 ha (5 to 50 ac). In an ultra-urban setting it is strongly
recommended that they be used in an off-line configuration because sediment accumulation and
particulates from stormwater runoff can clog the system. The principal advantages of infiltration
basins are that they help preserve the natural water balance of a site, they can serve large or small
developments, and they can be integrated into a site's landscaping or open space. If the area
served is less than 2 ha (5 ac), an infiltration trench is usually the preferred BMP.

Figure 5. Schematic of an infiltration basin design (Young et al., 1996)

Infiltration basins provide the majority of treatment by processes related to soil infiltration,
which include absorption, precipitation, trapping, straining, and bacterial degradation. That the
soils below infiltration basins are effective filters is best indicated by the tendency for these soils
to clog if heavily loaded with oil, grease, and sediment. The extent of sorption and filtration is a
function of the soil type; for example, highly permeable soils (i.e., sandy soils) usually have low
cation exchange capacities (CECs, or the affinity for capturing positively charged pollutants).
The majority of infiltration basins are placed in highly permeable soils. However, as the basin is
used, fine material suspended in stormwater is captured within the natural soil, creating a more
effective straining matrix and potentially increasing pollutant removal. There is limited
information available on chemical/biological changes in the soils surrounding infiltration basins
and the extent to which the soils operate aerobically and anaerobically.

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Applicability

Infiltration basins are appropriate only where there is ample room for installation. The basin can
occupy an area between two and four percent of the upstream impervious area, but can be placed
in confined spaces if necessary. These facilities are ideal for siting in interchanges and areas
adjacent to roadways. The primary highway application for an infiltration basin is along
roadways where runoff conveyed in a grassed swale can be diverted into the basin in areas where
groundwater is not used for drinking purposes.

Infiltration basins are a relatively inflexible BMP primarily because a successful design requires
soils with a reasonably high infiltration rate. If a high-infiltration-rate soil is not present, then the
surface of the basin will become prohibitively large. If the proper soils are present, the designer
is free to establish the basin width and length based on local constraints. Infiltration basins can
be any shape; in fact, many review agencies are advocating nonrectangular shapes, which create
aesthetically pleasing earth forms. Infiltration basins add an aesthetic value to roadside areas as
long as they are maintained and litter and debris are regularly removed.

Effectiveness

Effectiveness is a function of the fraction of stormwater infiltrated. The amount of stormwater

that bypasses the system due to overflow during large storm events or that cannot be absorbed by
the system determines infiltration effectiveness. To date, only limited data are available on the
intensity and amount of pollutants discharged to surficial groundwater aquifers from infiltration
basins. Removal rates (in percent) reported for three different design sizes are shown in Table 8.

In variable climates, harsh winter temperatures can freeze the infiltration basins and when
frozen, infiltration basins will not provide pollutant removal. Local meteorologic records should
be obtained to verify the mean monthly average low temperature remains above freezing.

Table 8. Estimated pollutant removal effectiveness for infiltration basins (%)

TSS TP TN Metals BOD Bacteria Comments
50 - 45 - Capture of 12.7 mm (0.5 in) of runoff (first
75 75 - 80 70 75
55 55 flush)
65 - 60 -
99 95 - 99 80 90 Capture of 25.4 mm (1 in) of runoff
75 70
60 - 55 -
90 85 - 90 80 90 Capture of 50.8 mm (2 in) of runoff
70 60
Source: Schueler (1987).

Siting and Design Considerations

Infiltration basins can be installed where there is sufficient surface area and soil infiltration

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capacity. Given the general lack of open surface area in the ultra-urban setting, infiltration
trenches are generally more applicable than infiltration basins. However, infiltration basins can
be employed wherever large redevelopment efforts are planned or along roadways where there is
sufficient right-of-way available.

Groundwater is one key issue in siting infiltration basins. For ultra-urban applications, the
surface aquifer under many municipalities is not used as a drinking water source, however, in
some areas it is the surface aquifer directly connected to a drinking water aquifer. Nevertheless,
most states or municipalities have developed rules regarding the placement of any facilities that
discharge to the groundwater, which must be researched by the designer. As a general rule a
minimum buffer between the basin invert and the seasonal high groundwater level of 0.6 to 1.2
m (2 to 4 ft) is typically used in the eastern United States in areas where water table depths are
relatively shallow, while 3 m (10 ft) is the buffer distance used in some western states (Dorman
et al., 1996). Infiltration basins can be designed in a number of ways. Often, infiltration basins
are designed as stand-alone facilities to provide water quality management-a design that
infiltrates the 2-year runoff event. As an alternative, infiltration basins are sometimes combined
with detention ponds to provide both stormwater quality and quantity management. This
arrangement yields multiple benefits: the detention pond provides pretreatment for the basin and
provides flood protection, and the infiltration basin can be located off-line, where it is protected
from high flows (Young et al., 1996).

Pretreatment is considered crucial to sustaining the performance of infiltration basins; infiltration

basins are often preceded by detention ponds, grassed swales, and filter strips. Additional design
examples and information can be found in Urban Drainage Design Manual Hydraulic
Engineering Circular 22 (Brown et al., 1996), Evaluation and Management of Highway Runoff
Water Quality (Young et al., 1996), and Design and Construction of Urban Stormwater
Management Systems (ASCE, 1992).

The performance of infiltration basins can be improved by keeping the infiltration area large,
ensuring the bottom is flat, and vegetating with a dense turf of water-tolerant grass (Livingston,
1995). The actual size of the basin footprint is dependent on long-term meteorologic trends, the
site's demonstrated minimum infiltration rate, and the dewatering time.

Construction activities will greatly affect the performance of infiltration basins and the potential
for failure. It is critical to install the basin only after the construction site has been stabilized to
minimize introduction of fine sediment into the basin. In one study, approximately 40 percent of
the investigated basins had partially or totally clogged within their first few years of operation.
Many of these systems failed almost immediately after construction (MDE, 1986). During
excavation, compaction of the bottom and sides of the infiltration basin must be minimized by
using vehicles equipped with oversized tires. The infiltration basin should be marked off or
bermed prior to any construction activity to ensure vehicle entrance to the footprint area is not
possible.

Maintenance Considerations

Routine and nonroutine maintenance is required to keep infiltration basins operating effectively.

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Infiltration basins should be inspected following major storms, especially in the first few months
after construction. If stormwater remains in the system beyond the design drawdown time
(typically 72 to 96 hours), either the infiltration capacity was overestimated or maintenance is
needed.

Routine, periodic maintenance typically involves moderate costs. Periodic maintenance includes
removing debris (litter, leaves, brush), mowing the sides and bottom once growth exceeds 0.3 m
(12 in) in height, and revegetating eroded or barren areas. However, mowing is not necessary to
maintain performance. If mowed, grass clippings should be removed to prevent clogging of the
surface. It is recommended that the side wall slope be 3 (horizontal) to 1 (vertical) or flatter to
help sustain vegetation, permit access for maintenance, and ensure public safety and ease of
mowing. However, side slopes of 2:1 have been used successfully.

Occasionally, nonroutine maintenance or basin rehabilitation may be required, which can be

costly, if clogging occurs. As a part of nonroutine maintenance, deep tilling every 5 to 10 years
to break up the clogged surface layers followed by regrading and revegetating is recommended.
This may include removing any accumulated sediment; sediment removal should be performed
only when the soil surface is in a very dry condition to avoid compaction of the basin bottom
(Livingston, 1995). For infiltration basins it is important to avoid the use of herbicides and
fertilizers on grassed portions of the strip since these applications can directly contribute
undesirable pollutants to waterways.

Cost Considerations

Infiltration basins are moderate-cost BMPs. The principal cost to install relates to earth moving
and construction costs and installation of inlet systems. The construction cost can be estimated
from the following equation, where V is the volume of stormwater managed in cubic meters
(Schueler, 1987):

C = 13.9 ( V / 0.02832 )0.69

Note that the cost estimate obtained should be used for conceptual cost estimating only and is in
terms of 1995 dollars.

References

ASCE. 1992. Design and Construction of Urban Stormwater Management Systems. The Urban
Water Resources Research Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the
Water Environment Federation. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY.

Brown, S.A., S.M. Stein, and J.C. Warner. 1996. Urban Drainage Design Manual Hydraulic
Engineering Circular 22. FHWA-SA-96-078. Federal Highway Administration, Office of
Technology Applications.

Dorman, M.E., T.S. George, J.P. Hartigan, and T.F. Quasebarth. 1996. Retention, Detention, and
Overland Flow for Pollutant Removal from Highway Stormwater Runoff. Volume II: Design

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Guidelines. FHWA-RD-96-096, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research,
Development, and Technology.

Livingston, E.H. 1995. "Infiltration Practices: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." In Proceedings
of a National Conference on Urban Runoff Management: Enhancing Urban Watershed
Management at the Local, County, and State Levels. March 30-April 2, 1993, Chicago, Illinois.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Research Information.
EPA/625/R-95/003.

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). 1986. Maintenance of Stormwater

Management Structures: A Departmental Summary. Maryland Department of the Environment,
Sediment and Stormwater Division, Annapolis, MD, and Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, Water Resources Administration, Annapolis, MD.

Schueler, T.R. 1987. Controlling Urban Runoff: A Practical Manual for Planning and Designing
Urban BMPs. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, DC.

Young, G.K., S. Stein, P. Cole, T. Kammer, F. Graziano, and F. Bank. 1996. Evaluation and
Management of Highway Runoff Water Quality. FHWA-PD-96-032. Federal Highway
Administration, Office of Environment and Planning.

Gorleston-on-Sea - Coastal Protection

Location – Norfolk, England
Much of this site relates to events that occurred in 2004/5.

Option 6 - Rock Revetment

Open beach with high amenity value

High capital expenditure

Beach material lost alongshore and offshore

Large recharge quantities required

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Constructing a rock revetment in front of the existing seawall will prevent further deterioration
of the seawall by preventing waves impacting it. Additionally, the reflectivity of the existing
seawall will be reduced.

Gorleston-on-Sea - Coastal Protection

Much of this site relates to events that occurred in 2004/5.

This website is the only place you can view the 10 Options that were considered by GYBC.

Even though it would seem that the Great Yarmouth Borough Council has decided to shelve its
plans to install "Reefs" off the beach at Gorleston it is still worth reading about the options they
considered. There are a number of glaring inaccuracies in their assertions, interspersed with
downright scare-mongering.

Read the 10 Options below

Mon 23rd May 2013 - When reading these options please bear in mind that they refer to the
Beach in 2004 and not the present time (June 2013).

The options below have not been changed in any way. They are exactly as presented by Halcrow
Consultants to GYBC.

You might have thought that an issue of such long term consequence would have been explained
on the Council's web-site - but no. A poor turn out at the September 2004 Gorleston Reef
meeting held in Gorleston library would have meant that the Council could send this proposal to
DEFRA with little opposition. They have definitely been caught out by the strength of local
opinion. This website has been created so that local residents can voice their opinions and views
on the Gorleston Reefs.

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Although this project has been on the go for some time the only information made available by
the Great Yarmouth Borough Council was displayed in the foyer of Gorleston Library for a few
days in September 2004. John Hemsworth promised on several occasions that this display would
be moved to the reception area of the Great Yarmouth Town Hall - this promise was not kept.

Warning to the residents of Gorleston.

The meeting on Friday 4th March 2005 at the St Andrews Church Hall Gorleston was not as well
attended as the previous meeting on this subject in September 2004. However the Local Press
and Local Radio were in attendance. The Council now plan to carry out some repairs to the Sea
Wall and with the help of the Environmental Agency, monitor sand levels on the beach over the
next five years.

The next meeting which is to be arranged will require a strong turnout to ratify the Council's
plans.

Monday 20th May 2013

History has shown that the Council and its so called 'experts' were wrong on all counts regarding
the Gorleston Sea Wall and the amount of sand there would now be on the Gorleston Beach.

Their 'concern' was driven solely by the £10m grant that the Government was going to give to
pay for this work. A concern that soon evaporated when the money and the share to local
businesses was no longer forthcoming.

A wonderful amenity would have been lost had the Council had their way. Sea Palling beach
bears testament to this assertion.

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An explanation of the problem

 The Problem
 Gorleston Coastal Processes

Introduction

In the early 1960's, the harbour piers at Great Yarmouth were extended and made impermeable,

which reduced the southward migration of sediment.

Subsequently there has been a build up of material on the beach to the north of the harbour and a
loss of material from Gorleston beach to the south. The existing seawall at Gorleston was
constructed from the 1930's to 1960's. Following an inspection of the seawall and analysis it has
been estimated that unless action is taken sections of the seawall are likely to fail within the next
5 years, followed by further progressive collapse. Behind the seawall there are buildings and
roads as well as infrastructure that would be lost following failure.

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The Problem

Lowering beach levels have led to progressive deterioration of the seawall.

The poor condition of the concrete seawall will eventually lead to

failure when the already weakened areas are 'plucked out' during a storm event. This will allow
the fill material behind the wall to be drawn out, leaving a void behind the wall. The structure
will then fail in sliding and the promenade and surrounding area will rapidly erode.

There are two main issues regarding the integrity of the existing defences.

1. The condition of the concrete from which they are constructed is poor and is deteriorating.

2. The steel sheet piles, which prevent the structure from overturning, are in places badly
abraided and corroded.

Coastal Procesess

Sediment transport in the nearshore zone (close to the beach), especially during storm conditions,
is predominantly from the beach to offshore with along-shore wave energy being only 10% of

the onshore-offshore component. A net southward along-

shore drift is dominant, although localised drift reversals can occur under different wave
climates. Wave driven along-shore drift occurs predominantly in the surf zone, whilst tidal
currents may transport a significant amount of material offshore of the surf zone.

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Gorleston Beach
Has there always been a problem?

Following the construction of the harbour piers at Great Yarmouth, and their extension in the
early 1960's less beach material was able to reach Gorleston beach from the north. Because the
net sediment transport is in a southerly direction the harbour piers trap beach material. As
Gorleston beach still loses sand to the south and doesn't receive much material from the north,
the beach erodes. This process is known as downdrift erosion. Similarly if too much material is
trapped at Gorleston, the beach to the south will suffer from downdrift erosion. This problem can
be prevented by placing enough beach material when constructing a coastal defence structure
with the objective to trap beach material.

What happens during a storm?

During a storm large waves wash beach material offshore. Because storms occur on a regular
basis during the winter, beach levels fluctuate on a seasonal basis.

Winter storm waves moves sand offshore. Summer wave conditions moves sand onto the beach.

At Gorleston this process is not in balance, and as a result more material is carried offshore than
onto the beach.

Gorleston Beach before Feb 2000 Storm.

Gorleston Beach after Apr 2000 Storm.

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The Options proposed by Halcrow Consultants

 (Option 1) Do Nothing
 (Option 2) Do The Minimum
 (Option 3) Annual Beach Recharge
 (Option 4) Vertical Seawall
 (Option 5) Concrete Revetment
 (Option 6) Rock Revetment
 (Option 7) Sheet Piles
 (Option 8) Refurbish Groyne Field
 (Option 9) Shore Parallel Rock Armour
 (Option 10) Sand Filled Containers

Finally, on January 24th 2005, after four months of asking, the details of the options considered
by GYBC arrived - coincidentally at the same time the Reef scheme was dropped - or is it the
sceptic coming out in us.

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Option1 - Impact Of Doing Nothing

Predicted Cliff Line every 10 years.

Following the collapse of the seawall, it is expected that the cliff will reprofile to a more natural
angle of repose, with the cliff line moving some 15m inshore of the existing line of the seawall.
Thereafter the coast is expected to recede at the predicted annual average rate, although clearly
rates will vary year by year (due to storms) and from one point to another.

Erosion of the coastline will lead to a loss of the following

 Beach
 Anglian Water sewerage works, buried behind the promenade and under Gorleston cliffs
 Pier Hotel
 Ocean Room
 Shops
 Public shelters along Lower Esplanade
 Public car park
 Public gardens

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  Residential properties

Can erosion really cause that much damage?

If nothing is done the shoreline will erode, and will result in damage. Other towns such as Corton
have suffered damage in the past.

Option 2 - Do minimum

Minimum capital expenditure

Promenade becomes progressively unusable over 10 years as its collapse becomes inevitable

No beach

Risk of failure of the seawall during a storm event, possibly leading to the exposure of the
sewerage works immediately behind the seawall structure

Beach material lost alongshore and offshore

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Rebuild sections of the seawall as and when they fail, reconstruct seawall in year 10

Maintain the integrity of the defences with the minimum capital expenditure (repair on failure).

Option 3

Annual Beach Recharge from Great Yarmouth Beach and refurbish existing seawall

Open beach with high amenity value

Maintain the beach at a level sufficient to prevent waves breaking on the seawall and to provide
more anaerobic conditions for toe piles so as to reduce the rate of corrosion.

Recharge the beach with sand extracted from the accreting beach at South Denes, Great
Yarmouth.

High capital expenditure (very large recharge quantities required)

Disruption every 5 years due to beach material transported to Gorleston beach

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Beach material lost alongshore

Option 4 - Vertical Seawall

High amenity value of new promenade

High capital expenditure

No beach

Beach material lost alongshore and offshore

Construct a new vertical seawall in front of the existing wall.

Option 5

Concrete Revetment and Wave Return Wall

Open beach with high amenity value

High capital expenditure

Beach material lost alongshore and offshore

Large recharge quantities required

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The lower wall and existing rock toe protection will be stabilised and protected with a revetment
constructed from pre-cast concrete armour units

Option 6 - Rock Revetment

Open beach with high amenity value

High capital expenditure

Beach material lost alongshore and offshore

Large recharge quantities required

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Constructing a rock revetment in front of the existing seawall will prevent further deterioration
of the seawall by preventing waves impacting it. Additionally, the reflectivity of the existing
seawall will be reduced.

Option 7

Sheet piles and concrete wave return wall

Open beach with high amenity value

High capital expenditure

Beach material lost alongshore and offshore

Large recharge quantities required

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Constructing a new in-situ concrete wave return wall in front of the existing vertical face and
casting an in-situ slab over the existing apron. The structure toe will be stabilised by new steel
sheet piles driven in front of the existing ones and replacing and refurbishing the existing rock
toe protection.

Option 8 - Refurbish groyne field, recharge beach and refurbish existing seawall

Groyned beach with high amenity value

High capital expenditure

Beach material lost offshore

Large recharge quantities required

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Ineffective structure due to predominantly cross-shore sediment transport.

Option 9 - Shore parallel reefs (Rock Armour), beach recharge and refurbish existing
seawall

Stable bay shaped beaches with high amenity value

minimum loss of beach material

High capital expenditure

The rock reefs will improve the stability of the beach, reduce abrasion and result in more
anaerobic conditions that will extend the residual life of the sheet piles.

Option 10

Shore parallel reefs (sand filled geotextile containers), beach recharge and refurbish
existing seawall

Stable beach with high amenity value

minimum loss of beach material

Sections of the reefs will need to be reconstructed periodically.

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The geotextile container reefs will improve the stability of the beach, reduce abrasion and result
in more anaerobic conditions that will extend the residual life of the sheet piles.

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