Coastal Issues | Hazards | Case Studies

Coastal Hazards: Case Studies

Below are a few examples of projects states have supported through coastal zone management funding to address coastal hazards.


Maine's Beach Scoring System for the Management of the Sandy Shoreline

Many of Maine's sandy beaches are eroding. To help address this problem, the Maine Coastal Program supported the Maine Geological Survey (MGS) in developing a beach scoring system for the state's sandy shoreline. The pilot study, which focused on Saco Bay in Southern Maine, enabled managers to identify and prioritize beaches in need of erosion control efforts. The scoring system also helped managers to determine which type of beach management action would be most appropriate.

Using existing data, MGS developed a beach scoring system based on six physical factors to evaluate beach segments for erosion. Once MGS collected the initial data, they developed an additional scoring system to determine which type of management action (beach renourishment, dune restoration, no action) would be most appropriate for each shoreline segment.

By using the scoring system, Maine was able to identify and rank 21 areas that needed some type of beach management. They also were able to identify which areas needed dune restoration, which would benefit from nourishment and where a combination of both activities was needed.

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Maine's beach scoring system identified 21 eroding areas in need to beach renourishment, dune restoration or a combination of both activities. The areas of highest need (in red) were concentrated near the Saco River jetties.

Towns along Saco Bay and private citizens have reviewed the report to understand the state of their shores. In addition, Maine's Sand Dune Stakeholder Group, a legislatively-appointed body tasked with rewriting the state's Coastal Sand Dune Rules and recommending policies regarding beach management and beach nourishment, has also endorsed the Scoring System as the recommended methodology for evaluating and ranking Maine's beaches for beach renourishment.

For additional information about how Maine's Beach Scoring System was developed, view the Methodology Slide Show Maine Geological Survey developed.

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Oregon Technical Assistance Tools for Hazard Management

Oregon's Coastal Program has developed several technical assistance tools to minimize risk from coastal erosion and storms. Oregon's Coastal Atlas is a comprehensive, interactive mapping program and resource toolbox. The Atlas includes several decision-support tools that use GIS and simple mathematical models to help coastal managers, planners and scientists manage Oregon's shoreline. Tools include:

The Oregon Coastal Management Program has also developed a comprehensive model ordinance, Chronic Coastal Natural Hazards Model Overlay Zone, to guide local governments as they develop ordinances to address coastal hazards. The model ordinance, which covers many common hazards areas such as dunes, bluffs, slides, and inlets, calls for conducting a coastal assessment to identifying hazard areas and potential impacts to adjacent properties before development occurs. The model ordinance also limits the type of develop that can occur in high and moderate hazard-risk areas, to minimize potential threats to life and property.

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Lake Superior Bluff Retreat and Erosion

To address a chronic local problem—high rates of bluff retreat and erosion along the Lake Superior shore—the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program has undertaken several projects to increase public awareness of the issue.

The Wisconsin Coastal Program partnered with the University of Wisconsin to conduct a bluff erosion study along its Lake Superior shore. The study analyzed bluff erosion using historical aerial photographs to determine both the volume of sediment lost due to erosion as well as the rate of shoreline retreat. As a result of this study, Bayfield County implemented construction setback requirements to prevent development near erosional bluff faces. In addition, Bayfield County, with assistance from the Wisconsin Coastal Program, held two community outreach sessions to inform residents of the erosion problem and what can be done to address it.

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Bluff erosion and landslide scarps along the Lake Superior shoreline.

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program also developed an educational DVD, "Wisconsin Shores: Coastal Erosion in the Great Lakes," to educate shorefront homeowners, and perspective home-buyers about the risks of owning waterfront property. The DVD combines a case study of several homes damaged and/or destroyed by a 2002 landslide along Lake Superior, with animation and narration, to illustrate risks associated with coastal erosion. The DVD also emphasizes the important role shoreline planning plays in avoiding unnecessary losses in the future.

Guam Develops Environmental Emergency Response Plan

In 2002, the Guam Coastal Management Program completed the Guam Environmental Emergency Response Plan to prepare for and respond to environmental impacts caused by natural disasters. The two-year project included researching and analyzing data about typhoon patterns in the Pacific Ocean near Guam, assessing environmental damage from typhoons and other natural disasters, as well as identifying response efforts to protect or restore environmental damage from typhoons and other natural disasters. As part of this effort, the Guam Coastal Management Program also produced a standard operating procedures guidebook for the Government and public on how to respond to various natural disasters. The final Environmental Emergency Response Plan is also being incorporated into Guam's overall Emergency Response Plan so that both Guam's people and environment will be storm-ready.

 

 

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