Citation

Basco DR. J. Coast. Res. 2006; (SI 39): 741-744.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, The Coastal Education and Research Foundation)

DOI

10.2307/25741675

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The common perception in the US that seawalls "...increase erosion and destroy the beach" is examined by summarizing available field data including our own research efforts at Sandbridge, Virginia, beginning in 1990. Sand trapped behind seawalls is remove from the system, but is a relatively small fraction of the active sand volume across the entire profile to closure depth. End-of-wall or flanking effects may not be due to sand trapping but other mechanisms such as interior drainage, rip current formation, groin effect, and the seawall/adjacent beach system acting as a rocky headland/parabolic-shaped beach system. Suggestions are made for when seawalls are appropriate and when they are not, including methods to mitigate downdrift impacts, if appropriate. Many misconceptions, false assumptions and misleading statements have been made in the US literature. This paper begins to separate fact from fiction.

Keywords: Drowning; Drowning Prevention; Water Safety