Of all the great states in our country, perhaps the beach-craziest is California. They might be going through economic hard times, but that won’t keep them from enjoying and protecting their beaches. Recently, California completed a study of beach erosion issues in the state. The goal is to protect and preserve the California ocean-front, cut the economic losses associated with beach erosion, and make sure recreational beach areas are maintained in good shape.
In order to meet these objectives, California realized it had to take a number of steps, including:
- Creating beach erosion control projects in conjunction with local and federal officials
- Researching key areas of knowledge, including beach erosion, oceanic forces and shoreline conditions
- Applying this knowledge in order to prevent further erosion
Erosion is a natural force of nature, and California’s coastline is not immune to it. But erosion costs money in terms of lost business and recreation, so it makes sense for the state to allocate some funds to fight erosion and preserve coastal resources. There are many different kinds of projects to tackle. For instance, if erosion has narrowed the width of a beach to the point where it cannot accommodate the recreational needs of the local community, steps can be taken to widen it and protect it from erosion. This not only preserves the use of the beach for residents, but also encourages the growth of stabilizing plants and flowers.
One problem endemic to southern California is blocked sand replenishment. Sand should naturally replenish itself on beaches, but can be blocked by flood control projects and urban development. The state has wisely made use of sand arising from the building and dredging of harbors, power plants and sewage treatment facilities. California dumps the reclaimed sand onto its beaches, actually widening beaches beyond their natural size. You can see examples of such beaches from Palos Verdes to Santa Monica, as well as the San Diego beachfront from Silver Strand to Coronado.
Another important function related to beach usage is making available timely, accurate data on such important items as wave heights, sea surface temperatures, winds and air temperatures at beaches. The state, through the University of California and the Coastal Data Information Program, continually gathers this information from reporting stations throughout the state and makes it available on the Internet.
Climate change affects erosion, and much research is performed in California to help predict what effects climate change will have on beachfronts. For instance, scientists have learned that waves are bigger in the winter, so erosion takes place faster during the winter months. This in turn is affected by long-term climactic cycles, such as El Nino. Most Californians agree that money spent on reversing beach erosion is well worth it.