©  Marco  Pluijm,  09/01/2017    

Changing Climate Conditions, Different Response… Marco Pluijm Senior Expert Ports and Coasts  For  quite  some  time  periodic  beach  and  foreshore  nourishment  have  been  a  rather  common   response   strategy   towards   coastal   erosion   and   coastline   maintenance.    Especially  in  areas  where  there’s  an  abundance  of  suitable  sand  made  available  and  a  marine  contracting  industry  which  can  handle  this  at  reasonable  cost.      Although   never   a   sustainable   solution     of   any   kind.   Simply   because   it’s   a   kind   of  maintenance  and  doesn’t  solve  the  problem  at  all..      With  climate  change  induced  extreme  weather  conditions  changing  more  rapid  than  so  far  anticipated  for,  the  nourishment  approach  is  becoming  even  more  ineffective.      Putting  additional  pressure  on  borrow  areas  and  the  aquatic  environment  with  each  campaign,  over  and  over  again.  Plus  that  even  so  often  the  so-­‐called  borrow  areas  are   running   out   of   suitable   materials.   Actually   proving   the   term   “borrow”-­‐area  wrong,  because  the  bottom  sediment   is  not  borrowed.   Its  actually  kind  of  wasted,  because   substantial   quantities   of   what   has   been   nourished   into   the   profile,   gets  transported  and  lost  to  areas  from  where  it  can’t  be  reclaimed  from  again.    Usually,  depending  of  the  nature  and  force  of  the  cross-­‐  and   longshore  transport,  up  to  30  percent  or  more.      Another   interesting   element   is   the   fact   that   traditional   beach   and   foreshore  nourishment   concentrate   on   the   most   energy   intense,   active   part   of   the   coastal  profile.  Hence  sediment  put  there,  will  be  transported  much  quicker  than  when  for  instance  placed  in  the  much  less  active,  but  equal  relevant  nearshore  areas.    

©  Marco  Pluijm,  09/01/2017    

 Where  usually  sand  waves,  ridges  and  barriers  re  found.  Contributing  to  the  overall  coastline   stability   and   erosion   control   under   the  most   extreme   conditions   as   they  occur  for  instance  during  a  superstorm  and  what  comes  with  it.    With   the   number   and   intensity   of   superstorms   increasing,   the   importance   of   a  healthy  nearshore  area  become  equally  relevant.      In   terms   of   an   improved   and   more   effective   coastal   protection   strategy,   making  optimal   use   of   available   sand   resources   and   minimizing   related   environmental  impacts,  tit  would  be  much  more  effective  to  enhance  these  natural  features,  rather  than   keep   on   dumping   large   quantities   of   sand   in   the   most   dynamic   zone,   as  mentioned  earlier.      Enhancing  the  natural   features,   in  accordance  of  what  can  be   learned  from  similar  features   along   other   coastlines   which   are   being   hit   frequently,   without   much  damage  or  no  damage  at  all.        Spreading   the   excessive   impact   energy   and   forces   over   a   wider   area   and   using  different  dissipation  phenomena,  instead  of  fighting  it  off    in  the  breakerzone.      A  natural  coastal  systems  based  holistic  approach,  in  which  the  Resilient  by  Nature  philosophy  and  toolkit  find  their  origin.      For  more  information  about  this  subject,  please  visit    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/adding-­‐impact-­‐safety-­‐natural-­‐resilience-­‐vulnerable-­‐coasts-­‐pluijm