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Thursday 24 August 2017

Beach Management Plan >>> and working with nature >>> low-cost, low-key alternatives to heavy-handed engineering

The problem with the 'preferred option' for managing Sidmouth's beach - as preferred by the District Council and not the technicians - is that it is a very heavy handed piece of over-engineering:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan >>> frequently asked questions >>> last updated 23rd August
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: to meet on 13th September >>> but exactly what is to be 'modelled'?

Around the world, low-impact and low-cost solutions are being sought:
Talihau community embraces natural, low cost methods for beach restoration | Biodiversity & Ecosystems Management
Tonga embraces low cost methods for beach restoration | Pacific Climate Change Portal

In Sidmouth during and after the last War, we had tank traps on the beach - which were also acting as a natural lure for sand - but initially, they were not that attractive:

Sidmouth Seaside Stories
During the war there were tank traps on the beach and they looked awful. We still climbed between so we could play on the beach.

Sidmouth Seaside Stories

Here is a very useful resource, starting with the obvious:

Shore protection, coast protection and sea defence methods
Practical guidelines for Shore Protection:
1: Work with nature


Shore protection, coast protection and sea defence methods - Coastal Wiki

Sidmouth hasn't got sandy beaches, but here are some ideas from Scotland:
A guide to managing coastal erosion in beach/dune systems

And here's an idea from Oregon:



“Design with Nature” Strategies for Shore Protection: The Construction of a Cobble Berm and Artificial Dune in an Oregon State Park

Or, you just leave nature to it:
Shoreline Structures - Beachapedia

The question of course is whether our actions in the 1990s to 'protect' the beach at Sidmouth in fact did more harm than good:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan >>> frequently asked questions >>> last updated 23rd August
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