Chapter 3
Restoration of Coastal Foredunes,
a Geomorphological Perspective:
Examples from New York and from New
Jersey, USA
Norbert P. Psuty and Tanya M. Silveira
3.1 Coastal Dune Restoration
Coasts are in dynamic evolution because drivers such as sea-level rise, storms, and
sediment supply alter the conditions of the natural system. Further geomorphological changes occur as the natural system interacts with human modifications of
the existing features, the alterations of the avenues of sediment transport, and
the spatial interference of the ambient processes. As a result, many aspects of
the ambient conditions at the coast are being modified and the landforms are
responding. At a site, changing exposure or changing position in a spatial–
temporal sequence may affect the relationship between sediment supply and
energetics and thus the subsequent sediment budget at that coastal location.
Geomorphologically, the outcome of such a change may result in displacement of
the shoreline and its attendant features. Under most of the modern-day scenarios of
rising sea level and diminished sediment supply, both natural and human-induced,
the result is an eroding shoreline, a narrowing beach, and an attenuation of coastal
dunes on the beach profile (Bird 1985; Nicholls et al. 2007).
Whereas the concept of restoration may apply to any component of the evolving
coastal system as it is responding to the impetus of the environmental drivers, the
focus of this paper is the variety of natural and cultural actions that affect restoration of the coastal foredune (Fig. 3.1). The foredune is the primary dune feature
in the beach–dune profile and is in active exchange of sediment with the beach.
Other dune forms that occur in the coastal system, such as parabolic dunes, longitudinal dunes, and barchans, may evolve from the foredune or foredune position.
N. P. Psuty (&) Á T. M. Silveira
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732, USA
e-mail: psuty@marine.rutgers.edu
T. M. Silveira
e-mail: mendes@marine.rutgers.edu
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_3,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
33
Restoration of Coastal Foredunes,
a Geomorphological Perspective:
Examples from New York and from New
Jersey, USA
Norbert P. Psuty and Tanya M. Silveira
3.1 Coastal Dune Restoration
Coasts are in dynamic evolution because drivers such as sea-level rise, storms, and
sediment supply alter the conditions of the natural system. Further geomorphological changes occur as the natural system interacts with human modifications of
the existing features, the alterations of the avenues of sediment transport, and
the spatial interference of the ambient processes. As a result, many aspects of
the ambient conditions at the coast are being modified and the landforms are
responding. At a site, changing exposure or changing position in a spatial–
temporal sequence may affect the relationship between sediment supply and
energetics and thus the subsequent sediment budget at that coastal location.
Geomorphologically, the outcome of such a change may result in displacement of
the shoreline and its attendant features. Under most of the modern-day scenarios of
rising sea level and diminished sediment supply, both natural and human-induced,
the result is an eroding shoreline, a narrowing beach, and an attenuation of coastal
dunes on the beach profile (Bird 1985; Nicholls et al. 2007).
Whereas the concept of restoration may apply to any component of the evolving
coastal system as it is responding to the impetus of the environmental drivers, the
focus of this paper is the variety of natural and cultural actions that affect restoration of the coastal foredune (Fig. 3.1). The foredune is the primary dune feature
in the beach–dune profile and is in active exchange of sediment with the beach.
Other dune forms that occur in the coastal system, such as parabolic dunes, longitudinal dunes, and barchans, may evolve from the foredune or foredune position.
N. P. Psuty (&) Á T. M. Silveira
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732, USA
e-mail: psuty@marine.rutgers.edu
T. M. Silveira
e-mail: mendes@marine.rutgers.edu
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_3,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
33