Often, there is a contrast between restoration and repair, between restoration of the
formational processes and reconstruction of the form in a designated place. In some
cases, the thrust is to construct a dune form of a desirable dimension. For example, a
recent interest in vulnerability to storm impacts (Pendleton et al. 2004) is largely
related to the protective function of coastal dunes relative to the cultural development and infrastructure located inland of the foredune at lower elevations. Inherent
in this theme are the identification of the low portions in the coastal dunes and the
locations of vulnerability for storm surge penetration. And, restoration is directed
toward elevating the low areas to decrease the potential for storm surge damage.
Other themes consider the repair of eroded dunes to some desirable form or
assemblage of characteristics (slope, height, breadth, mass, habitat). Whereas some
approaches incorporate a modest re-arranging of sediment and planting of beach
grass, others create barriers in the form of sand fences and earthen barriers, or
import vast quantities of sediment to build a dune form (De Lillis et al. 2004;
Borowka and Rotnicki 2001). Arguably, none of the approaches that manipulate
the form or its location constitute restoration. They are a type of repair or renovation at best, and may be completely out of place or ineffective at worst.
3.4 Classification of Foredune Restoration/Manipulation
A classification of foredune restoration/manipulation is applied herein to the range
of conditions that extends from encouraging foredunes in their natural setting to
totally creating a sand ridge in less than a natural setting (Fig. 3.2). Further, there
are degrees of manipulation and positions of manipulation relative to the natural
setting. And, of course, there are gradations within many of the categories. This
classification is an attempt to bring some order to the gamut of conditions and to
provide a basis for distinguishing logical groupings of themes and conditions.
Application of the classification is derived from examples occurring along Fire
Island, where there is an opportunity to compare the outcomes in a variety of jurisdictions, with different coastal management perspectives and objectives. Fire Island
is a 50-km-long barrier island situated on the southern shore of Long Island in the
northeastern part of the United States (Fig. 3.3). This barrier island is the site of 17
communities, a county park, a state park, and Fire Island National Seashore of the US
National Park Service, a unit that incorporates the ‘‘Otis Pike Wilderness Area’’.
Foredune management on the barrier island ranges from attempted total control in
some of the communities and local park jurisdictions to a total absence of controls in
the Otis Pike Wilderness Area. Similar processes affect most of the island, although
modified by the existence of jettied inlets at either terminus and a pair of stone groins
located about midway through the western communities. Sediment supply is variable
because of the sequestration effects of the jetties, the groins, and some small beach
nourishment projects in the communities. Further, the inherited form is a variable
because the foredune had a spate of dimensions and stages of accumulation and
erosion. Thus, the process–sediment response model functioning at the foredune is
3 Restoration of Coastal Foredunes, a Geomorphological Perspective
37
formational processes and reconstruction of the form in a designated place. In some
cases, the thrust is to construct a dune form of a desirable dimension. For example, a
recent interest in vulnerability to storm impacts (Pendleton et al. 2004) is largely
related to the protective function of coastal dunes relative to the cultural development and infrastructure located inland of the foredune at lower elevations. Inherent
in this theme are the identification of the low portions in the coastal dunes and the
locations of vulnerability for storm surge penetration. And, restoration is directed
toward elevating the low areas to decrease the potential for storm surge damage.
Other themes consider the repair of eroded dunes to some desirable form or
assemblage of characteristics (slope, height, breadth, mass, habitat). Whereas some
approaches incorporate a modest re-arranging of sediment and planting of beach
grass, others create barriers in the form of sand fences and earthen barriers, or
import vast quantities of sediment to build a dune form (De Lillis et al. 2004;
Borowka and Rotnicki 2001). Arguably, none of the approaches that manipulate
the form or its location constitute restoration. They are a type of repair or renovation at best, and may be completely out of place or ineffective at worst.
3.4 Classification of Foredune Restoration/Manipulation
A classification of foredune restoration/manipulation is applied herein to the range
of conditions that extends from encouraging foredunes in their natural setting to
totally creating a sand ridge in less than a natural setting (Fig. 3.2). Further, there
are degrees of manipulation and positions of manipulation relative to the natural
setting. And, of course, there are gradations within many of the categories. This
classification is an attempt to bring some order to the gamut of conditions and to
provide a basis for distinguishing logical groupings of themes and conditions.
Application of the classification is derived from examples occurring along Fire
Island, where there is an opportunity to compare the outcomes in a variety of jurisdictions, with different coastal management perspectives and objectives. Fire Island
is a 50-km-long barrier island situated on the southern shore of Long Island in the
northeastern part of the United States (Fig. 3.3). This barrier island is the site of 17
communities, a county park, a state park, and Fire Island National Seashore of the US
National Park Service, a unit that incorporates the ‘‘Otis Pike Wilderness Area’’.
Foredune management on the barrier island ranges from attempted total control in
some of the communities and local park jurisdictions to a total absence of controls in
the Otis Pike Wilderness Area. Similar processes affect most of the island, although
modified by the existence of jettied inlets at either terminus and a pair of stone groins
located about midway through the western communities. Sediment supply is variable
because of the sequestration effects of the jetties, the groins, and some small beach
nourishment projects in the communities. Further, the inherited form is a variable
because the foredune had a spate of dimensions and stages of accumulation and
erosion. Thus, the process–sediment response model functioning at the foredune is
3 Restoration of Coastal Foredunes, a Geomorphological Perspective
37