190
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
A few kilometers to the east, extensive works had been undertaken to
considerably expand the harbor of Zeebrugge. The neighboring resort of Heist
had no "beach" left at high tide ; next to it, the so-called beaches of Duinbergen
and Albert-Strand where actually remnants of the dune barrier ; and KnokkeZoute itself had only a few yards of dry beach left at high tide. Heavy storms were
carrying the meager supply of sand seaward.
Once completed, the beach renourishment follow-up required a comprehensive
survey program to observe the beaches' further evolution, to ascertain the
accuracy of the study prognosis and to enable any new measures to be taken in
good time. At present, survey data covering several years are available (De Moor,
1982; Kerckaert, et al., 1985; op. cit.).
1.3
Beach Defense
Hurricane Gilbert's (Yucatan peninsula 14-15 September 1988) storm damage
was increased by notching of dunes removal of forests, narrowing beaches with
seawalls or jetties and by siting development in low elevation and "too close"
localities. Damage to development was lessened by wide beaches, undisturbed
dunes and forests, construction at high elevation and building setbacks. [E.
Robert Thieler Daved Bush, and Orrin H. Pilkey, 1989, Shoreline response to
Hurricane Gilbert : lessons for Coastal Management • Coastal Zone '89 I, 765774.]. It was the most powerful storm in the Western Hemisphere in this century
with peak wind speeds of 322 km/h (200 mi/h) at 3 km (1.86 mi) altitude and
282 km/h (175 mi/h) at the surface.
The traditional approach has been to construct hard coastal defense structures
such as groins, breakwaters, seawalls, revetments, tetrapods and the like. Often
they have been destroyed, all have required maintenance, many have merely
displaced the problem from one site to the other. More recently another approach,
either by itself, or in conjunction with the conventional measures, has been tried :
beach nourishment by artificial means. The "soft" approach is not new since
records mention beach nourishment immediately after the end of World War I
near Santa Barbara, California (Charlier et al., 1987). However, techniques have
been refined and source material varies more in origin ; the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers has used dredgings in beach restoration works.
Artificial beach rebuilding has, in some instances, even become beach creation,
as has been the case, for instance in Monte Carlo, Monaco (Charlier et aL, 1987).
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
A few kilometers to the east, extensive works had been undertaken to
considerably expand the harbor of Zeebrugge. The neighboring resort of Heist
had no "beach" left at high tide ; next to it, the so-called beaches of Duinbergen
and Albert-Strand where actually remnants of the dune barrier ; and KnokkeZoute itself had only a few yards of dry beach left at high tide. Heavy storms were
carrying the meager supply of sand seaward.
Once completed, the beach renourishment follow-up required a comprehensive
survey program to observe the beaches' further evolution, to ascertain the
accuracy of the study prognosis and to enable any new measures to be taken in
good time. At present, survey data covering several years are available (De Moor,
1982; Kerckaert, et al., 1985; op. cit.).
1.3
Beach Defense
Hurricane Gilbert's (Yucatan peninsula 14-15 September 1988) storm damage
was increased by notching of dunes removal of forests, narrowing beaches with
seawalls or jetties and by siting development in low elevation and "too close"
localities. Damage to development was lessened by wide beaches, undisturbed
dunes and forests, construction at high elevation and building setbacks. [E.
Robert Thieler Daved Bush, and Orrin H. Pilkey, 1989, Shoreline response to
Hurricane Gilbert : lessons for Coastal Management • Coastal Zone '89 I, 765774.]. It was the most powerful storm in the Western Hemisphere in this century
with peak wind speeds of 322 km/h (200 mi/h) at 3 km (1.86 mi) altitude and
282 km/h (175 mi/h) at the surface.
The traditional approach has been to construct hard coastal defense structures
such as groins, breakwaters, seawalls, revetments, tetrapods and the like. Often
they have been destroyed, all have required maintenance, many have merely
displaced the problem from one site to the other. More recently another approach,
either by itself, or in conjunction with the conventional measures, has been tried :
beach nourishment by artificial means. The "soft" approach is not new since
records mention beach nourishment immediately after the end of World War I
near Santa Barbara, California (Charlier et al., 1987). However, techniques have
been refined and source material varies more in origin ; the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers has used dredgings in beach restoration works.
Artificial beach rebuilding has, in some instances, even become beach creation,
as has been the case, for instance in Monte Carlo, Monaco (Charlier et aL, 1987).