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Decision Tree: Nourish the Beach with Sand; Add a Sill or Breakwater Where Necessary
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6a. NOURISH THE BEACH WITH SAND; ADD A SILL OR BREAKWATER WHERE NECESSARY
Beach nourishment enhances the natural capacity of the beach to provide erosion protection by providing distance between the bank and tidal action and allowing for wave run-up. The wider the created beach, the greater the upland protection provided by the nourishment. In areas with active erosion, a sill or breakwater may be used to prevent erosion of the nourishment material.
Allowing the breakwaters to accrete sand naturally steals sand from the existing sand supply and may create or worsen erosion on nearby properties. Artificial beach nourishment allows for the creation of a beach without removal of sand from the system. The material used for artificial nourishment should be clean sand of a grain size composition similar to that currently existing on the beach.
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An example of beach nourishment at VIMS along the York River, VA. |
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