Coastal Management Strategies
Coastal defences fall into two camps: hard engineering that fights the sea, and soft engineering that works with natural processes. Hard engineering includes concrete sea walls that reflect waves and wooden groynes that trap sand, but these often just shift erosion problems elsewhere.
Soft engineering takes a gentler approach. Beach nourishment pumps sand onto eroded shores, whilst dune stabilisation uses plant roots to bind sand together naturally. Managed retreat deliberately allows some areas to flood, creating valuable salt marshes that absorb wave energy.
Modern coastal management uses Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) - a holistic approach considering entire coastlines rather than isolated patches. Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) coordinate strategies across whole sediment cells, choosing from four options: hold the line, advance seawards, retreat inland, or do nothing.
Real-World Application: Most UK coastal authorities now favour combining hard and soft defences rather than relying on concrete walls alone.