A holistic evaluation of a typical beach nourishment

The coastal landscape in Denmark is characterized by multiple areas of geologic, biologic and recreational interests both at a national and international level. In the later years several guidelines have been set up in the coastal protection area. Recognizing the value of the healthy natural environment, the aims for the future are to ensure the presence of naturally shaped beaches and at the same time to reduce the risk of erosion. For this reason beach nourishment is used widely along the Danish North Sea coast and this method is preferred to solid constructions.

Beach Nourishment is the primary method used by the Danish Coastal Authority for coastal protection and represents a management tool which serves a dual purpose.

Beach Nourishment is protecting coastal lands as well as backshore properties (infrastructures, buildings etc.) and preserving natural heritages. Nevertheless, more and more attention is being paid to the recreational values of the beaches, i.e. tourism so that an additional purpose of Beach Nourishment is to increase the recreational space along the shore.

Families using the beaches prefer small grain sizes and gentle slopes. Seen from a coastal protection point of view it is on the other hand wiser to use coarser materials, and place these materials as close to the dunes as possible. Such a procedure will ultimately lead to the generation of somewhat steep, unattractive and sometimes dangerous local sandy cliffs.

The aim of the present paper is to give an example of a holistic evaluation of a 721.000 m³  (155 m³ /m) Beach Nourishment done at the Danish West Coast in 2005.