Beach Nourishment Operations in Wales and Likely Future Requirements in An Era of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change 2010-CCW Science Report No 928

Beach nourishment operations in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise
and climate change a Pilot Study
Oblique aerial image of Rhyl Beach Source: Environment Agency (2008)
COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES
CCW Science Report No. 928 Contract No: 211 MFG 09
McCue, J; Pye, K; Wareing, A.
Beach nourishment operations in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise and climate change a Pilot Study
Final Report
May 2010
CCGC/CCW 2010 You may reproduce this document free of charge for non-commercial and internal business purposes in any format or medium, provided that you do so accurately, acknowledging both the source and Countryside Council for Wales's copyright, and do not use it in a misleading context. This is a report of research commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales. However, the views and recommendations presented in this report are not necessarily those of the Council and should, therefore, not be attributed to the Countryside Council for Wales.
Report series: Report number: Publication date: Contract number: Contractor: Contract Manager: Title: Contract No: 211 MFG 09 Atkins Ltd Jonathan McCue Beach nourishment operations in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise and climate change a Pilot Study McCue, J; Pye, K; Wareing, A. None CCW Science Report No. 928
Author(s): Restrictions:
Distribution List (core): CCW HQ & Regional Libraries National Library of Wales British Library Welsh Assembly Government Library Scottish Natural Heritage Library Natural England Library Joint Nature Conservation Committee Library The Steering Group Rod Jones, CCW Ceri Seaton, CCW Nicola Rimington, CCW Natalie Newton, Environment Agency Wales Peter Jones, Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) Kerry Kierle, WAG Mark Russell, British Marine Aggregates Producers Association (BMAPA) Ian Selby, The Crown Estate Russell Dobbins, Aggregates Levy fund for Wales, WAG Distribution list (others) All Coastal Groups, via the Chair All Welsh Coastal Local Authorities (including National Park Authorities) - Planning, Regeneration, Tourism, Coast protection, Ecology Welsh Assembly Government- Planning, Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Consents, Tourism, Economic development, Green seas Wales Coastal Forum Wales Coastal and Maritime Partnership
Relevant Authorities Groups - Carmarthen Bay, Pembrokeshire, Cardigan Bay, Pen Llyn ar Sarnau, Menai Strai and Conwy Bay, Dee Estuary, Severn Estuary Port Authorities BMAPA members National Trust Internal distribution within Steering Group organisations Recommended citation for this volume: McCue, J; Pye, K; Wareing, A. Beach nourishment operations in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise and climate change A Pilot Study. CCW Science Report No. 928, CCW, Wales.
RHAGAIR
Traethau yw un o asedau allweddol arfordir Cymru. Maent yn hollbwysig i gynnal twristiaeth arfordirol. Yn ogystal hyn, maent yn ategu asedau pwysig o ran gwarchod natur a'r dirwedd. Maent hefyd yn amddiffynfa arfordirol 'naturiol', gan wasgaru ynni'r tonnau, a helpu i warchod strwythurau naturiol a strwythurau o waith dyn y tu cefn iddynt. Fodd bynnag, mewn oes mae lefel y mr yn codi, maent o dan fygythiad difrifol. Er enghraifft, mae amddiffynfeydd o waith dyn sydd wedi lleihau'r cyflenwad naturiol o waddod eisoes wedi effeithio'n andwyol ar sawl un ohonynt. Mae'r prosiect peilot hwn yn archwilio faint o waith adfer gwaddod a allai fod yn ofynnol er mwyn cynnal a diogelu gwerth traethau Cymru sydd mewn perygl ar hyn o bryd ac yn y dyfodol. Mae egwyddorion cynaliadwyedd yn sail i'r astudiaeth. Gellir cyflawni hyn drwy helpu i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd economaidd cymunedau arfordirol sy'n dibynnu ar dwristiaeth, drwy gynnal traethau, a thirwedd o safon uchel; neu drwy wella'r amgylchedd naturiol drwy ddarparu cyflenwad o waddod ar gyfer twyni tywod. Mae hyn yn arbennig o bwysig a pherthnasol yng nghyd-destun Cymru gan fod Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru yn un o ychydig lywodraethau yn y byd sydd dyletswydd gyfreithiol o ran cynaliadwyedd. Roedd y Grp Llywio ar gyfer y prosiect yn cynnwys Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru, Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd Cymru, Ystad y Goron a Chymdeithas Cynhyrchwyr Agregau Morol Prydain. Gyda'i gilydd mae gan y sefydliadau hyn gyfrifoldebau i reoli'r arfordir a gwely'r mr o amrywiaeth o safbwyntiau, gan gynnwys yn rhinwedd perchenogion tir, y dirwedd, gwarchod natur, hamdden, mynediad, cynllunio, trwyddedu, rheoli perygl llifogydd ac arfordiroedd, ac adnoddau. Fodd bynnag, cydnabyddir bod nifer o sefydliadau eraill y mae angen eu cynnwys yn y prosiect wrth ddatblygu i gam nesaf y gwaith, a ariennir drwy ddyfarniad gan Gronfa Ardoll Agregau Cymru. Nod y gwaith hwn yw helpu i osod y sail i gynnal gwaith ymgynghori ehangach ac adfer gwaddod ar draethau.
FOREWORD
Beaches are one of the key assets of the Welsh coast. They play a vital role in sustaining coastal tourism. In addition, they underpin important nature conservation and landscape assets. They also function as a 'natural' coastal defence, dissipating wave energy, and helping to protect both natural and man made structures to their rear. However, in an era of sea level rise they are under serious threat. For example, many are already adversely affected by manmade defences which have reduced the natural sediment supply. This pilot project examines the potential requirement for beach nourishment to maintain and safeguard the value of Welsh beaches which are at current and future risk. The study is underpinned by the principles of sustainability. This can be achieved by helping to deliver the economic sustainability of coastal communities which rely on tourism, through maintaining the beach asset, and high quality landscape; or by enhancing the natural environment by providing a sediment supply for sand dunes. This is particularly important and relevant in a Welsh context because the Welsh Assembly Government is one of only a few governments in the world to have a legal duty with regard to sustainability. The Steering Group for the project consisted of the Countryside Council for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government, Environment Agency Wales, The Crown Estate, and British Marine Aggregates Producers Association (BMAPA). Collectively these organizations have responsibilities for management of the coastline and seabed from a variety of perspectives, including landowner, landscape, nature conservation, recreation, access, planning, licensing, flood and coastal risk management, and resources. It is recognised, however, that there are numerous other organizations which need to be involved in the project going forward in the next phase of this work, which will be funded by an award from the Aggregates Levy Fund for Wales. This work is designed to help build the foundations on which the wider consultation and use of beach nourishment can be based.
CONTENTS
Rhagair ....................................................................................................................................... i Foreword ................................................................................................................................... ii Contents .................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. v List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... ix Crynodeb Gweithredol ............................................................................................................... x Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. xii 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Scope and purpose of the project..............................................................................................1 Aims and objectives ...................................................................................................................1 Steering Group ...........................................................................................................................2 Study Limitations .......................................................................................................................3
The Strategic Importance of Beach Nourishment ............................................................. 4

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The coastal environment ...........................................................................................................4 The importance of beaches and problems associated with beach erosion ............................5 Previous Beach Nourishment Schemes ....................................................................................6 Climate and sea level change ....................................................................................................8 Coastal tourism and beach recreation .....................................................................................9 Integrated management...........................................................................................................10
Methodology .................................................................................................................... 11
3.1 3.2 3.3 Work Package 1 - Initial Beach Case Study Assessment and Meeting ...............................11 Work Package 2 Data Review and Initial Site Analysis ....................................................12 Work Package 3 Beach Case Study Assessment ................................................................12
Results Individual Case Study Sites .............................................................................. 14

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 Talacre ......................................................................................................................................14 Abergele-Pensarn .....................................................................................................................17 Traeth Crugan ..........................................................................................................................21 Morfa Dyffryn ..........................................................................................................................23 Broadwater Tywyn Aberdovey .........................................................................................25 Tenby North Beach ..................................................................................................................28 Port Eynon ................................................................................................................................30 Swansea Bay North ..................................................................................................................32 Aberavon...................................................................................................................................34 Porthcawl ..................................................................................................................................36
Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 38
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Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................ 40

6.1 6.2 Conclusions ...............................................................................................................................40 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................40
References........................................................................................................................ 42
Appendix A: Eurosion Data ................................................................................................... 46 Appendix B: Site Description Summary Sheets ...................................................................... 50
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Assumed tidal levels at possible nourishment sites in Wales, taken from the 2009 Admiralty Tide Tables. Values taken directly from the tables in bold type, values extrapolated from the relevant Standard Port in regular type. MHW and MLW assumed to be midway between spring and neap levels. Advance or retreat of the HAT mark, between the First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey maps (published in 1880s and 1890s) and aerial photography flown in 2006. UKCP09 predictions of future increases in relative sea level, assuming low, medium and high emissions scenarios. Increases are relative to 2010. Selected case study sites. Initial volumes of nourishment material required at each site for the example scenario. The design profile assumes a 20 m wide flat-topped berm at the level of HAT, sloping down to the existing profile at an angle of 1:25, or to MTL, whichever is closer to the HAT mark. Planar areas of the defined possible nourishment areas (between HAT and MTL), and minimum, maximum and best estimates of volumes of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile by 2030, 2060 and 2100 based on UKCP09 sea level rise predictions. Minima represent the 5% values for the low emission (SRES B1) scenario, maxima represent the 95% values for the high emissions (A1FI) scenario, and best estimates represent the 50% values for the medium emissions (A1B) scenario. Increases are relative to 2010. N.B. The calculations make no allowance for post-nourishment losses and re-nourishment required, and therefore are underestimates of the total volumes of sediment which would be required. Nourishment volumes required over the period 2010 to 2030, assuming an initial nourishment in 2010 followed by five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses, and additional volumes required to raise the beach profile due to sea level rise, based on minimum, maximum and best estimates from UKCP09 sea level rise predictions. Minima represent the 5% values for the low emission (SRES B1) scenario, maxima represent the 95% values for the high emissions (A1FI) scenario, and best estimates represent the 50% values for the medium emissions (A1B) scenario. Summary of actual and potential benefits of beach nourishment at the ten study sites.
Table 2.2
Table 2.3 Table 3.1 Table 4.1
Table 4.2
Table 4.3
Table 5.1
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1 Location of possible case study areas. Figure 2.1 Concept diagrams showing examples of Good beaches. Figure 2.2 Examples of Good beaches: wide, high, wave-dissipative beaches at (a) Harlech, looking north in August 1991; and (b) Broad Haven, west of Stackpole Warren, in March 2009. Figure 2.3 Concept diagrams showing examples of Poor beaches. Figure 2.4 Example of a Poor beach: Ffrith Beach, Rhyl, with very low beach levels, dilapidated groynes and exposed sea wall: (a) oblique aerial photograph taken March 2008; (b) ground photograph looking west taken February 2010. Figure 2.5 Concept diagram showing possible alternative sources of artificial nourishment material. After Pye (2010). Figure 2.6 Some alternative methods of beach nourishment. After Pye (2010). Figure 2.7 Schematic diagrams showing sediment losses following initial beach nourishment on (a) an open-ended system, such as a straight open-coast beach, and (b) a semi-closed system, such as a pocket beach. After Pye (2010). Figure 2.8 Examples of previously successful beach nourishment: (a) Miami Beach, taken 2007; (b) oblique aerial photograph of West Shore, Llandudno, taken March 2008. Figure 2.9 Conceptual models of shoreline evolution during sea level rise: (a) Bruuns model of shoreline retreat in response to sea level rise, and (b) Hold The Line model with no net change in shoreline position or beach form in response to sea level rise. Figure 2.10 Future sea level rise preditions from 1990 based on the DEFRA (2006) sea level rise allowances (for south west England and Wales), and UKCP09 projections (for Holyhead, grid cell 18745) based on the 95th percentile modelled output values (considered very unlikely to be exceeded) for low (SRES B1), medium (SRES A1B1) and high (SRES A1FI) emission scenarios. Figure 4.1 Composite aerial photograph of Site 1: Gronant-Talacre, flown 15/07/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, the area of the previous nourishment scheme in February and March 2003, KPAL beach profile locations, and tide lines from the First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey maps surveyed in 1871. Figure 4.2 Oblique aerial photographs of (a) Talacre and Point of Ayr viewed from the east, and (b) the nourished area of the shore near the Point of Ayr Lighthouse, taken in March 2008. Source: Northwest Coastal Group. Figure 4.3 The beach at Talacre taken during nourishment in February-March 2003. Source: Countryside Council for Wales. Figure 4.4 The upper beach (a) and frontal dunes (b) at Talacre in March 2004, one year after beach nourishment. Figure 4.5 Cross-sectional profiles P3 to P7 at Talacre, Autumn 2007. Figure 4.6 The upper beach and frontal dunes (a) east and (b) west of Point of Ayr Lighthouse, in February 2010. Figure 4.7 Composite aerial photograph of Site 2: Abergele-Pensarn, flown 15/07/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment areas, position of Conwy County Borough Council beach cross-sectional profiles, and tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1872. Figure 4.8 Oblique aerial photographs of (a) central part and (b) western end of the Abergele-Pensarn ridge complex, March 2008. Source: Northwest Coastal Group. Figure 4.9 Cross-sectional beach profiles across the beach at Site 2: Abergele-Pensarn, surveyed in October 2009. Figure 4.10 Western end of the Abergele-Pensarn ridge complex looking (a) west and (b) east, February 2010. Figure 4.11 Composite aerial photograph of Site 3: Traeth Crugan, flown 09/06/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment areas, position of Gwynedd Council beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1888. Figure 4.12 Cross-sectional beach profiles across the beach at Traeth Crugan. After Faber Maunsell (2008).
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Figure 4.13 Rock armour sea defences and upper beach at Traeth Crugan looking (a) west and (b) east, in 2006. Figure 4.14 Composite aerial photograph of Site 4: Morfa Dyffryn, flown 15/07/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Gwynedd Council beach cross sectional profiles, and tide lines from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey maps surveyed in 1887. Figure 4.15 Offset of tidal contours relative to the station on beach profiles 34 and 35 at Morfa Dyffryn. After Pye and Saye (2005). Figure 4.16 The dunes at Morfa Dyffryn, taken May 2007. Figure 4.17 Composite aerial photograph of Site 5: Broadwater-Aberdovey, flown 03/06/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Gwynedd Council beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1887. Figure 4.18 (a) Removal of excess sand from area of boat ramp at Aberdovey promenade, (b) emplacement of nourishment sand at low points in the foredunes, Aberdovey Golf Club frontage. Source: Gwynedd Council. Figure 4.19 Cross-sectional beach profiles between Aberdovey and Tywyn, measured on 13-14 February 1992 and 2 May 2008. Figure 4.20 (a) Nourished area of the frontal dunes, Aberdovey Golf Club frontage, March 2007; and (b) the beach fronting Penllyn Marshes, north of Aberdovey Golf Club, April 2008. Figure 4.21 (a) The beach at Tywyn, showing low beach levels and damage to promenade, and (b) beach and railway line between Tywyn and Broad Water, showing limited flood protection, both taken May 2007. Figure 4.22 Composite aerial photograph of Site 6: Tenby North Beach, flown 03/06/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Swansea and Carmarthen Bay beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1887-8. Figure 4.23 Cross-sectional beach profiles at Site 6: Tenby North Beach. Figure 4.24 Tenby North Beach (a) looking north from Castle Mound, taken March 2009, (b) looking south from the northern end, taken February 2010. Figure 4.25 Composite aerial photograph of Site 7: Port Eynon, flown 02/06/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Swansea and Carmarthen Bay beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1877-8. Figure 4.26 The beach at Port Eynon (a) looking southwest from Horton; and (b) looking northeast from Port Eynon. Source: Llanelli Sand Dredging. Figure 4.27 Cross-sectional beach profiles at Port Eynon. Figure 4.28 Composite aerial photograph of Site 8: Northwest Swansea Bay, flown 05/04/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Swansea and Carmarthen Bay beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1876-8. Figure 4.29 Cross-sectional beach profiles in Northwest Swansea Bay. Figure 4.30 (a) Northern Swansea Bay near Black Pill (a) looking west and (b) looking east, taken February 2010. Figure 4.31 Composite aerial photograph of Site 9: Baglan-Aberavon, flown 02-3/06/2006 at 2m resolution. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Swansea and Carmarthen Bay beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1875-77. Figure 4.32 Cross-sectional beach profiles between Baglan and Aberavon. Figure 4.33 (a) The upper beach at Aberavon looking north, taken March 2009; (b) Bulldozer removing sand from sea wall steps at Aberavon, February 2010. Figure 4.34 (a) The beach towards the northern end of Aberavon promenade, looking south, showing windblown sand buildup on the stepped revetment; and (b) the beach fronting the southern end of Baglan Burrows, looking north. Photographs taken in February 2010. Figure 4.35 Composite aerial photograph of Site 10: Porthcawl, flown 03/06/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Swansea and Carmarthen Bay
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beach cross-sectional profiles, and the tide lines taken from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey Maps surveyed in 1876. Figure 4.36 Cross-sectional beach profiles at Porthcawl. Figure 4.37 The beach at Sandy Bay, Porthcawl (a) looking east from the western end; and (b) looking west from the eastern end. Photographs taken February 2010. Figure 5.1 Licensed dredging areas in: (a) NW Region and (b) SW Region. Source: Crown Estate. Figure 5.2 Dredging application, option and prospecting areas in the SW Region (there are currently no areas in the NW Region). Source: Crown Estate.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to thank the staff of CCW and members of the project Steering Group who have provided information and comments during the undertaking of this Pilot Project. Particular thanks are due to the following for provision of data and advice relating to specific sites: Alan Williams (Coastal Engineering UK Ltd), Bob Minty (Port of Neath), Greg Guthrie (Royal Haskoning), Paul Day (CCW), Howard Blackwood (Shore Management (Wales), and Alun Williams (Gwynedd Council). Technical assistance in preparation of the report was provided by Simon Blott (KPAL) and Richard Agnew (Atkins).
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CRYNODEB GWEITHREDOL
Mae traethau yn adnodd naturiol, cymdeithasol ac economaidd allweddol i Gymru. Yn ogystal bod yn amddiffynfa arfordirol hanfodol i gymunedau lleol, ac yn fodd i gynnal cynefinoedd naturiol allweddol o bwysigrwydd cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol, maent hefyd yn un o asedau tirwedd a hamdden pwysicaf Cymru sy'n sail i dwristiaeth arfordirol. Er enghraifft, mae arfordir Cymru yn hanfodol bwysig i'r diwydiant twristiaeth yng Nghymru. Yn rhanbarthau Cymru, mae twristiaeth glan mr yn arbennig o bwysig yn y Gogledd a'r De-orllewin, lle mae'n cyfrif am 52% o wariant twristiaid. Yn 2009, daeth y gwariant sy'n gysylltiedig ag ymweliadau dros nos ar yr arfordir i gyfanswm o tua 601 miliwn neu 43% o gyfanswm gwariant twristiaid yng Nghymru. Yn bwysig, mae ymweliadau arfordirol yn cyfrif am 37% o'r holl ymweliadau dros nos yng Nghymru (Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, 2010). Ar y llaw arall, yn 2009/10 6 miliwn oedd cyllideb Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru ar gyfer cefnogi gwaith awdurdodau lleol Cymru o ran amddiffynfeydd mewndirol ac arfordirol gyda'r mwyafrif yn canolbwyntio ar amddiffyn asedau tuag at gefn yr amddiffynfeydd. Cyfradd isel o'r gyllideb hon a ddefnyddiwyd i wella traethau. Gan gofio'r ystadegau economaidd pwysig hyn, mae rhai heriau mawr yn ein hwynebu y dyfodol o ran cynnal a gwella traethau. Mae codiad yn lefel y mr a newid yn yr hinsawdd yn fygythiadau a allai fod yn ddifrifol i draethau Cymru, yn arbennig y rhai sydd o flaen amddiffynfeydd caled. Mae traethau yn aml o dan bwysau o ganlyniad i amddiffynfeydd cyfredol gan eu bod wedi tynnu ffynonellau gwaddod o'r system. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn ymdopi chodiad yn lefel y mr a chynnal traethau ar yr un lefel gymharol 'r llanw, mae angen llawer mwy o waddod ar draethau, nad yw ar gael yn naturiol yn aml mwyach. Yn gysylltiedig 'r uchod, mae un o'r problemau mawr y mae Cymru'n debygol o'i hwynebu yn ymwneud faint yn fwy o waddod y bydd ei angen yn l pob tebyg i adfer a chynnal traethau iach, o ble y daw a sut y telir amdano. I geisio mynd i'r afael 'r cyntaf o'r problemau hyn, comisiynwyd Atkins Ltd ynghyd Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd (KPAL) gan y Grp Llywio i gynnal prosiect ymchwil ddesg i ystyried y gofynion tebygol ar gyfer gwaith adfer lefelau gwaddod dros y ganrif nesaf. Er mwyn gwneud hyn, dewiswyd sampl cynrychioliadol o 10 o draethau Cymru a oedd yn cwmpasu'r amrywiaeth o draethau yng Nghymru. Ar gyfer pob un o'r 10 ardal astudiaeth achos a ddewiswyd, amcangyfrifwyd ar faint o waddod newydd y byddai ei angen i gynnal prosiect 'gwella traethau' cychwynnol, wedi'i ddilyn gan waith adfer gwaddod bob pum mlynedd yn ystod yr 20 mlynedd nesaf, gan ragdybio bod 50% o'r gwaddod a osodir yn cael ei golli rhwng gwaith adfer, a chan ganiatu ar gyfer codiad rhagdybiedig yn lefel y mr dros yr un cyfnod o amser. Mae'r amcangyfrif gorau o ran lefelau gwaddod ar gyfer senario allyriadau canolig codiad yn lefel y mr UKCP09 yn amrywio rhwng 142,000 m3 ar Draeth Gogleddol Dinbych-y-pysgod i 2,017,000 m3 ar Draeth Aberafan. O dan bob un o'r senarios codiad yn lefel y mr a ystyriwyd, dengys y canlyniadau ar y gofynion posibl o ran adfer gwaddod fod lefelau adfer gwaddod cychwynnol wrth 'wella' traethau ar bob un o'r safleoedd a nodwyd yn eithaf cymedrol. Y mwyaf ohonynt yw 641 x 103 m3 ar Draeth Aberafan. Mae'r gofynion ar gyfer y safleoedd amfae caedig llai megis Traeth Gogleddol Dinbych-y-pysgod, Traeth Crugan a Bae Porth Einion yn gymharol fach ( < 150 x 103 m3). Mae'r lefelau sydd eu hangen i gynnal proffiliau presennol traethau ar y 10 safle yn amrywio'n sylweddol, yn dibynnu ar hyd y draethlin, yr amrediad llanw (ac felly lled y traeth), a chyfradd y codiad yn lefel y mr a ystyriwyd. Gan ystyried gwerth 'amcangyfrif gorau' (50fed canradd) y senario allyriadau canolig, byddai angen y lefelau lleiaf o waddod erbyn 2100 byddai ar Draeth Gogledd Dinbych-y-pysgod a Thraeth Crugan (24 a 30 x 103 m3 yn y drefn honno), a byddai
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angen y lefelau uchaf yng Ngogledd Bae Abertawe a Thraeth Aberafan (614 a 541 x 103 m3 yn y drefn honno). Nid yw'r un o'r gwerthoedd yn fawr iawn o'u cymharu lefelau adfer gwaddod ar gyfer cynlluniau mawr a gwblhawyd eisoes yn Lloegr, megis y rhai yn Bournemouth, Mablethorpe - Skegness a Heacham. Fodd bynnag, dylid cofio nad yw'r cyfrifiadau 'cynnydd lefelau' hyn yn ystyried y gwaddod a gollir a fyddai'n anochel yn dilyn gwaith adfer gwaddod cychwynnol a'r gwaith a gynhelir wedi hynny. Fodd bynnag, mae cyfrifiadau o werthoedd yr astudiaeth beilot ar gyfer faint o dywod y byddai ei angen yn deillio o'r fethodoleg a ddefnyddiwyd ac maent yn debygol o newid pe ci methodoleg wahanol ei defnyddio. Serch hynny, gellir eu hystyried yn arwydd o'r lefelau tebygol sydd eu hangen a'r gobaith yw y caiff rhai o'r amcangyfrifon hyn eu mireinio mewn gwaith diweddarach. Felly, bwriad y canlyniadau yw llywio cam nesaf y gwaith a gynhelir gyda rhagor o arian gan Gronfa'r Ardoll Agregau ar gyfer Cymru. Wrth ystyried gwaith adfer gwaddod ar y safleoedd peilot (neu leoliadau eraill lle mae angen lefelau sylweddol), rhaid ystyried yr holl opsiynau o ran adnoddau a byddai hyn yn ffurfio elfen bwysig o'r astudiaeth arfaethedig yn y dyfodol. I gloi, mae'r astudiaeth beilot wedi amlygu'r manteision pwysig y gallai gwaith adfer gwaddod eu sicrhau ac mae'n cyfiawnhau'n llwyr yr ystyriaeth fanylach o'i ddefnydd. Mae'r astudiaeth hefyd yn dangos yn glir, mewn oes lle mae disgwyl i'r codiad yn lefel y mr gynyddu, os ydym am gynnal traethau Cymru yn eu cyflwr presennol bydd angen dechrau ar brosiect adfer gwaddod traethau mawr. Gallai ymgyrch o'r fath sicrhau manteision o ran cynefinoedd, y dirwedd, gweithgareddau hamdden ac amddiffynfeydd arfordirol, ond dim ond pe bai rhagor o arian a systemau rheoli effeithiol ar waith i alluogi hynny. Mae'r astudiaeth beilot yn argymell y dylid cynnal rhagor o ymchwiliadau i ffynonellau gwaddod posibl ynghyd chynnal gwerthusiad economaidd manylach sy'n ystyried echdynnu deunyddiau, costau trafnidiaeth a'r costau cysylltiedig sydd ynghlwm wrth gydymffurfiaeth reoliadol (asesiad o'r effaith amgylcheddol a gwaith monitro cyn ac ar l y gwaith).
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Beaches are a key natural, social and economic resource for Wales. They not only provide a vital coastal defence function for local communities, and material for the maintenance of key natural habitats of national and international importance, but they also represent one of Waless premier landscape and recreational assets which underpins coastal tourism. The Welsh coast, for example, is vitally important to the tourism industry in Wales. Within the Welsh regions, seaside tourism is particularly important for the North and South West, where it accounts for 52% of tourism spend. The spending associated with an overnight visit to the coast, in 2009, amounted to around 601million or 43% of total tourism spending in Wales. Importantly, visits to the coast account for 37% of all overnight trips in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government, 2010). By contrast the Welsh Assembly Governments budget for 2009/10 for supporting the work of Welsh local authorities for both inland and coastal defence works was 6 million with the majority being targeted on defending assets to the rear of the defences. A minimal proportion of this budget was used to enhance beaches. With these important economic statistics in mind, there are some major future challenges to maintaining and enhancing beaches. Sea level rise and climate change represent a potentially serious threat to Welsh beaches, particularly those fronting hard defences. Beaches are often under pressure as a consequence of existing defences because they have removed sediment sources from the system. However, to cope with sea level rise and maintain beaches at the same relative position to the tides they need substantially more sediment which is often not now naturally available. Linked to the above, one of the key issues Wales is likely to face relates to how much more sediment is likely to be required to restore and maintain healthy beaches, where will it come from and how will it be paid for. To try and address the first of these issues Atkins Ltd together with Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd (KPAL) were commissioned by the Steering Group to carry out a desk based research project to consider the likely requirements for beach nourishment operations over the coming century. To do this a representative sample of ten Welsh beaches was chosen which encompassed the range of the Welsh beach resource. For each of the ten selected case study areas, estimates have been made of the sediment nourishment volumes that would be required to carry out an initial 'beach improvement' followed by re-nourishment at 5 yearly intervals in the following 20 years, assuming that 50% of the emplaced sediment is lost between re-nourishment events, and allowing for projected sea level rise over the same time period. The best estimate sediment volumes for the UKCP09 medium emissions sea level rise scenario range from 142,000 m3 at Tenby North Beach to 2,017,000 m3 at Aberavon Sands. The results of the potential sediment nourishment requirements under each of the sea level rise scenarios considered, show that initial beach 'improvement' nourishment volumes at all of the identified sites are relatively modest, the largest being 641 x 103 m3 at Aberavon Sands. The requirements for the smaller enclosed embayment sites such as Tenby North Beach, Traeth Crugan and Port Eynon Bay are relatively small (< 150 x 103 m3). The volumes required to maintain the existing beach profiles at the ten sites vary considerably, depending both on the length of shoreline, the tidal range (and therefore beach width), and the rate of sea level rise considered. Considering the 'best estimate' (50th percentile) value for the medium emissions scenario, the smallest volumes of sediment required by 2100 would be at Tenby North Beach and Traeth Crugan (24 and 30 x 103 m3, respectively), while the largest volumes would be required in Swansea Bay North and at Aberavon Sands (614 and 541 x 103 xii
m3, respectively). None of the values are particularly large when compared with nourishment volumes for large schemes already carried out in England, such as those at Bournemouth, Mablethorpe - Skegness and Heacham. It should, however, be borne in mind that these 'volume increase calculations do not take into account sediment losses which would inevitably occur following initial nourishment and each re-nourishment. The pilot study calculated values for the amount of sand needed are, however, a product of the methodology used and are likely to change if a different methodology was used. Nevertheless, they can be considered indicative of the likely scale required and it is hoped to refine some of these estimates in later work. The results therefore are intended to inform the next phase of work which will be carried out with further funding from the Aggregates Levy Fund for Wales. Consideration of future nourishment at the pilot sites (or other locations where significant volumes are required) needs to consider all resource options and would form an important element of the proposed future study. In conclusion, the pilot study has highlighted the important benefits that beach nourishment could provide and fully justifies the more detailed consideration of its use. The study also clearly demonstrates that, in an era when the rate of sea level rise is expected to increase, if we want to maintain Welsh beaches in their current condition then a major beach feeding project will be required. Such a campaign could deliver habitat, landscape, recreational and coastal defence benefits but only if additional finance and effective management systems were in place to enable this to occur. The pilot study recommends that further investigations be undertaken into possible sediment sources together with a more detailed economic appraisal, taking account not only of material extraction and transport costs but also the associated costs of regulatory compliance (environmental impact assessment and monitoring pre and post-works).
xiii
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Scope and purpose of the project Atkins Limited (Atkins) were commissioned in January 2010 by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) to undertake a pilot study to consider the likely future requirements for beach nourishment operations in Wales under conditions of possible accelerated sea level rise and climate change, with delivery of the final report by March 2010. Beaches in Wales are important for several reasons, including as a major 'attractor' of relevance to the tourist industry and local, regional and national economies. The Welsh Coast is vitally important to the tourism industry in Wales. The spending associated with an overnight visit to the coast, in 2006, amounted to around 648million (nearly 40% of total tourism spending in Wales). Beaches are also a form of natural coastal defence relevant to flood and erosion risk management, and as natural features and biological habitats relevant to nature conservation. Consequently there is a requirement to assess the future threats to the sustainability of Welsh beaches and to investigate means of managing the risks associated with possible future sea level and climate change (Welsh Audit Office, 2009). The potential benefits of beach nourishment include the creation of wider, more extensive areas of 'dry beach' and a more attractive general coastal landscape, reduced rates of coastal erosion and improved standard of coastal flood defence, reduced requirement to construct and maintain 'hard' coastal defence structures, and creation / preservation of areas or priority habitat such as vegetated shingle and sand dunes. Factors which may limit the expansion of beach nourishment activities include the need to ensure adequate supplies of reasonably priced, suitable sediments, which in turn is dependent on the availability of sediment sources, transport costs, monitoring requirements, the magnitude of future changes in sea level and climate (especially storminess which exercises a key control of wave climate, sediment mobility and the frequency of renourishment requirements), and, perhaps most importantly, the availability of future funding which will be tied to general economic conditions. While these issues are touched on in the present report, it is intended that they will be the subject of more detailed consideration at a later stage in the programme. The pilot study represents the first stage in a wider programme of work to help encourage and facilitate the use of beach nourishment on the Welsh coast. Although beach nourishment has been widely and extensively used as coastal management tool in many parts of the world, it has so far been employed in Wales only on a relatively small scale. The principal purpose of the pilot study is therefore to assess the potential contribution which increased use of beach nourishment could make, including the potential benefits that may arise for tourism, coastal erosion and flood risk management, and nature conservation. In addition, the study identifies factors which might limit the adoption of this method of beach management in Wales. This pilot study is essentially a research project undertaken prior to more detailed planning work that would be required for the development of specific scheme proposals. The project provides a a generic assessment and is not intended to promote offshore extraction of aggregates or any specific coastal scheme. 1.2 Aims and objectives The principal aim of the pilot study is to examine ten example sites where beach nourishment might be an appropriate engineered management option over the next 20, 50 and 100 years. The 1
ten selected areas have been chosen to include both sand and mixed sand/shingle systems around the coasts of North, West and South Wales and which reflect varying relative importance of touristic / recreational, flood and erosion risk management and nature conservation interests. The ten chosen sites are as follows (see Figure 1.1 for locations): Talacre; Abergele - Pensarn; Traeth Crugan; Morfa Dyffryn; Broadwater - Tywyn Aberdovey; Tenby North Beach; Port Eynon Bay; Northern Swansea Bay (Black Pill to Swansea Docks); Aberavon Sands (eastern Swansea Bay); and Porthcawl (Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay).
For each site, the study aims to identify the potential benefits of, and requirements for, beach nourishment. For the purposes of illustration and inter-site comparison, estimates are made of the approximate volumes of material which would be required to: (a) improve the current condition of the current beach by creating an initial upper 'dry beach' berm, 20 m wide and tapering seawards at a gradient of 1:25 to intersect the existing beach profile; (b) maintain the existing beach form under condition of sea level rise over time periods of 20, 50 and 100 years, using estimates of local sea level rise derived from data available on UKCP09 website user interface; and (c) maintain the existing profile under conditions of sea level rise over a period of 20 years, allowing for natural sediment losses and consequent requirements for renourishment at 5-yearly intervals (an assumed 50% loss of material between renourishment events).
The calculated volumes presented are provided solely as illustrations of the general magnitudes of required sediment volumes. It is anticipated that more detailed assessment of different options would be undertaken for scheme design purposes at specific sites. 1.3 Steering Group In view of the short timescale available for the project, stakeholder engagement has been key to its successful completion. Significant input has been provided by a number of the Steering Group members, including CCW, Environment Agency Wales, The Crown Estate and British Marine Aggregates Producers Association (BMAPA). Opinions and data have also been sought from several coastal managers, local authority engineers, consultants, harbour authorities and others during the course of the project. Overall management of the project has been undertaken by Atkins Ltd with specific technical input relating to the case study sites provided by Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd.
1.4
Study Limitations
The original Terms of Reference recommended the assessment of data and information from a variety of sources. The authors have embraced the considerable challenge of reviewing as much information as possible within a very tight project timescale (6 weeks maximum) set for the study. Within this constraint it has not been possible to obtain and utilise all types of available data, notably Lidar data, for the chosen study sites. It is recommended that such data should be used to produce refined nourishment requirement volume estimates in any future work. Following internal notification of the pilot study a few concerned responses were received by CCW with regards to potential impacts on biological habitats. It is acknowledged that the potential impacts of beach nourishment can be both positive and negative in terms of to biological habitats; these have not been addressed within the pilot study and would require further investigation at a plan/design stage.
2 THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF BEACH NOURISHMENT

2.1 The coastal environment The rural coast of Wales is a magnificent resource for residents and visitors to enjoy, offering spectacular coastal scenery, attractive small towns and villages, opportunities for informal land and water based recreation and a wildlife environment of exceptional diversity and interest. The coast is also valued for its unspoilt scenery, peace and quiet. A balance needs to be struck on the rural coast between tranquil areas and areas supporting a large number of people and a range of activity (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). The environmental quality of the Welsh coastline is reflected in the range and number of designations and protected sites that cover the coastline of Wales, with 70% of the coastline designated for its environmental quality. In terms of EU and international designations, many parts of the coastal and marine environment of Wales are designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Marine Special Areas of Conservation due to the richness of their benthic habitats. These areas are chosen for being the best examples in the UK for containing habitat types and species listed in the EU Habitats Directive. Other parts of the coast are designated as Special Protection Areas to conserve the habitats of certain rare or vulnerable birds and regularly occurring migratory birds. The Dovey Estuary, nearAberdovey, is the only designated Biosphere Reserve in Wales. The Biosphere reserves are areas nominated by national governments and designated under UNESCOs Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). In addition, some are priority habitats or contain listed species under EC and international legislation. The western coastline of Wales and generally the seabed of the Southern Irish Sea contain a diverse range of marine habitats and species, from algae dominated rocky reefs to deep muddy areas inhabited by burrowing animals. The rocky reefs tend to be found close to the coast in relatively shallow water, although there are also relatively large areas offshore to the north and west of Anglesey. Also close to the coast are extensive areas of sediment, ranging from muds to gravels. The central part of the Southern Irish Sea (St Georges Channel) has deeper water, often in excess of 100m and generally coarser sediments (sands and gravels). Previous studies have also shown the seabed environment here is highly variable, and contains a diverse range of biological communities (Robinson et al. HABMAP, 2007). The mean spring tidal range around the coast of Wales is large, varying from just over 4 metres in central Cardigan Bay to over 12 m in the inner Bristol Channel, with the result that beaches and associated intertidal flats are very extensive. Tidal levels and ranges for the ten selected case study sites are summarised in Table 2.1 All ten sites can be described as macrotidal according to the definition of Davies (1964). The coastal orientation, and therefore exposure to wind and wave energy, differs between the sites. Talacre and Abergele - Pensarn experience dominant waves from the northwest, Traeth Crugan, Morfa Dyffryn and Broadwater - Aberdovey are influenced both strong waves from north-westerly, westerly and south-westerly directions, Tenby North Beach is affected mainly by waves from the southeast and east (some of which are refracted offshore south-westerly waves), while Port Eynon, northern Swansea Bay, Aberavon and Porthcawl are influenced by dominant south-westerly waves, including long-distance swell from the as far away as the South Atlantic. Talacre, Tenby North Beach, Port Eynon Bay, Swansea Bay North, Aberavon Sands and Porthcawl represent sand-dominated beach systems, Abergele-Pensarn is a gravel-dominated system, while Traeth Crugan, Morfa Dyffryn and Broadwater-Tywyn-Aberdovey are examples of mixed sand - gravel beach systems. 4
2.2 The importance of beaches and problems associated with beach erosion Beaches represent the first line of coastal defence and are of critical importance in dissipating wave and tidal energy. They therefore exert a significant control on both erosion/ accretion trends and water levels along the coast. All beaches are subject to change over time due to the interaction of waves and tides, and fluctuations in the local sediment budget. Reductions in sediment supply, or an increase in wave and/or tidal energy, can rapidly lead to falling beach levels and recession of the shoreline (defined here as the level of the highest astronomical tide, HAT). Alternating periods of beach erosion and accretion can occur on a variety of timescales, ranging from seasonal (winter / summer), through decadal to centennial. Changes generally only become significant if maintained for several decades or longer. The net movement of the HAT line since the later 19th century at each of the ten case study sites is summarised in Table 2.2. Abergele - Pensarn is the only site which has experienced net seaward accretion over the period, and parts of even this site have experienced net erosion in recent decades. Many of the sites show a spatially variable pattern of net erosion, stability and accretion over the period, reflecting the importance of longshore sediment transport processes on many parts of the coast; sediment eroded from the up-drift ends of sediment transport cells is frequently deposited at the distal, down-drift ends of the cells - a fact which needs to be taken into consideration if designing any beach nourishment scheme. The highest average rates of net shoreline recession recorded at any of the ten site was recorded near the Point of Ayr (profile P7) at Talacre, while the highest average rates of progradation (accretion) over the period have been experienced at the northern end of the Aberavon Sands - Baglan site (profiles P217 & P218). At several sites, including Tenby North Beach, Morfa Dyffryn and Traeth Crugan, the HAT line has shown little or no net movement over the period, although is several of these instances the beaches have steepened due to a landward movement of the low water mark (Futurecoast, 2002; Pye & Saye, 2005). From several perspectives, a 'good beach' can be defined as one which has a relatively wide backshore which is dry under most tidal conditions, a wide, relatively high foreshore which is effective in dissipating wave energy, and which has a zone of sand dunes or vegetated shingle behind the normal HAT line which provides a further reservoir of sediment which can be released to the beach during storm conditions (Figure 2.1). Such beaches provide effective natural coastal defences, a wide range of ecological habitats which promote biodiversity, have high aesthetic appeal and a large 'useable' space for recreational and touristic activities. In general, gravel (shingle) beaches are more effective in dissipating wave energy, and are less susceptible to damage during individual storms, than beaches on which sand dominates both the upper and lower parts of the beach. Two examples of such 'good' beaches are illustrated in Figure 2.2. Harlech Beach, located in Tremadoc Bay, provides one of the few examples in Wales where a relatively open coast 'receptive shore' is still receiving significant supplies of sediment from the offshore and nearshore zones, and where large parts of the frontage are either stable or slowly accreting, despite high seasonal visitor pressure. Broadhaven in Pembrokeshire provides a example of a smaller headland-bound 'pocket' beach which experiences a similar positive sediment budget, resulting in a wide sandy foreshore, wide backshore and newly forming embryo dunes and foredunes. By the same token, 'poor beaches' may be defined as ones which are very narrow, low, frequently wet and often backed by hard coastal defence structures (Figure 2.3). The value of such beaches as natural coastal defences is severely limited, and costs of artificially controlling back-beach erosion, and of maintaining an adequate level of flood protection, are often high. The presence of vertical sea walls of other structures can itself enhance the problem of beach loss due to accentuated wave reflection and toe scour (Figure 2.3a & b). Such beach systems are unattractive 5
from a visual point of view, are often un-usable for recreational / touristic purposes at high tide, and are of limited nature conservation value. Access to the beaches from the promenade or sea wall is often difficult. An example of such a 'poor' beach near the eastern end of Rhyl is illustrated in Figures 2.4a & b. At this location the coastal defences run at an oblique angle to the natural orientation of the ridges and runnels on the foreshore, creating particularly low areas where the runnels abut the toe of the defences. This coastline has experienced long-term loss of sediment due to restricted supply from the west and a tendency for net eastward alongshore drift. The groyne systems along the coast are now in a state of disrepair and have limited effect. Beach levels have fallen to a point where sheet piling at the toe of the sea wall is exposed, standing water and/ or underlying silts and peat deposits are exposed over large areas of the beach, and recreational appeal is severely reduced. While addition of rock armour might improve the standard of flood protection by itself it would do little to raise beach levels or increase the touristic and nature conservation value of the beach. Even if artificial defences are not present, a narrow backshore and steep foreshore in front of a naturally eroding dune cliff or shingle ridge or eroding dune cliff provides limited useable space for recreational / tourist space and is widely to be perceived as unattractive or even dangerous for swimmers and other users (Figures 2.3c & d). 2.3 Previous Beach Nourishment Schemes 2.3.1 Artificial beach nourishment schemes in North America, Europe and other parts of the World A distinction needs to be made between natural beach nourishment and artificial (or man-made) beach nourishment (Pye, 2010). Under natural conditions beaches may be nourished with sediment from several possible sources, including neighbouring river mouths, the offshore / nearshore sea bed, up-drift coastal erosion, or in situ-biogenic sediment production. Artificial nourishment may be unintentional or intentional. Examples of unintentional artificial nourishment include the dumping of mine and quarry waste on the shore or into rivers which subsequently transport the material to the coast, or accelerated rates of soil erosion due to devegetation which result in increased rates of sediment supply to the coastal zone. Intentional artificial beach nourishment most commonly involves the purposeful placement of material (natural or artificial sediment) to create or replenish a beach. Beach creation involves the construction of a beach where none-existed previously; beach replenishment (sometimes also referred to as beach recharge or beach fill) involves the restoration or improvement of an existing beach. Repeat placement of additional material on a beach which has already been artificially nourished is referred to as beach re-nourishment. It is often stated in the coastal scientific literature that the first major artificial beach nourishment schemes were undertaken in California and New Jersey during the period 1919 1922, and the practice became increasing popular in the United States between the Wars. Amongst the most significant early schemes where the creation of a recreational beach at Coney Island in 1922 using dredgings from New York Harbour, and the creation of a large recreational beach at Waikiki, Hawaii, in 1939 (Finkl & Walker, 2005). The first large-scale project in Europe was undertaken on the German island of Nordeney commencing in 1951. Since that time beach nourishment has been undertaken in many other European countries including Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Portugal and Spain, as well as many other parts of the world. Several case study examples are described in Schwartz & Bird (1990) and in Appendix 1 to this report. One of largest single schemes undertaken was at Miami Beach in Florida between 1975 and 1980, when more than 10 x 106 m3 of sediment was placed on a 20 km length of beach for combined recreational and storm protection purposes. Other major recent schemes have been 6
undertaken as part of major construction and economic development programmes in Dubai, China and Malaysia. In the Netherlands, beach nourishment has become the principal tool by which a policy of 'dynamic preservation of the coastline' will be delivered. Under this policy, the coastal profile of the Dutch coast down to a depth of -20 m, as it existed in 1990, will be maintained by nourishment every 5 years in order to keep pace with rising sea level (Mulder et al., 2006). The principal source of sediment will be provided by dredging of offshore areas beyond the -20 m isobath. Regular and detailed monitoring of the beach, nearshore and offshore areas provides a key part of the strategy (van der Lee, 2009). In the United Kingdom, the first significant artificial sand beach nourishment schemes undertaken primarily for recreation purposes were undertaken at Bournemouth and Portobello (Edinburgh) in the early 1970's. Prior to this time there had only been small scale nourishments of beaches in several places using harbour dredging, quarry and construction waste (both sediment and rock). Since the 1970's large-scale nourishment projects using both sand and shingle have been undertaken on several parts of the UK coast, mainly in eastern and southern England. The main drivers have been both flood protection (e.g. Lincshore in Lincolnshire and Heacham in Norfolk) and recreational (e.g. Bournemouth). The initial Lincshore project in the late 1990's involved placement of approximately 7.5 x 106 m3 of coarse sand along the shore between Mablethorpe and Skegness; subsequent annual re-nourishment requirements have averaged about 450 x 103 m3 (Blott & Pye, 2004). 2.3.2 Artificial beach nourishment in Wales Compared with other parts of the world, including England, previous beach nourishment operations in Wales have been few and mostly small-scale. Dredgings from a number of small harbours and ports have been used to nourish nearby beaches and dunes; examples include Pwlheli, Aberdovey, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron and Neath. A small pilot study was undertaken in 2000 to examine the feasibility of using dredgings from the approach to Neath Harbour for beneficial beach recharge; approximately 14 x 103 m3 of sandy material was deposited offshore from Sker Beach (Kenfig Sands) on the assumption that it would move shorewards under the influence of natural processes (BP Chemical Ltd, 2000). Subsequently c. 6 x 103 m3 of sand from this source was used to nourish the north-western end of Aberavon - Baglan dunes; in 2007 approximately 115 x 103 m3 was used to nourish the northern end of the Aberavon foreshore, and in 2008 c. 220 x 106 m3 was used to nourish the beach in front of Crymlyn Burrows. In 2003, approximately 180 x 103 m3 of dredged material (mainly sand) from the approaches to Mostyn docks was used to nourish the beach at Talacre, east of Prestatyn. During the early 1990's volumes of c. 100 - 150 x 103 m3 of sand were used for beach nourishment as part of a number of wider coastal protection schemes, including those at Llanelli, Machynys and Llandudno West Shore. A significant proportion of the material used at Llanelli and Machynys was reportedly sources from offshore sources. Other significant nourishment projects, involving on or mainly cobble or gravel-sized material, were undertaken at Llandudno North Shore, Penrhyn, Morfa Dinlle and Kinmel Bay, amongst other places, but most involved relatively small quantities of material (generally < 15 x 103 m3). 2.3.3 Guidance relating to beach nourishment A number of manuals and collected conference papers have been published which provide general guidance on strategy and specific technical aspects relating to beach nourishment. These include Delft Hydraulics Laboratory (1987), van der Graaff et al., (1991), National Research Council (1995), Dean (2002) and Dean & Dalrymple (2002).
The CIRIA Beach Management Manual (Simm et al., 1996) contains a chapter on beach recharge and discusses its role in relation to other techniques of beach management. The Manual is currently being revised and a second edition is expected to be published later in 2010. A review of European experience with beach nourishment, focused on engineering aspects, was undertaken by Hamm et al. (2002), while the potential ecological effects have been reviewed by Speybroeck et al. (2006). Figure 2.5 presents a simple concept diagram which illustrates the main potential sources of sediment for artificial nourishment, while Figure 2.6 summarises the main methods by which nourishment can be undertaken. Various options for sediment emplacement exist, including formation of a rectangular or tapered sediment wedge on part, or all, of the upper beach, deposition of nourishment material as an offshore berm, or trickle-charging with sediment from one end of the system (Pye, 2010). Whatever the method and form of the initial emplacement, redistribution of sediment is likely to occur under the influence of natural processes (Figure 2.7). The rate at which this occurs will depend on the specific local coastal physiography and coastal energy regime. Figure 2.8 illustrates two examples of nourishment schemes which are generally regarded to have been successful in their objectives (Miami Beach and Llandudno West Shore). In general, beach nourishment, whether used alone or in conjunction with other measures, provides a more environmentally acceptable method of shoreline management than hard defence structures in terms of landscape and visual impacts (ECUS, 2000). 2.4 Climate and sea level change Climate change is likely to have significant impacts on the coast. Figures from the UK Climate Impacts Programme 2009 (UKCP09) and the UK Meteorological Office indicate that: Mean Global temperatures could rise anywhere between 1.5C and 5.8C by 2080 between 2 and 8 times the rise already seen since 1990. In the UK, an average rise of 23.5C is anticipated. Winters will become wetter (20-30% wetter by 2080) and summers may become drier (35-50% drier by 2080). Heavier rainfalls will become more frequent. Relative sea level will continue to rise around the UK coastline, at varying rates which will depend party on the pattern of crustal movements, partly on actual levels of global emissions, and partly on the nature of complex responses and interactions between the coupled atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere systems; modelling results indicate a wide range of possible values for the magnitude of total sea level rise, ranging for, 0.3 to 1.9 m over the next century. Figure 2.10 indicates a comparative example of the UKCP09 scenarios (low-medium and high emissions) compared to existing Defra guidance (2006). These show that the sea level rise predictions will amount to less than 1m, from a base year of 1990. The H++ scenario states a sea level rise of 1.9m but unlike the low, medium and high scenarios, no detailed information is available on how this increase will be reached. The potential impacts of climate change are likely to be various. An example is the possible increase in extreme weather events such as storminess which may have the effect of increasing flooding in low-lying areas, and increase erosion rates that could lead to a loss of beaches. A rise in sea level would have implications for low lying lands and coastal infrastructure. Tourism is also a contributor to climate change. The tourism industry and visitors alike are becoming more aware of the need to reduce their carbon 8
footprints, which may well lead to an increase in demand for domestic holidays (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). Bruun (1962) proposed a well-known two-dimensional model which predicts the effects of sea level rise on beaches, assuming a closed sediment system. According to this model, a rise on sea level will result in a lateral retreat of the high water mark by a predictable amount as sediment is eroded from the shoreface and re-deposited on the proximal sea floor (Figure 2.9a). An equilibrium beach profile is assumed to be maintained as coastal retreat progresses. Although this is a simplistic model which has been widely criticised, it still provides a useful conceptual framework. At its simplest, beach nourishment can be considered as a method by which retreat of the shoreline (high water mark) can be slowed or prevented and an equilibrium beach profile maintained (to some fixed distance offshore) during sea level rise (Figure 2.9 b). In essence this concept lies at the heart of the Dutch coastal defence policy of 'dynamic preservation of the coastline' adopted in 1990. The volumes of sediment required to achieve this condition are likely to be large and the costs could be high, depending on the rates of sea level rise, the location of suitable sediment sources, and the nature of feasible transportation methods. Estimates of possible future sea level rise for each of the 10 case study sites considered in this study were calculated from data available via the UKCP09 website user interface. A summary of the values obtained for three different emissions scenarios and different climate model outputs is provided in Table 2.3. Consideration of issues of suitable sediment sources and transport costs will be undertaken in a later stage of the work programme. For example, nourishment schemes to protect the coastline from the affects of climate and sea level change should themselves have a minimal negative impact as possible on the same effect. The carbon footprint of the proposed nourishment schemes will be calculated, expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other greenhouse gasses, emitted. Both the embedded carbon dioxide in the materials used and transport of those materials will be estimated. The results of this analysis will help inform the decision-making process to select the optimal nourishment scheme design. 2.5 Coastal tourism and beach recreation
The Welsh Coast is vitally important to the tourism industry in Wales. The spending associated with an overnight visit to the coast, in 2009, amounted to around 601million or 43% of total tourism spending in Wales. It attracts around 3.4 million staying trips (14 million nights) each year together with an estimated 25 million tourism day trips (Welsh Assembly Government, 2010). The majority (78%) of seaside tourism is for leisure purposes although places such as Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno also attract some business tourism. Visits to the coast account for 37% of all overnight trips in Wales - a much higher proportion than in England and Scotland where visits account for only 20% and 13% respectively (Welsh Assembly Government, 2010). Within the Welsh regions, seaside tourism is particularly important for the North and South West, where it accounts for 52% of tourism spend. The direct impact of tourism amounts to an estimated 3.2% of whole-economy value added in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). The importance of coastal tourism is also reflected by the Welsh Assembly Government in their One Wales: A progressive agenda for the government of Wales document which also proposes 9
to construct an all-Wales coastal path as part of its plan to maintain clean, healthy and sustainable local environments in which people can take pride (Welsh Assembly Government, 2007). Its importance is outlined within the Coastal Tourism Strategy which was identified as one of the key national actions within the Wales Spatial Plan. The purpose of the Coastal Tourism Strategy is to identify a clear way forward for the development of Coastal Tourism, which realises and builds on the economic potential of the coastline of Wales whilst respecting its environmental quality and recognising the importance of achieving community benefits. A key recommendation of the Strategy is that proposals for tourism investment recognise and take account of the implications of climate change impacts, particularly the increasing flood and erosion risks, and assist with adaption to those impacts. 2.6 Integrated management Data and information management is defined as a key pressure theme in Making the Most of Wales Coast, the ICZM Strategy for Wales. Previous work undertaken by Atkins for CCW (McCue, J. et al., 2008)helped CCW review what information currently exists, where data is stored, and whether it is helpful in improving the understanding of issues such as habitat replacement, natural evolution of landforms and the economic implications of natural shoreline change over time. CCW are at the forefront of ICZM in Wales and with increasing pressure on the coastal resource, and a growing recognition that the coastline should be managed in a more strategic and coordinated way, the impact of visitors on sites around the coast may result in additional management costs to land owners and local authorities in terms of sustaining the quality of the environment and providing facilities for visitors to enjoy a safe experience.
The proposed Action Plan set for that project (section 7) is a useful source of information and proposed intervention with relation to the delivery of ICZM principles within Wales. Sustainable beach solutions for the future were presented as a key area for consideration.
10
3 METHODOLOGY
The project methodology has centred on 4 work packages (WP): WP1 Initial Beach Case Study Assessment and Inception Meeting; WP2 Data Review and Initial Site Analysis; WP3 Beach Case Study Assessment; and WP4 Draft and Final Reporting.
3.1 Work Package 1 - Initial Beach Case Study Assessment and Meeting Aim: To introduce the project team, confirm the communication strategy with CCW, scope out the approach to each Work Package, and discuss possible beach case study areas. To assist in ensuring project completion within the tight project timescales, Atkins undertook a rapid desk-top study of numerous potential case study sites for the project, for discussion at the Inception Meeting on 3rd February 2010. A preliminary set of case study criteria was adopted to help ascertain which case studies are appropriate for further evaluation. These criteria were developed in line with CCW's key corporate drivers. The following sites were discussed at the Inception Meeting: Talacre-Gronant Rhyl-Prestatyn Abergele-Towyn Morfa Dinlle Traeth Crugan Llanaber-Morfa Dyffryn Fairbourne Broadwater-Tywyn-Aberdovey Borth-Ynyslas Swansea Bay (North) Swansea Bay (East) Porthcawl-Ogmore Rhoose-Barry Island Penrhyn Bay Nicholaston Burrows Oxwich Bay
Of these 16 sites, 4 were retained as pilot sites but truncated in their length (Talacre, Abergele, Morfa Dyffryn and Porthcawl), 3 were retained in their entirety (Traeth Crugan, Broadwater11
Tywyn-Aberdovey, Swansea Bay (North) and 3 sites were introduced (Tenby, Port Eynon Bay and Aberavon Sands) in order to best represent a mix of sand, shingle and mixed beaches of varying significance to nature conservation, flood risk management and tourism, geographically spread around the Welsh coast. Therefore, the final ten selected pilot sites were defined as: Talacre Abergele - Pensarn Traeth Crugan Morfa Dyffryn Broadwater - Tywyn - Aberdovey Tenby North Beach Port Eynon Bay Northern Swansea Bay (Black Pill to Swansea Docks) Aberavon Sands (eastern Swansea Bay) Porthcawl (Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay)
3.2 Work Package 2 Data Review and Initial Site Analysis Aim: To collate and review existing published information of relevance and to develop and analyse the agreed list of possible beach nourishment case study areas. Following agreement of the case study sites at the Inception Meeting, for each site we have developed a more detailed overview of the distribution, sedimentary character, morphology and recent erosion / accretion status of beaches. Table 3.1 provides a summary of this information. 3.3 Work Package 3 Beach Case Study Assessment For the ten selected case study sites the principal methods employed in this study have been: Desk study evaluation of published and unpublished literature; Analysis of aerial photographs provided by CCW and available on Google Earth; Analysis of selected beach profile data previously provided by local authorities; Field reconnaissance visits to most of the sites; Analysis of sea level and climate change projection data on the UKCP09 website userinterface (accessed via ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk); Calculation of sediment volumes based on current beach topography and predicted rates of sea level rise; and Data synthesis and development of recommendations.
It was originally intended to use Environment Agency lidar data in order to assist the sediment volume requirement calculations but unfortunately the data were not made available in time to allow their inclusion in the study. It is therefore recommended that they be used in the next stage of the programme. 12
The volumes of sediment nourishment required with the defined sections of beach were calculated in three ways: (1) In order to assess the volumes required to create an improved beach', a hypothetical initial nourishment profile was assumed, consisting of a 20 m wide flat-topped- berm at the level of HAT, ending in a seaward gradient of 1 in 25 down to the intersection with the existing beach profile, or, where the existing beach slope was too steep to allow intersection with a 1 in 25 gradient, the assumed nourishment profile was taken to end in a uniform slope down to the mean tide level (MTL). Available beach profile data were then used to calculate the difference between the existing (most up-to-date) beach surface and the hypothetical design profile. Each profile was assumed to represent a length of frontage on either side, and this length multiplied by the crosssectional area of required nourishment to obtain the volume of required sediment fill (no allowance being made for over-fill or losses during or after the nourishment process) (2) In order to assess the volumes required to maintain the profile of the existing beach under conditions of projected sea level rise over 20, 50 and 100 year time scales, a planar area for each beach was first defined down to mean tide level at each site (levels being defined from the available beach profiles and 2009 Admiralty Tide Tables for the nearest Standard or Secondary Port. Estimates of sea level rise for each case study area and each shoreline management 'epoch' were then calculated using information downloaded from the UKCP09 website. Values were obtained for three emissions scenarios (low, medium and high), and representing the 5th, 50th and 90th percentile modelled values (Table 2.3). The 'minimum' expected sea level rise was taken to be the 5th percentile value for the low emissions scenario, while the 'maximum' expected rise was taken to be the 95th percentile for the high emissions scenario. Values of up to 1.9m of sea level rise have been considered possible but very unlikely by the UK Met Office, and therefore have not been considered for the purposes of the present report. A 'best estimate' value for sea level rise was taken to be the 50th percentile value for the medium emissions scenario (Table 2.3). Each of these sea level rise increments was then multiplied by the planar areas specified above to give an estimate of the volume fill requirement to maintain the existing beach form. It should be noted that these calculations provide an under-estimate of the actual volume of sediment which would need to be added to the beach since the volume fill calculations take no account of losses of nourished sediment which would inevitably occur and which would need to be compensated for in an actual scheme. (3) In order to estimate the volume of sediment which would be required to undertake an initial nourishment improvement scheme, and then to maintain it in the face of sea level rise and natural erosional losses, the initial nourishment requirements from (1) above were used in conjunction with sea level rise estimates from (2). The assumptions were (a) an initial nourishment in 2010 (Table 4.1), (b) four subsequent five-yearly re-nourishments, each replacing an assumed 50% loss from the previous nourishment, and (c) minimum, best estimate and maximum values for sea level rise by 2030, indicated in Table 4.2. These amounts were then added to produce the total sediment volume requirements indicated in Table 4.3.
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4 RESULTS INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY SITES

4.1 Talacre 4.1.1 General geomorphological character The Talacre site forms part of the eastern end of a dune-capped barrier spit system which extends eastwards from Rhyl towards the entrance to the Dee estuary. Extensive areas of low-lying ground, mainly representing reclaimed marshland, lie behind the barrier. Around Rhyl and Prestatyn large areas of the former dunes have been levelled and built on. Between Gronant and Talacre there are two main lines of dunes which converge at the western (Gronant) end. In between is an area of lower ground occupied by deflation areas, sand sheets and low hummocky dunes (Figure 4.1). The age of the Talacre - Gronant dune system is not well constrained by dating, but back barrier peat deposits exposed at the eastern end of the Rhyl foreshore have been radiocarbon-dated at 5000 - 6000 years old, suggesting that a sand and/or gravel barrier has existed in the area at least since mid-Holocene times. The present dune and gravel barrier ridges partially overlie and cross-cut older ridges in the Talacre area. 4.1.2 Coastal processes This part of the North Wales coast is macrotidal with a mean spring tidal range of 7.70 m (Table 2.1). Maximum flood and ebb spring tidal velocities in the Wild Road channel off the Point of Ayr reach 1.5 m s-1, resulting in strong scour and high sediment transport rates in both directions, but with net residual drift towards the Dee estuary. The dominant waves in Liverpool Bay approach from the west and west-northwest, but wave refraction results in a more north-westerly approach angle along the coastal frontage between Gronant and Point of Ayr lighthouse, and giving rise to net easterly littoral drift along the upper foreshore (Shoreline Management Partnership, 1993, 1999; Babtie, 2001a; HR Wallingford, 2008; Wolf, 2008). The rate of sediment supply to the Talacre area by littoral drift has been significantly diminished by the construction of groynes and other coastal structures further west over the past 150 years. The interaction of moderate wave energy and large tidal range gives rise to a wide multi-barred foreshore composed mainly of medium sand. Between Gronant and Talacre the intertidal zone decreases in an easterly direction as the WSW-ENE-trending shoreline approaches the Wild Road low-water channel. Inter-tidal wave heights increase eastwards, resulting in greater potential for gravel transport along the upper beach. Near Point of Ayr lighthouse the dune toe is partially protected by a narrow gravel berm which increases in size and to form a distinct ridge at the eastern end of the system. Exposure to the dominant westerly winds also increases eastwards between Gronant and the Point of Ayr lighthouse, resulting in greater potential aeolian sand transport and development of larger dunes and blowouts. To the east of the lighthouse the coastal orientation changes to W-E and then NW-SE, with the result that the exposure to westerly winds is reduced, and winds from the NW, N, NE, E and SE assume greater relative importance. 4.1.3 Historical shoreline change During the 17th and 18th centuries there was significant accretion in the Point of Ayr area, partly as a result of strong sediment drift from the west and partly due to seaward movement of the Wild Road low water channel. In 1812 an embankment was constructed between the (then) Point and Tanlan, thereby removing tidal influence from the former marshlands to the west, and in 14
1844 a new metal pile lighthouse was constructed c. 800 m seaward of an earlier stone and brick one built in 1776 (Ashton, 1920). However, landward movement of the Wild Road Channel must have commenced shortly after 1850 and the metal pile lighthouse was replaced in 1883 by a lightship. Today the original lighthouse stands on the foreshore approximately 120 m from the dune toe (Figure 4.2). Comparison of historical maps and aerial photographs (Babtie, 2001a; Pye & Saye, 2005) shows that the dune toe between Gronant and Talacre (Profiles 3, 4 & 5 shown in Figure 4.1) has experienced little net change between 1871 and the present day, but the eastern part of the frontage around the Point of Ayr lighthouse has suffered significant net erosion (total retreat of 42 m at Profile 6 and 106 m at Profile 7). Much of the erosion near the lighthouse occurred after 1970 and was associated with a landward movement (>460 m) of the low water mark on the southern side of the Wild Road channel. Erosion of the Point has been accompanied by further accretion of sand and gravel ridges, with areas of intervening saltmarsh, at the entrance to the Dee estuary, east of Talacre village. 4.1.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance The beach and dunes provide a natural flood defence for the areas of low-lying land behind, including several caravan parks, an oil terminal and the villages of Talacre and Lower Gronant. The study area forms part of, and/or lies adjacent to, several designated nature conservation areas, including the Gronant Dunes and Talacre Warren SSSI (re-notified 1983), the Gronant Dunes Local Nature Reserve, and the Dee Estuary SSSI, Ramsar Site, Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. There is also an RSPB reserve to the east of Talacre village. Talacre beach is highly popular with recreational visitors, notably in the summer months when pressures on the beach and dunes are high. Visitors include local residents, day-trippers and longer-stay guests, mainly from North Wales and North-west England (Jemmett, 1999). 4.1.5 Shoreline management policy The SMP I for coastal sub-Cell 11a. Shoreline Management Partnership, 1999a) placed this frontage within Management Unit 4/3 (Barkby Beach to Talacre Access), for which the Preferred Management Policy was Do Nothing. The SMP II Draft policy for this Policy Unit (now 4/4, Halcrow, 2009) is Managed Realignment in the Short Term (0 to 20 years), Medium Term (20 50 years) and Long Term (50 -100 years). Under this policy it is intended that the natural defence which the dunes provide will be maintained while allowing the dunes and Point of Ayr to evolve naturally. Measures will continue to be taken to control the rate of dune erosion, including possible use of beach nourishment. Strengthening and maintenance of the line of secondary defence is recommended in the Medium and Longer Terms. 4.1.6 Previous beach nourishment A review of coastal processes, morphological change and coast protection / flood risk management issues along the Gronant Talacre Point of Ayr frontage was undertaken by Babtie (2001a). Among the recommendations arising from this study, incorporated in the Management Plan for the area (Babtie, 2001b), were sand nourishment of the beach along the north-central part of the frontage and shingle nourishment along the upper beach along a 850m section near the Point of Ayr lighthouse (areas shown in Figure 4.1). Following the development of a Method Statement and monitoring programme (Flintshire County Council, 2003), the beach 15
was nourished in February - March 2003 maintenance dredgings (mainly medium and fine sand) from the approach channel to the Port of Mostyn. Sand was stock-piled on the upper beach prior to re-profiling using a bulldozer (Figure 4.3). The initial nourished profile aimed to increase the width and height of the backshore by forming a ramp reaching 6.0 m OD in front of the eroding dune cliffs. The initial volume of sand emplaced was reported to be 176 x 103 m3, of which about c. 85% was estimated to remain on the beach after 2 years (Jacobs-Babtie, 2005). By March 2004 the modified nourished profile was still clearly evident (Figure 4.4a) although significant quantities of sand had been blown into low areas of the frontal dunes raising their overall level (Figure 4.4b). Sand deposited on the upper beach has continued to be blown into the dunes and moved alongshore, resulting in a further drop in upper beach levels (Figure 4.5) and allowing erosion of the dune toe during winter storms (Figure 4.6). It is likely that recession of the HAT line on the open coast will resume at its former rate unless re-nourishment is undertaken, and may accelerate in the medium to longer term if forecasts of future sea level rise prove to be correct. However, accretion is likely to continue on the Dee estuary side of the Point (Saye & Pye, 2005). 4.1.7 Future nourishment: potential benefits and requirements For the purposes of the present study, preliminary consideration has been given to the requirements for further nourishment which would assist the policy objectives identified in the SMP II (Halcrow, 2009), and which would also provide additional nature conservation and recreational benefits. The main potential benefits of additional nourishment in this area would be: increase in foredune height / cross-sectional area / sediment volume, providing a more effective primary flood defence and a reservoir of sand to feed the beach during major storms effective in the short, medium and longer term if the frontal dunes are allowed to roll back in the face of rising sea level and continuing erosion enhanced sand supply to frontal dunes and inter-dune areas, resulting in stimulation of vegetation growth (mainly a short-term effect) and expansion of areas of bare sand, beneficial to species such as the sand lizard sediment feed to the down-drift end of the system, enhancing growth of new embryo dunes / low foredunes increase in area of dry beach at high water reduction in recreational pressure on the beach and frontal dunes
The principal justification for further nourishment on this frontage is likely to be flood risk management, notably the requirement to protect the village of Talacre and the BHP Billiton gas terminal. However, nourishment could also be justified as a means by which the Talacre dune system, which lies with the Dee Estuary SAC, could be returned to a more favourable condition by restoring a local sediment budget similar to that which existed prior to the interruption of sediment supply by construction of coastal defence structures further to the west. The further nourishment scenario considered for purposes of illustration in the present study involves creation of a 20 m wide flat-topped sand berm at the level of HAT, terminating in a seaward slope with gradient of 1:25 until the slope meets the existing beach surface. The total
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width of the nourished profile in this instance would be 43 91 m. For the defined length of shore defined, this would represent a total fill volume of 148 x 103 m3. The increased volumes which would be filled with sediment in order to maintain a constant profile across the entire beach between HAT and MTL in each of the shoreline management epochs, using estimates of sea level rise derived from the UKCP09 website, range from a minimum of 30 x103 m3 on a 20 year timescale to a maximum on 1 x 106 m3 on a 100 year time scale. The volume required to maintain an initially nourished volume over 20 years from 2010, taking into account project sea level rise and an assumed 50% loss during each 5 year period between re-nourishments, would range from 474 to 616 x103 m3. These relatively large nourishment volume requirements reflect the relatively large area of beach above MTL. Sand for further beach nourishment may be provided by maintenance dredging of the approaches to Mostyn Docks, although the amount available may well be less than in 2003-04 when capital works were undertaken (channel deepening were undertaken); availability from this source will be dependent partly on the commercial fortunes and operational requirements of the port. An alternative source of both sand and gravel could be provided by licenced dredging areas in Liverpool Bay. Larger quantities of gravel could be used in future to provide greater protection for the dune toe and to create shore-parallel ridges which could act as partial wave breaks. 4.2 Abergele-Pensarn 4.2.1 General geomorphological character The Abergele Pensarn coastal frontage lies immediately to the east of the Llanddulas promontory on the central part of the North Wales coast (Figure 4.7). It forms part of a large shingle and sand barrier system which forms the seaward boundary of a large area of low-lying land adjacent to the River Clwyd. The River originally took a meandering course through a structurally-controlled, rock-bound embayment, and was flanked by extensive saltmarshes (Morfa Rhuddlan), but during the 13th century the river was artificially straightened and the marshland was subsequently embanked and reclaimed (mostly following Act of Parliament in 1793 and 1807). The western part of the barrier system extends from the Llanddulas headland to Fford (Kinmel Bay) on the western side of the mouth of the River Clywd. The upper part of the active beach is generally composed of coarse gravel and cobbles, while the lower beach consists mainly of medium sand. Landward of the active beach is a variable width of stabilized shingle ridges which are capped by low dunes and windblown sand sheets. Peat and formers back-barrier silts are periodically exposed on lower parts of the foreshore, testifying to long-term retreat of the shoreline in this area. Between Abergele, Pensarn and Tywyn the coastal shingle has mostly been buried by development, but west of Abergele a significant width of un-developed shingle ridges still remains (Figure 4.8).
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4.2.2 Coastal processes The frontage is macrotidal with a mean spring tidal range of 7.02 m (Table 2.1). The flood tide runs in an easterly direction approximately parallel to the coast at maximum spring tide velocities of c. 0.6 m s-1, while the ebb tide runs in the opposite direction with peak spring velocities of c. 0.5 m s-1. The dominant waves approach from WNW and NW directions; modelling results have indicated 10 and 100 year Hs values of 4.13 m and 4.75 m, respectively (HR Wallingford, 1993; Shoreline Management Partnership, 1999a). The net direction of transport for both sand and shingle is easterly, although modelling has suggested significant variations in potential sediment drift rates along the frontage, being close to zero at Ty Crwn and c. 16 x 103 m3 at Pensarn promenade (HR Wallingford, 1993). This reflects the greater shelter offered to the western part of the system by the Llanddulas promontory. East of Pensarn where the shoreline orientation presents a smaller oblique angle to the north-westerly waves the potential drift rate declines to c. 4 x 103 m3. Ridges and runnels on the mid and lower foreshore are oriented approximately perpendicular to the dominant waves, with the result that longshore drift rates of sand on the lower foreshore are limited. Periodic changes in the positions of the ridges and runnels, the landward ends of which abut obliquely against the natural shingle ridge and artificial sea defences, cause alternating episodes of upper shoreface stability and erosion. Prior to the 20th century, this coastal frontage received a generous supply of shingle from erosion of the boulder clay cliffs to the east of Penmaen Rhos Head, between Llanddulas and Old Colwyn (Ashton, 1920). Some shingle was also supplied by erosion of limestone outcrops and dumping of quarry waste at Llanddulas. However, during the late 19th and 20th centuries construction of sea defences between Old Colwyn and the coast east of Llanddulas progressively reduced the rate of sediment supply and easterly transport. Erosion of the shore in front of the municipal waste tip at Llanddulas, immediately east of the case study frontage, had become severe by 1960 and in the following 20 years a range of measures were implemented to control it, including training works at the mouth of the River Dulas, and groynes on the east side of the river. Bunding of the shingle within the groyne bays was undertaken in the 1980s and a rock revetment was built in front of the tip between 1988 and 1980, with further additions in 1991 and 1998. The construction of sea defences along the A55 frontage further west during the late 1970s and early 1980s further reduced the sediment supply to areas down-drift. However, construction of a new promenade near Abergele - Pensarn Station, and a new rock revetment at Tywyn following the 1990 storm surge, created a barrier to eastward drift of shingle away from the case-study frontage. Only recently has easterly drift been re-established (Coastal Engineering UK, 2008). 4.2.3 Historical shoreline change Comparison of historical maps suggests that the shingle beach at Abergele west prograded seawards between 1870 and 1960. However, the accretionary trend changed to one of erosion with the commencement of the Llanddulas sea defences after 1960. Analysis of beach profile data for the period 1968-90 led Lee (2005) to conclude that the western and eastern ends of the Abergele Pensarn ridge complex experienced net erosion while the central section experienced net accretion, although changes in beach plan were relatively minor. Analysis of data for the period 1997 2004 showed a spatially variable pattern of shingle volume change and a slight net overall loss, with the greatest net loss occurring at the western end of the system. No significant change in the barrier crest position was detected, indicating that retreat due to over-washing had not been important during the period, with most of the sediment loss being accounted from by beach face erosion.
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Beach profiles in the stable central part of the frontage generally show a more gently sloping gradient than at the eroding western end and in front of the Abergele - Pensarn promenade at the eastern end (Figure 4.9). Erosion at the western end of the system is beginning to presents a threat to the flood wall at the western end of the caravan park (Costal Engineering UK, 2008). The edge of the vegetated shingle in this area is marked by a 1 m high cliff which shows clear evidence of active recession (Figure 4.10). The cliff edge along the line of unprotected vegetated shingle now lies c. 8m landward of the line of rock revetment just to the west, and the width of vegetated shingle has been reduced to less than 5 m in places (Figure 4.8b). Unless action is taken, the erosion front is likely to impinge on the flood wall within 5 years. However, as noted by Lee (2005), construction of further hard defences in this area would be likely to extend the problem of erosion in an easterly direction (down-drift); consequently; beach nourishment may present a better management alternative. 4.2.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance As noted above, the vegetated beach ridge plain is backed by a 1.5 m high floodwall (constructed after the February 1990 storm surge), a service road, the North Wales coastal path and cycleway, and a caravan park, behind which run the Chester to Holyhead railway line and the A55 trunk road. Pensarn Beach was notified as a SSSI in 1977 for its SD1 pioneer shingle communities and SD8 more stable vegetation communities. The ridge complex represents c. 13% of the total resource of vegetated shingle in Wales (University of Newcastle, 2000); loss of vegetated shingle area at Hen Wrynch is therefore a matter of importance. The beach is fairly heavily used for recreational purposes, including seasonal occupants of several caravan parks in the Tywyn - Pensarn - Abergele - Llanddulas area. 4.2.5 Shoreline management policy The SMP1 recognised that maintenance of the shingle bank between Hen Wrych and Pensarn (Management Unit No. 3/4) is essential for any future strategy for coastal defence in this area, and beach replenishment was identified as an option for future consideration (Shoreline Management Partnership, 1999a). The SMP2 preferred policy for the Llanddulas - Pensarn frontage (included in Policy Unit 2.3) during all three epochs is also Hold The Line, involving beach maintenance and improvement (Halcrow, 2009). Owing the presence of the railway embankment and A55 behind the beach there is little scope for the beach system to retreat landwards under conditions of accelerated sea level rise. Over a 100 year timescale the beach system may therefore become squeezed, with resulting loss of habitat, unless intervention measures are implemented. 4.2.6 Previous beach nourishment Although there dumping of quarry waste at Llanddulas may inadvertently led to some nourishment of the beach between Hen Wrych and Pensarn, there is no record of deliberate previous nourishment of this frontage. 4.2.7 Future nourishment: potential benefits and requirements Following the 1990 storm surge and large-scale breach in the defences at Towyn, HR Wallingford (1993) examined the defence options and concluded that shingle beach 19
nourishment, combined with secondary flood walls set back behind the beach crest, could provide a feasible solution. Three options were identified: (1) Re-nourishment of an open shingle beach with 80 x 103 m3 of gravel-size material from the nearby Raynes Quarry every 5 years (2) Re-nourishment with a system of 19 rock groynes to slow the rate of longshore sediment drift and to stabilise the beach (3) Re-nourishment with breakwaters placed on the lower beach near the sand / shingle boundary (crest height of 6.0 m OD and a length of 2500 m) to stabilise the beach Lee (2005) concluded that only the first option offered the opportunity for amelioration of habitat loss while minimising the effect on coastal processes, but this option would require a long-term commitment for re-nourishment and might in the long-term prove considerably more expensive than the other options involving structures. However, to date no significant nourishment has been undertaken. The principal potential benefits of beach nourishment in this area would be: stabilization of the shoreline and enhancement of the shingle beach as the primary sea defence, thereby reducing pressure on secondary defences and reducing flood and erosion risk to existing assets, including regional transport infrastructure (main railway line and trunk road) reduction / cessation of loss of priority habitat (vegetated shingle); potential creation of new habitat recreational / touristic benefit by increasing area of dry beach, maintaining security of tourist accommodation (caravan parks), and maintenance of the North Wales Coastal Path and cycleway
For the purposes of this study, a scenario has been considered in which a 20 m wide shingle berm at the level of HAT is created, terminating in a constant gradient down to MTL level. Based on 2009 beach profile data, the overall nourishment width would vary from 52 to 121 m, resulting in a total required fill volume of 430 x 103 m3. In order to maintain the 2009 beach area and cross-sectional profiles between HAT and MTL, taking account of projected sea level rise, over a 20 year timescale the minimum sediment fill volume would be 4 x 103 m3 and the maximum requirement over 100 years would be 136 x 103 m3 (no allowance being made for sediment losses). To undertake initial nourishment and maintain an equivalent volume over a period of 20 years would require between 1.29 and 1.31 x 106 m3 of sediment. The main requirement for sediment nourishment of the upper beach will be gravel, potential sources of which include nearby limestone quarries. However, further investigation is required to assess its suitability in terms of angularity / roundness and durability. Naturally occurring known sources of rounded gravel are unlikely to be able to satisfy the volumes required.
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4.3 Traeth Crugan 4.3.1 General geomorphological character Traeth Crugan represents the western part of a larger bay-head barrier beach system which links the rock head of Carreg y Defaid in the west and the former bedrock island of Carreg yr Imbill in the east. The eastern part of the beach is known as Pwlheli South Beach, represents a former spit system which has grown eastwards to attach itself to Carreg y Imbil. The western part of the barrier is very narrow and the periodic exposure of back-barrier deposits on the lower beachprovide evidence of long-term coastal retreat in this area (Figure 4.11). Almost the entire length of this part of the frontage is protected by rock armour and the beach consists mainly of cobles, gravel and coarse sand. A gravel-armoured scar forms an intertidal exposure 400 - 600 m offshore. Behind the rock armour revetments is an artificial embankment which protects a large area of low-lying land (the Afon Penrhos floodplain) from tidal flooding. The beach in this area consists of a steep upper beach and a more gently sloping lower foreshore (Figures 4.12 & 4.13). The width of the barrier increases and becomes more sandy in an easterly direction. The plan form of the beach shows a slight bulge in the central-eastern part of Traeth Crugan due to longterm net accumulation of sediment in this area (Figure 4.11). A change to erosion along this part of the shoreline after the mid 1970's resulted in the placement of additional rock armour which has 'fossilized' the shoreline position, with resultant steepending of the fronting beach in recent decades. Further east, the average gradient of the beach reduces and an upper beach berm becomes more pronounced. (Figure 4.12). Dunes up to 12 m high occur between the promenade at Pwlheli South Beach and Carreg y Imbil. The dunes provide an important semi-natural flood defence for a large area of residential property which lies between the dunes and Pwlheli harbour. Since the 1970's the morphology and sediments along the entire Traeth Crugan - Pwlheli South Beach frontage have been significantly affected by beach management measures and dune restoration works associated with the promenade re-development at Pwlheli West End. The shoreline of Traeth Crugan has been progressively hardened as the beach erosion front has moved eastwards over time. 4.3.2 Coastal processes The area experiences a macrotidal regime (mean spring tidal range of 4.50 m) and is exposed to refracted waves which approach Tremadoc Bay mainly from the southwest. Inter-annual and shorter-term fluctuations in beach profiles are governed principally by storm sequencing in Tremadoc Bay (Neill et al., 2008). The general net sediment drift direction along the upper beach is from west to east, with drifted material passing around Carreg yr Imbill and being deposited at the entrance to Pwlheli harbour where it poses a problem for navigation (Faber Maunsell, 2008). 4.3.3 Historical shoreline change At the extreme western end of the beach the high water mark has receded landwards by 10 - 30 m since 1888, but along the central and eastern parts of the frontage there has been little net change, with slight net seaward movement of the high water mark along the western part of the Pwlheli Golf Club frontage and further east.
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4.3.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance The Traeth Crugan beach and associated structures are important in providing coastal flood protection to the Afon Penrhos lowlands and the adjacent Pwlheli Golf Club. The western hinterland is relatively undeveloped but is crossed by the A499 Pwlheli to Abersoch Road. Flooding of this area could potentially affect the flood protection status of the western part of Pwlheli. Traeth Crugan falls within the Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau SAC and the foreshore forms part of Myndd Tir Y Cwmwd A'r Glannau At Garrey Yr Imbill SSSI. The main biotope present is Mobile gravel with sparse infauna but the site is important for the occurrence of the amphipod Pectenogammarus planicrurus with coarse sand and fine gravel deposits which occur on the mid to upper beach (Webb et al., 2010). Pwlheli South Beach is popular with local residents and tourists during the summer months, but the coarser grained and more distal parts of Traeth Crugan are of less importance in this respect. 4.3.5 Shoreline management policy A study by Posford Duvivier (1996) into problems of erosion along the Traeth Crugan - Pwlheli Golf Club frontage concluded that Hold the Line was the best policy option and that recycling of dredgings from Pwlheli harbour to nourish the beach offered the bests solution. The first Northern Cardigan Bay Shoreline Management Plan (Gwynedd Council, 2002) also identified a policy of Hold the Line for the Traeth Crugan frontage but, in the light of comments received from CCW during the consultation phase, recognised the need for a strategic appraisal of defence options to be carried out. CCW were of the opinion that Hold the Line is sustainable only in the short-term and that longer term other options, including Managed Realignment, might have to be considered. A further review of the management options by Faber Maunsell (2008) also concluded that, while sediment recycling / beach nourishment should be continued in the short to medium term, plans should be made for removal and/ or realignment of defences in the medium to longer term. The preferred option under the SMPII review, currently being undertaken by Royal Haskoning, has not yet been announced. 4.3.6 Previous beach nourishment In 2002, following a serious storm, the beach was nourished using capproximately 35 x 103 m3 of dredgings from Pwlheli harbour and approach channel. Delivery to the beach was accomplished using land-base plant. A repeat operation was carried out in February and March 2007. The short-term effects of the nourishment were to raise upper beach levels and to increase the availability of sand for wind-blown transport to the back-beach area. However, following the initial nourishment in 2002 beach levels gradually returned to their previous levels by 2007. Following re-nourishment levels were again increased but have since fallen again and are likely to continue to fall in future years as sand is lost both onshore (by wind action) and alongshore (by wave-induced littoral drift). 4.3.7 Future beach nourishment: potential benefits and requirements As noted above, continued beach nourishment at Traeth Crugan would remove the need for construction of new rock armour defences and would provide time in which detailed plans for managed realignment and/ or removal of existing defences can be made. Addition of sediment would increase the usable recreational area of the beach and potentially increase the extent of 22
suitable habitat for species such as Pectenogammarus planicrurus if suitably coarse-sized material is used. For the purposes of illustration in the present study, creation of a 20 m dry beach berm and with slope down to existing mean tide level would create a sediment fill would create a total nourished width of beach of 28 - 39 m and an overall fill volume of 68 x 103 m3 (Table 4.1). In order to maintain the existing (2006) beach profile in the face of sea level rise, a minimum of 2 x 103 m3 would be required on a 20 year timescale and a maximum volume of 59 x 103 m3 would be required over 100 year timescale (Tables 4.2). In order to maintain the existing period over a 20 year period, allowing for a 50% volume loss in each 5 year period between re-nourishment operations, a volume of 206 to 210 x 103 m3 of sediment would be required, depending on the rate of sea level rise. While maintenance dredging of the entrance to Pwlheli harbour is likely to supply sufficient material to satisfy the nourishment requirements in the short term (20 years), there is likely to be an increasing short-fall in the medium and longer term which would need to be satisfied from sources further afield (offshore or onshore). Continued recycling of sediment dredged from Pwlheli Harbour and placement on the beaches to the west could also likely to add to a problem of sediment starvation at Abererch and other beaches to the east, creating a sediment demand that could only be satisfied by supply from offshore or other onshore sources. 4.4 Morfa Dyffryn 4.4.1 General geomorphological character Morfa Dyffryn is a cuspate feature which has formed to seaward of a mid-Holocene cliff-line (Figure 4.14). The name of the area arises from the extensive area of former marshy ground which extends west and north from the village of Dyffryn Ardudwy. Today the system consists of a dune-capped sand and gravel barrier on its western side and a large area of back-barrier sand-flat which formerly was covered in large marsh by salt, brackish and freshwater marsh. The main barrier beach links Shell Island (Mochras) in the north with the upland coast near Llanaber in the south, but is broken near Tal y Bont where the Afon Ysgethin enters the sea. Shell Island is an outlier of glacial till from which a gravel ridge (Sarn Badric) extends offshore for several kilometres (Coastal Geomorphology Partnership, 2000). Wave erosion of the till cliffs at Shell Island has supplied sediment for a small spit system which extends in a northeasterly direction towards the entrance to estuary of the Afon Artro. The flanks of the Artro estuary behind the Mochras spit are fringed by active saltmarsh which was more extensive before reclamation and creation of the Llanbedr Airfield (now dis-used). Morfa Dyffryn is significant for its extensive development of sand dunes and associated blowouts. It represents one of the most active sand dune fields in the United Kingdom and is characterized by transgressive dunes which in places are more than 15 m high. Towards the landward side of the dune field the dunes are generally better vegetated and less active. To seaward of the dunes is mixed sand and shingle beach which today is relatively narrow. Areas of eroded till and former soil horizons are periodically exposed on parts of the beach near Shell Island.
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4.4.2 Coastal processes The Morfa Dyffryn coast is macrotidal but the mean spring tidal range is only 4.30 m, resulting in a narrower intertidal zone than those found on some other parts of the Welsh coast. The main coastal orientation runs almost transverse to the prevailing south-westerly winds and dominant waves, with the result that potential rates of wind-blow sand transport are high but the potential for longshore sediment transport is relatively low, although historical there has been slow net northward movement of sediment. In recent decades rates of northerly sediment drift have been reduced by a variety of ad hoc measures undertaken to protect the caravan parks and other developed frontages along the southern part of the coastal frontage. Little or no sand appears to be supplied to the coast from the offshore zone at the present time. North of Shell Island the shore orientation is almost parallel to the south-westerly winds and waves, with the result that potential longshore sediment transport rates are higher. However, wind exposure on the northern side of Shell Island is much reduced and dune development is on a much smaller scale than on the southern side where very large composite parabolic parabolic dunes occur. 4.4.3 Historical shoreline change Evidence from historical maps and aerial photographs indicates that since 1887 the high water mark has shown almost no movement at Shell Island but has receded by up to 20 m at the southern end of the system (Table 2.2). However, monitoring of beach profiles established by Gwynedd Council has demonstrated there has been little movement of the HAT and MHWS tide lines in the south since 1992, although a slight landward movement of the MHWNT and MTL tidal offsets is indicated (Figure 4.15). The beach has consequently become narrower, slightly steeper and more stony. 4.4.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance The dune belt forms a barrier against tidal flooding for the low-lying marshy land, railway line and coastal settlements behind. The dune system is of high nature conservation importance, notably for its wide range of dune landforms and habitats, including active transgressive dunes and slacks formed in blowout depressions (Figure 4.16). The area was established as a National Nature Reserve in 1962 and forms part of the Morfa Dyffryn SSSI, the Harlech a Morfa Dyffryn SAC, the Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau SAC and the Snowdonia National Park. The area is popular with visitors in the summer months and a number of caravan parks and camping sites are located adjacent to and within the area. The location is especially popular with naturists. 4.4.5 Shoreline management policy The preferred policy identified in the SMPI was 'Do Nothing' (Gwynedd Council, 2003). The preferred policy identified in SMPII has not yet been announced but is likely to be No Active Intervention. 4.4.6 Previous beach nourishment There are no records of previous beach nourishment at Morfa Dyffryn.
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4.4.7 Future beach nourishment requirements and benefits If left to its own devices, the main NW - SE shoreline is likely to continue to erode, probably at an accelerating rate if there is a significant increase in the rate of sea level rise or an increase in storminess (Pye & Saye, 2005). Owing to the high degree of wind exposure, a significant proportion of the eroding beach sediment will be transferred landwards into the dune system rather than being moved offshore by wave action, thereby acting to accelerate the rate of shoreface recession. Shell Island will continue to act as a relative hard point; there may be an increase in the rate of cliff erosion in this area but the amounts of sediment released are unlikely to large enough to have a significant effect on the rate of shoreline recession, especially to the south. A combination of wind and wave winnowing of the beach sediments will increase the tendency towards a stony beach which will in the longer term act to self-regulate the rate of shoreline recession but which will produce a beach which is less visually attractive from a recreational / touristic perspective. The potential benefits which might arise from sand beach nourishment would therefore to slow the rate of shoreface recession in the short to medium term and to maintain a more appealing beach character. Increased availability of sediment for wind transport would enhance the existing mobile dunes and encourage their landward movement; however, the effectiveness of aeolian transport on this coast means that the positive effects of nourishment on the beach per se are likely to be short-lived. The calculated volume of sediment required to create a 20 m flat-topped berm at HAT level, terminating in a uniform slope down to MTL, would be 369 x 103 m3. The resulting total width of initially nourished beach would vary from 62 m to 163m. Maintaining the existing beach in the face of sea level l rise would require a minimum volume of 14 x 103 m3 to be filled with sediment over 20 years, and a maximum volume of 400 x 103 m3 over a 100 year time scale. To undertake an initial 'improvement' nourishment and maintain it over 20 years in the face of sea level rise, allowing for 50% losses between 5 yearly nourishments, would require 1.12 x 106 m3 to 1.18 x 106 m3 of sediment nourishment and renourishment. 4.5 Broadwater Tywyn Aberdovey 4.5.1 General geomorphological character The Broadwater - Aberdovey open coast frontage comprises two main coastal barrier systems centred on an upland area formed of bedrock and glacial till at Tywyn (Figure 4.17). The northern barrier, which is shingle-dominated, extends northwards from Tywyn towards another bedrock headland at Tonfanau. Behind this barrier is an extensive area of lowland which forms part of the Afon Dysinni valley, Prior to reclamation in the 16th to 18th centuries much of this areas represented an active intertidal estuary, but tidal exchange is now regulated through an artificial channel at Dysinni Bridge. The Broadwater lagoon represents a shallow remnant of a once-much larger area of tidal flat and saltmarsh The barrier to the south of Twywn consists of a mixture of sand and shingle, reinforced by placed slate blocks along the Pen-Llyn marshes frontage. The shingle ridge is generally smaller than the ridge north of Tywyn but non-the-less forms a significant part of the flood-defence between Tywyn and Aberdovey Golf Club. The ridge is backed by a small area of dunes at the Tywyn end and by a much larger dune system at the southern end. A large part of the southern dune area is occupied by Aberdovey Golf Club and a caravan park. To seaward of the shingle 25
ridge and dunes is a relatively flat, low sandy foreshore. Along the central and northern part of the beach the sand cover is thin and overlies back-barrier peat and silt deposits which are periodically exposed. There presence provides evidence of long-term barrier retreat (Pye & Blott, 2006). 4.5.2 Coastal processes The mean spring tidal range in the area is about 4.30 m (Table 2.1), resulting in a exposure of a moderately wide foreshore at low tide. Flood tidal currents are directed northward, sub-parallel to the coast, while slightly weaker ebb-currents are directed southwards. A more complex flow pattern occurs close to the entrance to the Dyfi estuary in the south. The general orientation of the coastline lies at a slight oblique angle to the prevailing southwesterly winds and dominant waves. Net sediment drift directs are subject to considerable variability in response to alternating periods of dominance by south-westerly and north-westerly waves. The long-term net drift direction to the north of Tywyn is northerly, while south of Tywyn it is southerly. The artificially protected frontage at Tywyn now forms a slight 'headland' and effective littoral drift divide. Sediment accumulation still takes place at the distal ends of the drift system near the Dysinni entrance and in front of the promenade at Aberdyfi (Figure 4.18). 4.5.3 Historical shoreline change Comparison of historical maps and aerial photographs has indicated that since 1887 there has been very little change in the position of the back-beach at Tywyn but the undefended / lightly defended coast immediately to the north and south of the town has retreated by 20 - 40 m (Table 2.2). Significant net accretion (up to 152 m) has occurred near the mouth of the Afon Dysinni and at the southern end of the Aberdovey Golf Course frontage (up to 77m). The net result has been the formation of two shallow bays centred on a 'hinge point' at Tywyn. Monitoring of beach profiles since 1992 by Gwynedd Council has shown a continuing slow fall in beach levels and retreat of the dune toe along the open coast part of the Aberdovey Golf Club frontage. (Figure 4.19). Beach levels and the volume of shingle on the upper beach along the Pen-llyn marshes frontage have also been falling although the position of the backshore has not changed due to the presence of slate blocks which were placed in the 1970's and 1980's. 4.5.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance The Tywyn to Aberdoveyshingle and sand barrier provides a semi-natural flood defence for the low-lying area of Pen-lyn marshes and for the Cambrian coast railway which runs along its landward edge (Figure 4.20b). The Tywyn to Aber Dysynni shingle barrier provides the main flood defence for northern parts of Tywyn, the Broadwater lagoon and the lower Dysinni valley. North of Tywyn the Cambrian coast railway line runs very close to the beach and is protected only by the shingle beach and a low line of rock armour (Figure 4.21b). At Tywyn itself there a variety of hard defence structures, including a concrete faced promenade and groynes, which have fallen into a state of disrepair (Figure 21a). A defence improvement scheme is currently underway and will involve the construction of a detached headland breakwater, new rock groynes, rock revetment and improvements to the sea wall (Atkins, 2009). The area is of high conservation importance, including, or lying adjacent to, several designated areas: the Llyn Peninsula a'r Sarnau SAC, Broadwater SSSI, Dyfi SSSI, Snowdonia National Park and Dyfi Estuary Biosphere Reserve. The barrier north of Tywyn contains a significant area 26
of vegetated shingle and the Aberdovey dunes contain a variety of significant dune habitats and vegetation communities. Both Aberdovey and Tywyn are popular with day trippers and longer term holiday visitors. Aberdovey Golf Club attracts a significant number of visitors from throughout the UK and overseas, notably North America. 4.5.5 Shoreline management policy The SMPI (Gwynedd Council, 2003) identified a preferred policy option of Retreat for the Aberdovey Golf Course and Pen Llyn Marshes frontage, and suggested the construction of a set back flood defence bund to protect the railway, coast road and other infrastructure from flooding. The Environment Agency Wales have agreed to maintain the defences along the Pen-llyn section for a period of 25 years (until approximately 2030). Gwynedd Council and Aberdovey Colf Club are currently collaborating to slow the rate of recession of the Golf Club dune frontage under a policy of what amounts to Managed Realignment. The SMP1 preferred policy for the Tywyn to Broadwater frontage was Hold the Line on account of the need to protect residential property in Tywyn itself, the proximity of the railway line, and the practical and cost issues likely to be associated with the establishment of set-back defences across a long section of the Dysinni valley. The SMPII preferred policies, which are being developed by Royal Haskoning, have at the time of writing not been announced but are most likely to be Hold the Line for the Tywyn to Broadwater frontage and No Active Intervention or Managed Realignment for the Pen-Llyn to Aberdyfi frontage. 4.5.6 Previous beach nourishment Ad hoc nourishment of the beach at Tywyn has been undertaken in the past, chiefly following storm damage to the promenade and groynes, using a variety of materials including imported shingle and cobbles from on-shore sources and construction waste. However, there are no records of large-scale sand importation. Since the early 1990's Gwynedd Council has carried out an annual sand shift which involves removal of excess sand from Aberdovey dock, and the adjoining area of the promenade, and deposition of the material at low points in the frontal dunes along the Aberdovey Golf Club frontage. The excess sand at Aberdovey creates problems for navigation into the dock and requires periodic clearing of wind-blown sand from the promenade, road and adjoining properties. Excess material (mainly sand but with some shingle) is removed by digger (Figure 4.18a) and truck-hauled along the beach to selected points of deposition (Figure 4.18b). The objectives have been to infill low points in the frontal dunes where storm tide ingress is possible and to construct a continuous line of relatively high dunes slightly inland of the present dune toe, thereby allowing for the natural long-term trend of coastal recession. The total amount of material moved annually has varied, depending on the quantity of excess sediment in the licenced removal area, but has typically been in the range of 10 - 20 x 103 tonnes (7.5 - 15 x 103 m3). Wind erosion of the emplaced sand has been reduced by covering the nourished sand surface with brashings (Figure 4.20a). Temporary fencing and warning notices have also been employed to encourage the establishment of vegetation.
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4.5.7 Future beach nourishment requirements and benefits The ongoing Tywyn coastal defences improvement scheme includes plans for small-scale beach nourishment adjacent to the new detached headland breakwater. The principal purpose of the nourishment is to prevent draw-down of sediment from adjoining areas of more exposed beach and accumulation in the lee of the breakwater. The sources of material have yet to been confirmed, but may include a combination of cobbles from an onshore quarry source and dredged sand from Pwlheli harbour entrance channel. For the purposes of illustration in the present project, a hypothetical nourishment scheme along the entire shore from the Dysinni to Aberdovey has been considered in order to illustrate the volumes of sediment which would be required for a larger-scale, 'strategic' nourishment scheme. Construction of a 20 m wide, flat-topped berm at HAT level has been assumed, terminating along the southern part of the frontage (south of Tywyn) in a 1:25 seaward slope and along the naturally steeper northern part (north of Tywyn) in a uniform slope down to MTL. The resulting total width of nourished beach in this instance would range from 23 m to 100 m, with a total required sediment volume of 491 x 103 m3. To maintain the existing beach form along the entire frontage in the face of future sea level rise would require infilling with sediment of an additional volume of between 18 x 103 m3 and 502 x 103 m3 (no allowance being made for sediment losses due to erosion). Creation of an initial nourished profile and subsequent maintenance of the same profile in the face of sea level rise over a 20 year period would require emplacement of between 1.49 and 1.56 x 106 m3 of sediment, assuming 50% losses between 5-yearly re-nourishments. Any nourishment scheme along this frontage would require importation of a range of sediment types, including gravel, cobbles and sand. Current and likely future dredging volumes from the small harbours around Cardigan Bay would be unlikely to satisfy the demand for a large or longterm scheme. Relatively proximal onshore quarry sources might be able to satisfy the requirement for cobble sized material but are unlikely to be able to satisfy the requirement for coarse gravel (shingle) and sand. 4.6 Tenby North Beach 4.6.1 General geomorphological character Tenby North Beach is a small bay-head beach located to the northwest of Castle Moundand south of First Point (Figure 4.22). Tenby Harbour is located at the southern end. The beach is backed by steep slopes with a seawall at its foot (Figures 4.23 & 4.24). In the southern part of the bay the low-tide beach is relatively wide (> 250 m) but low (below 1 m OD) and has a gentle gradient. Consequently there is no high tide 'dry beach'. At the northern end the low tide beach is less than 100 m wide but the back-beach is much higher, reaching 5 m OD. However, the width of the high tide dry-beach varies from 0 to only 10m. A large rock (Gosker Rock) separates the wider, flatter southern part of the beach from the narrower, steeper northern part. The beach is composed almost entirely of medium well-sorted sand with only localised rock outcrops and ephemeral patches of shingle.
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4.6.2 Coastal processes The tidal range in the area is large, exceeding 7.5 m on mean spring tides (Table 2.1). Owing to the easterly orientation of the beach it is sheltered from the direct force of south-westerly waves, although waves from this direction are refracted around St Catharine's Island and are able to reach the shore. Shorter period, steeper waves approach the shore directly from the east and northeast. Sediment movement occurs mainly in an onshore-offshore direction due to fluctuating wave conditions, although there is some limited longshore drift in both directions. 4.6.3 Historical shoreline change The position of the back-beach has shown virtually no movement since 1887 (Table 2.2) The mean low water mark has shown a net landward movement in the northern part of the bay during this period but has moved seawards slightly in the central and southern parts (Figure 4.21). 4.6.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance Owing to the steeply rising nature of the ground to the west, the beach itself has little importance in terms of flood protection although it serves a coast protection function by breaking wave energy and reducing the pressure on the seawalls at the cliff toe. In time, future sea level rise will reduce the width of the available dry beach width and tourist amenity. In addition this will act to create a positive feedback loop with accelerated beach draw down as waves are reflected from the sea wall at the back of the beach, leading to instability and ultimate failure of the wall in due course. The beach lies within, or adjacent to, the Tenby Cliffs and St Catharine's Island SSSI, the Carmarthen Bay SAC and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Tenby is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Wales, attracting large numbers of longstay visitors from other parts of the United Kingdom and Europe. The North Beach is approximately 1 km long and is the smaller of two main beaches at Tenby. The larger South Beach extends over a distance of 2 km to the southwest of St Catharine's Island as far as Giltar Point and retains a greater width of dry beach at high tide. However, it is generally less sheltered than the north beach and potentially more hazardous for bathing and other recreational activities. The small available area of dry sand area on the North Beach at high tide results in high densities of visitors and limits the provision of traditional beach activities. Two other small areas of high tide dry beach occur, one within the harbour and the other adjacent to Castle Hill. 4.6.5 Shoreline management policy The preferred policy identified for the North Beach in the SMP1 was Hold the Line (Shoreline Management Partnership, 1999b); this is also the preferred policy identified in the SMP2 currently in preparation by Halcrow (2010). 4.6.6 Previous beach nourishment There are no records of previous beach nourishment on Tenby North Beach.
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4.6.7 Future beach nourishment: potential benefits and requirements The principal potential benefit of beach nourishment would be to increase the area of the high tide dry beach available to recreational users. Increased beach width and elevation would also increase the capacity of the beach to dissipate storm wave energy, thereby reducing the requirements for maintenance of the back-beach sea wall and creating the possibility of embryo dunes at the less heavily used northern end of the beach. However, excessive beach nourishment could cause potential problems of sedimentation within the harbour area. The limits of the hypothetic nourishment considered for illustration purposes in this study are shown in Figure 4.22; these exclude the harbour area but otherwise extend seawards to the midtide level. The total width of beach which would require initial nourishment in the considered example would vary from 63 to 80 m, creating an initial dry beach at HAT level along approximately 900 m of the back-beach. This would more than quadruple the existing area available for recreational use at high tide, allowing an increase in visitor numbers and comfort. The total volume of sandy sediment required to achieve the initial nourishment profile would be relatively modest (46 x 103 m3). The additional volume which would need to filled with sand in order to maintain the existing beach profile / area under conditions of future sea level rise would vary from a minimum of 2 x 103 m3 over 20 years to 45 x 103 m3 over 100 years. The volume of sediment required to carry out the initial nourishment and subsequently maintain the average beach level in the face of sea level rise over the next 20 years, allowing for losses of 50% of the material placed in the initial nourishment and each subsequent 5 yearly re-nourishment, would range between 140 and 146 x 103 m3, depending on the rate of sea level rise. There is only limited opportunity to nourish the more northerly parts of the beach using smallscale dredgings from the harbour, and it is likely that the bulk of any nourishment material would need to be brought from further away (e.g. dredgings at Burry Port) or from offshore sources (e.g. Nobel Banks).
4.7 Port Eynon 4.7.1 General geomorphological character Port Eynon Bay, located on the south coast of the Gower, is a relatively small rock-bound embayment which lies between the rocky headlands of Port Eynon Point in the west and Oxwich Point in the east. (Figure 4.25) The distance between the two headlands across the mouth of the bay is approximately 4 km. The bay has an asymmetric plan form with a mainly sand beach in the west and an exposed rock shore platform in the east. The back of the bay is fringed by sand dunes which are locally protected by small-scale sea defences. The land behind the beach rises fairly steeply towards the villages of Port Eynon and Horton. The toe of the slope deposits has been cliffed in the past by wave action at a time when fronting dunes were absent. At the western and eastern ends of the beach, rock scars are exposed on the mid and lower foreshore, but in the middle of the bay the beach is normally sandy down to the low tide mark. Beach levels are lower at the western (Port Eynon) end of the bay where the backshore is now very narrow and periodically absent altogether. The backshore width increases towards the eastern end of the bay although the foreshore width becomes narrower in that direction.
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4.7.2 Coastal processes Port Eynon Bay experiences a large tidal range (MSTR of 8.4 m), with the result that a wide foreshore is exposed at low tide (Table 2.1). The bay is influenced by refracted waves from the southwest and by waves approaching directly from the south and southeast. Evidence suggests a long-term net sediment drift in an easterly direction across the upper beach. Offshore movement of sediment from the upper beach into the deeper water of the bay occurs during storms, with onshore movement of material leading to re-building of the beach during fair weather periods. Material moves offshore during exceptionally large storms may be moved into very deep water from which it cannot be returned by fair-weather waves. 4.7.3 Historical shoreline change Comparison of historical maps and aerial photographs has shown that since 1877 the HAT line has moved inland by 24 m at the Port Eynon end of the Bay but has moved seawards by 4 m at the Horton end. For most of the 20th century much of the bay had a sandy backshore and relatively high overall beach levels (Figure 4.26), but since the 1990's beach levels have fallen, resulting in a narrower backshore and more extensive exposure of rock scars and patches of gravel. Monitoring of beach profile levels by Swansea Bay Coastal Group since 1999 has shown a steady decline in beach levels although the position of the back-beach line has not changes significantly (Figure 4.27). 4.7.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance Owing to the generally rising nature of the land behind the beach and dunes are of limited importance in terms of flood risk prevention. There are also relatively few properties at risk from erosion. The area falls within, or lies adjacent to, several designated areas, including the Gower Coast SSSI, the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the South Wales Limestone Coast SAC. Port Eynon Bay is popular as a recreational area for residents of the wider Swansea area and with tourists to the Gower from other parts of the UK. 4.7.5 Shoreline management policy The SMP1 preferred policy for the whole shoreline was 'Hold the Line' (Shoreline Management Partnership, 2001) but the preferred policy identified in the draft SMPII document is 'No Active Intervention'. 4.7.6 Previous beach nourishment There are no records of previous beach nourishment in Port Eynon Bay. 4.7.7 Future beach nourishment: potential benefits and requirements The reduction in beach extent, particularly of the dry backshore, in Port Eynon Bay is having a detrimental effect on the visual appearance of the bay and on its attractiveness to visitors. Continues loss of sand would worsen the situation as inter-tidal rock exposures become more extensive and as increased erosion pressure is put on the dunes and artificial defences at the back 31
of the beach. The main potential benefits of beach nourishment would therefore be in terms of landscape quality and amenity value. Owing to the relatively small size of the bay, the total volume of sand required to create a 20 m wide high topped berm at HAT level along the defined length of shore would be only 152 x 103 m3. However, the total width of nourished beach would be relatively large (128 to 149 m) on account of the gentle overall beach gradient. The volume which would nee to be filled with sediment in order to maintain the existing beach form in the face of sea level rise would range from a minimum of 5 x 103 m3 to a maximum of 124 x 103 m3. The volume of sediment required to initially nourish the beach and then to maintain it over a 20 year period, allowing for sea level rise and erosional losses of 50% between each re-nourishment, would be 460 - 477 x 103 m3. The nearest potential source of nourishment sand would be the licenced dredging area on Helwick Bank. Alternative longer-term potential sources would be the Nobel Banks area of Carmarthen Bay and other licensed dredging areas in the Bristol Channel. In the short-term beneficial use might be made of dredgings from locations such as the entrance to Burry Port harbour. 4.8 Swansea Bay North 4.8.1 General geomorphological character Swansea Bay is a large macrotidal embayment with a mean spring tidal range of 8.5 m at Swansea (Table 2.1). There is weak residual anticlockwise tidal circulation in the northern part of the bay. The western side of the Bay is defined by the upland area of the Gower Peninsula but the northern side is characterised by a relatively wide coastal plain which has now been extensively built on. A dune-capped barrier beach system with back-barrier marshlands formed in this area during the mid to late Holocene, fed by landward movement of sediments from the floor of Swansea Bay, but supply of sediment over the past century has been low. The entire shoreline between Mumbles and Swansea Docks is protected by artificial defences. Remnants of the former dune system, now cut off from the sea, occur between Lower Sketty and Brynmill. Small areas of actively forming dunes occur on the seaward side of the sea defences between the University and County Hall. This area forms a natural sink for windblown sand which causes periodic problems when it is blown onto the cycleway, promenade and A4067 trunk road behind. 4.8.2 Coastal processes The north-western part of the bay between Black Pill and Swansea Docks (Figure 4.28) is sheltered from south-westerly winds and waves and winds / waves from the south and south-east exert the greatest influence. Wave energy at the shoreline is low except during easterly and south-easterly gales. Longshore sediment transport rates on the upper foreshore are low, but the evidence suggests an overall slight net easterly drift. The beach between the University and County Hall has a relatively wide backshore with incipient dune development, while the beach to the southwest of the University has a narrower backshore and a narrow belt of older, degraded dunes (Figure 4.30).
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4.8.3 Historical shoreline change Evidence from historical maps and aerial photographs indicates that the western end of the study frontage has experienced net landward movement of the HAT line of 20 - 41 m since 1876, whereas there has been up to 84 m of seaward movement at the eastern end, mainly due to land reclamation (Table 2.2). Monitoring of beach profiles since 1999 has shown a slight overall fall in levels at the western end, although the position of the HAT line has not changed (Figure 4.29). There has been little change at the eastern end of the system. 4.8.4. Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance As noted above, the entire shoreline of northern Swnsea Bay is backed by hard defences. The beach and narrow belt of dunes to seaward of the defences provide additional protection. The hinterland is generally low-lying and contains significant infrastructure, including the A4067 road, Swansea University, Morriston Hospital, and the rugby / cricket club. The dunes at Black Pill are included within the Black Pill SSSI but the reminder of the area is not currently covered by nature conservation of heritage designations. The beach is a popular recreational area for local residents and University students but Swansea is not a major holiday destination. 4.8.5 Shoreline management policy The preferred policy for this frontage identified in both the SMPI (Shoreline Management Partnership, 2001) and the draft SMP II being prepared by Halcrow (2010) is 'Hold the Line'. 4.8.6. Previous beach nourishment Excess sand from removed from the upper beach and dunes between Sketty and County Hall, and cleared from the promenade, cycleway and road after southerly gales, has been used to nourish the beach further to the south-west, between Black Pill and Oystermouth, where beach levels are low. 4.8.7 Future beach nourishment: potential benefits and requirements The coastal defences along this part of northern Swansea Bay may come under increased pressure if there is a significant future increase in the rate of sea level rise, and/ or storminess. Given the limited scope to move the defences landward, and the need to protect high asset land, there will be a requirement to improve the defences in future years. This could be done either by construction of higher sea walls, placement of rock armour, addition of new beach material, or a combination of these. Enhancement of the beach through nourishment would potentially reduce the standard to which artificial defences have to be constructed / maintained, retain high visual landscape quality, and enhance the recreational / toursitic value to both local residents and outside visitors. An improved beach could, combined with other improvements, significantly increase the appeal of Swansea as a tourist and conference destination. By way of example, the volume of sediment required to construct a 20 m wide flat-topped berm along the defined frontage would be 345 x 103 m3. The width of nourished beach would range from 91 to 128 m. Problems of wind-blown sand invasion onto the promenade and road could
33
be avoided either by the use of coarse sand and/ or the placement of sand-trapping barriers along the top of the beach. Maintenance of the existing beach form in the face of rising sea level over the next 20 - 100 years would require additional sediment to fill a volume ranging from 49 x 103 m3 to 1.16 x 106 m3. The volume of sediment required to carry out the initial nourishment improvements, and then to maintain it by re-nourishment at 5 yearly intervals over a 20 year period, has been calculated to be 1.08 to 1.24 x 106 m3. Potential sources of sand for nourishment would be maintenance dredgings from Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot harbours (subject to sediment quality standards being attained), and licensed offshore dredging area sin the Bristol Channel and Carmarthen Bay. 4.9 Aberavon 4.9.1 General geomorphological character Aberavon Sands extend between Port Talbot outer harbour and the entrance to the Neath estuary on the north-eastern side of Swansea Bay (Figure 4.31). Historically the area to landward was an area of low-lying dunes and marshes formed during the mid to late Holocene period, but it has been significantly modified by human activities during the Industrial and Post-Industrial periods. A large residential urban area (Port Talbot and Sandfields) occupies the area behind the southern and central parts of Aberavon Sands, while the area behind the northern part of the beach at Baglan is occupied mainly by factories and warehouses. A sea wall and promenade, protected by rock revetment at the southern end, runs the entire length of the Port Talbot frontage. Begond the northern end of the sea wall there is a relatively short section of rock armour and gabions, but the frontage of Baglan Burrows is undefended. 4.9.2 Coastal processes Eastern Swansea Bay has a large tidal range (MSTR of 8.7), resulting in exposure of a wide beach at low tide. Tidal current velocities are relatively low, with a slight residual anti-clockwise circulation in northern Swansea Bay. Aberavon Sands has a high degree of exposure to wind and waves from the southwest, and to a lesser extent from the south. The net sediment littoral drift direction is northerly. Port Talbot Outer Harbou effectively acts as a groyne which limits the movement of sediment from areas further south; the harbour itself also acts a as a sediment trap and requires periodic dredging. Consequently the southern part of Aberavon Beach is starved of sediment and experiences net loss of material to areas further north. 4.9.3 Historical shoreline change Historical maps and aerial photographs show that the HAT mark has retreated landwards along the southern Port Talbot frontage by 30 - 48 m since 1876 (Table 2.2), but along the Baglan frontage the HAT line has moved seawards by up to 900m. Accretion in the northern areas has been associated within the infilling of the former Baglan Bay after construction of training walls to fix the entrance channel into the River Neath. Similar accretion has occurred on the northern side of the Neath estuary at Crymlyn Burrows (Figure 4.31). Monitoring of beach profiles by Swansea Bay Coastal Group since 1999 has shown a slight overall fall in levels along most of the Port Talbot frontage, with some continued accretion at the Baglan end (Figure 4.32). The dune frontage at the southern end of Baglan Burrows shows 34
small-scale cliffing and significant blowout development, partly due to wave erosion and partly to heavy recreational pressure. Recent storm-erosion of the dune front has also affected Crymlyn Burrows, and sand eroded from both sides of the estuary has shown a tendency to invade the trained channel, creating a requirement for enhanced maintenance dredging. 4.9.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance The primary flood defence along the Port Talbot urban frontage is provided by hard defences (a stepped seawall and rock revetment in the south; Figure 4.33). However, the condition of he artificial defences may be compromise din the future of beach levels continue to drop. This is likely to be a particular problem at the sediment starve Port Talbot docks end of the system (Figure 4/33a). Along the central and northern parts of the defended frontage the beach levels fluctuate in response to storm conditions and periodic problems are currently encountered with excessive sand build-up on the upper beach and lower parts of the stepped sea wall. Current management policy is to draw such excess sand back down the beach using plant in order to prevent further problems of wind-blown sand encroachment onto the promenade (Figures 4.33b & 4.34a). Falling beach levels along the southern end of the undefended Baglan Burrows frontage will lead to further dune erosion and degradation in this area (Figure 4.34b). 4.9.5 Shoreline management policy The preferred policy option for the Port Talbot frontage identified in both the SMP I and SMP II is 'Hold the Line'. 4.9.6 Previous beach nourishment Sand dredged from the Neath estuary harbour approaches has been used on a number of occasions to nourish the beach and dunes on both sides of the estuary, at Baglan and Crymlyn. However, there are no records of nourishment having been undertaken further south on the Port Talbot beach frontage. 4.9.7 Future beach nourishment requirements and benefits A future shoreline management policy of 'Hold the Line' will require maintenance and possible improvements to the hard defences. However, if beach levels continue to fall, and there is an increase in relative sea level rise and/ or storminess, this will become increasingly difficult to achieve unless beach nourishment is undertaken. For purposes of illustration, creation of a 20 m wide flat-topped berm at HAT level along the entire defined frontage would require a total sediment volume of 641 x 103 m3. This would involve a total nourished width of 74 - 155 m, depending on the existing beach slope. Maintenance of the existing beach form in the face of sea level rise would require sediment infilling of a volume ranging from 228 x 103 m3 to 1.02 x106 m3 over time periods of 20 to 100 years. In order to create the initial improved nourished profile and then to maintain it by 5-yearly renourishment would require 1.97 to 2.10 x 106 m3 of sediment.
35
Potential sources of sandy sediment for nourishment include maintenance dredgings from Neath, Swansea and Port Talbot harbour approaches, and licenced offshore aggregate extraction areas in the Bristol Channel. 4.10 Porthcawl 4.10.1 General geomorphological character The Porthcawl area has a number of small sandy bays which are bounded by rocky promontories. The two bays considered in this study (Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay, Figure 4.35) are the two most heavily used beaches or recreational purposes. Sandy Bay is bounded on the west by Porthcawl Point, the harbour wall and a former railway embankment along which a road now runs. The back of the beach is defined by the Coney Island amusement park at the western end and by a belt of sand dunes at the eastern end. The eastern side of the bay is defined by a further bedrock outcrop at Rhych point. Trecco Bay is bounded on its western side by Rhych Point and on its eastern side by Newton Point. The back of the beach is flanked by a large static caravan park. Both beaches can be described as 'bay-head' or 'pocket' beaches. 4.10.2 Coastal processes Porthcawl experiences the largest tidal range of all the sites considered (MSTR = 8.9 m, Table 2.1). However, owing to the relatively steep gradient of the beaches (Figure 4.36), the exposed width at low tide is not a large as might be expected. Both beaches are exposed to wave action from the southwest, although some protection is afforded by the rocky promontories on either side. Under fair weather conditions sediment is moved landwards, while during severe storms there is some offshore movement. Trecco Bay is slightly more exposed than Sandy Bay and therefore more susceptible to sand movement. There appears to be little exchange of sediment between the bays or with neighbouring pocket beaches to the west and east. 4.10.3 Historical shoreline change Historical maps and aerial photographs shown that the HAT line has not moved significantly since 1876 at the western end of Sandy Bay, but there has been seaward movement of about 15 m at the eastern end where a ridge of dunes has developed (Figure 4.35; Table 2.2). By contrast, in the central part of Trecco Bay the HAT line has retreated landwards by 48m since 1876. Beach profile monitoring by Swansea Bay Coastal Group has shown that beach levels in both bays have fluctuated since 1999 but there has been no significant overall change (Figure 4.36). At the present time the backshore is very narrow, and at times virtually absent, at the western end of Sandy bay and in much of Trecco Bay, although a significant width remains at the eastern end of Sandy Bay (Figure 4.37). The restricted area of dry beach at high tide provides a significant constraint on the recreational use of the two beaches. 4.10.4 Flood defence, nature conservation and recreational importance The beach and dunes in Sandy Bay form a significant part of the flood defence for a small area of low-lying land in the hinterland. Trecco Bay is backed by naturally rising land. 36
The two beaches are not currently covered by conservation designations but the important Merthyr Mawr NNR (important for its dune system) lies only a short distance to the east. Porthcawl is a major recreational and holiday destination for residents of South Wales and neighbouring areas (especially Cardiff and Bridgend). 4.10.5 Shoreline management policy The SMPI identified a preferred policy of 'Hold the Line' or possibly 'Advance the Line' subject to development proposals. The draft SMPII proposes 'Hold the Line' for both bays. 4.10.6 Previous beach nourishment There are no records of beach nourishment in sandy bay and Trecco Bay although nourishment has been reported to have been undertaken in rest Bay, to the west, during the 1980's. Much of the material was eroded within a few years and has not been replaced. 4.10.7 Future beach nourishment requirements and benefits It is of major economic importance to the town of Porthcawl to maintain, and if possible enhance, the quality of its tourist beaches. In the future, it is likely that the beaches will be increasingly squeezed between rising sea level and a fixed back-beach 9either natural rock outcrops or hard defences. Beach therefore provides a potential means of allowing the useable beach area to be maintained while the position of the back-beach remains fixed. In the example where a flat-topped 20 m wide berm at HAT level is created, a total sediment volume of 159 x 103 m3 of sandy sediment would be required. Maintenance of the existing beach form would require sediment infilling of between 11 - and 251 x 103 m3 of sediment over time periods of 20 to 100 years. Creation of the initial 'improved' profile by nourishment, followed by maintenance over a 20 year period using re-nourishment at 5 yearly intervals, would require a total of 488 - 521 x 103 m3 of sediment, assuming 50% losses between nourishment episodes. Potential sources of sand for future nourishment include harbour dredgings and licenced offshore aggregate areas in the Bristol Channel.
37
5 DISCUSSION
The results of the potential sediment nourishment requirements under each of the scenarios considered, and for all ten case study sites, are summarised in Tables 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. Table 4.1 shows that initial beach 'improvement' nourishment volumes at all of the identified sites are relatively modest, the largest being 641 x 103 m3 at Aberavon Sands. The requirements for the smaller enclosed embayment sites such as Tenby North Beach, Traeth Crugan and Port Eynon Bay are relatively small (< 150 x 103 m3). The volumes required to maintain the existing beach profiles at the ten sites vary considerably, depending both on the length of shoreline, the tidal range (and therefore beach width), and the rate of sea level rise considered. Considering the 'best estimate' (50th percentile) value for the medium emissions scenario, the smallest volumes of sediment required by 2100 would be at Tenby North Beach and Traeth Crugan (24 and 30 x 103 m3, respectively), while the largest volumes would be required in Swansea Bay North and at Aberavon Sands (614 and 541 x 103 m3, respectively - Table 4.2). None of the values are particularly large when compared with nourishment volumes for large schemes already carried out in England, such as those at Bournemouth, Mablethorpe - Skegness and Heacham. It should, however, be borne in mind that these volume increase calculations do not take into account sediment losses which would inevitably occur following initial nourishment and each re-nourishment. Table 4.3 summarises the estimated nourishment volumes which would be required to carry out an initial 'beach improvement' nourishment followed by re-nourishment at 5 yearly intervals in the following 20 years, assuming that 50% of the emplaced sediment is lost between renourishment events, and allowing for projected sea level rise over the same time period. The best estimate sediment volumes for the medium emissions scenario range from 142 x 103 m3 at Tenby North Beach to 2017 x 103 m3 at Aberavon Sands. The question of where such larger quantities of sediment could be sources from warrants more detailed consideration in later stages of the work programme. Table 5.1 indicates, for the ten locations, where beach re-nourishment has been used as beach management practice in the past, and if this has been deemed successful or not. For future management it also includes the appropriate factors that it could be used for, namely for flood and coastal erosion defence purposes, habitat remediation / creation and to benefit coastal tourism and recreation. As discussed in section 2.3.2, dredgings from a number of small harbours and ports have been used to date in order to nourish nearby beaches and dunes. Examples include Pwlheli, Aberdovey, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron and Neath. If any future recharge were to take place at the pilot sites (Swansea Bay North and Aberavon Sands) or any other sites where significant volumes are required, existing dredge licences, or even currently un-licenced resources that have as yet not been used to provide re-nourishment material to Welsh beaches may become a viable option from which to source material. Therefore, these sources should be investigated on greater detail and Figures 5.1 and 5.2 show existing dredge sites, licensed by The Crown Estate in the Bristol Channel and Irish Sea respectively. Of the aforementioned harbours from which dredging have been used to source renourishment, Neath is indicated on Figure 5.1 as the other harbours are located within Cardigan Bay, more distant from both Bristol Channel and Irish Sea dredge sites. However, we would 38
envisage that the costs and the potential benefits of nourishment at selected sites should be subjected to more detailed investigation of resource distribution and composition combined with economic appraisal, taking account not only of material extraction and delivery costs but also the associated costs of regulatory compliance (environmental impact assessment and monitoring pre and post-works).
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6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Conclusions This pilot study has considered ten sites around the Welsh coast where beach nourishment has or has not been previously used as a beach management tool. Talacre, Traeth Crugan, and parts of Swansea Bay north and Aberavon Sands have undergone various scales of recharge with varying degrees of success. Talacre is the largest scheme to have been undertaken and has produced significant benefits over the succeeding six year period.. However, beach nourishment generally does not provide a one-off solution to a coastal defence or habitat recreation issues issue, and beach levels at Talacre have now fallen to a point where further re-nourishment needs to be considered. It is concluded that beach nourishment is an under-used method of beach management in Wales compared with many other parts of the world, and that considerable benefits could arise if greater use is made of the technique in future. Beaches form an important first line of coastal defence and healthy beaches can contribute significantly to coastal erosion and flood risk management by dissipating wave and tidal energy and thereby reducing the requirements for capital and maintenance expenditure on hard defences. Beach nourishment also offers significant environmental and landscape benefits when compared with traditional hard engineering works. Evidence from many other parts of the work also shows that beach nourishment can be an important catalyst for economic development of an area and can play an important role in stimulating tourism. 6.2 Recommendations Based on the work undertaken in this Pilot Study, the following recommendations are made: Further consideration should be given to identifying potential sources of different grading of potential nourishment material; resources of coarse sand, fine gravel, medium gravel and cobble are of particular interest, and potential sources include both the sea bed and inland quarries. Further work should be undertaken to characterise the particle size, colour and mineralogical properties of Welsh beaches in order to ensure that naturally occurring sediment are matched as closely as possible with suitable nourishment materials. More detailed evaluation should be undertaken at some of the Pilot Study sites using Lidar data to provide more accurate quantification of the present beach morphology and the volumes of nourishment material required. The ecological effects of nourishment in the short, medium and longer term should be investigated in more detail so that the most appropriate nourishment methodologies for particular sites can be identified. subjected to more detailed economic appraisal, taking account not only of material extraction and transport costs but also the associated costs of regulatory compliance (environmental impact assessment and monitoring pre and postworks).
The costs and the potential benefits of nourishment at selected sites should be
40
The carbon footprint of the proposed nourishment schemes should be calculated. The results of this analysis will help inform the decision-making process to select the optimal sustainable nourishment scheme design.
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7 REFERENCES
Ashton, W. (1920) The Evolution of a Coastline, Barrow to Aberystwyth and the Isle of Man. Edward Stanford Ltd., London, 302pp. Atkins (2009) Twywn Coastal Defence Scheme, Design and Access Statement. Report to Gwynedd Council, Atkins Global Limited. Babtie (2001a) Gronant, Talacre and Point of Ayr, Beach and Dune System Study and Modelling, Final Report to Flintshire County Council by Babtie Group Ltd., Croydon. Babtie (2001b) Gronant, Talacre and Point of Ayr Beach and Dune System Management Plan. Second Draft. Prepared for Flintshire Country Council by Babtie Group, Glasgow. Blott, S.J. & Pye, K. (2004) Morphological and sedimentological changes on an artificially nourished beach, Lincolnshire. Journal of Coastal Research 20, 214-233. BP Chemical Group Ltd (2000 Beneficial Use of Dredged Sand. Sand from Neath Estuary Used for Beach Nourishment at Sker. Report produced by Shoreline Management Partnership on behalf of BP Chemicals, Baglan. Bruun, P. (1962) Sea level rise as a cause of shore erosion. American Society of Civil Engineers, Journal of the Waterways and Harbours Division 88, 117-130. Coastal Engineering UK Ltd (2008) Coastal Defence Annual Inspection Report 2007. Report to Conwy County Borough Council by produced by Coastal Engineering UK Ltd., Thurstaston, Wirral. Coastal Geomorphology Partnership (2000) Pen Llyn A-R Sarnau Candidate Speical Area of Conservation: Coastal Processes Surveillance and Research Requirements. CCW Contract Science Report No. 417, CCW, Bangor. Davies, J.L. (1964) A morphogenic approach to world shorelines. Zeitschrift fur Gemorphologie 8, 127-142. Dean, R.G. (2002) Beach Nourishment Theory and Practice. Advanced Series on Ocean Engineering Volume 18. World Scientific, New Jersey, 399pp. Dean, R.G. & Dalrymple, R.A. (2005) Coastal Processes with Engineering Applications. Chapter 11. Beach Fill and Soft Engineering Structures. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp343-386. Delft Hydraulics Laboratory (1987) Manual on Artificial Beach Nourishment. Delft Hydraulic Laboratory Centre for Civil Engineering Research, Codes and Specifications. Report No. 130, 195pp. ECUS (2003). Guidance for Coastal Defence in Relation to their Landscape and Visual Impacts. Report prepared by Environmental Consultancy, University of Sheffield, for the Countryside Council for Wales. CCW Contract Science Report No. 551, CCW Bangor. Countryside Council for Wales. 42
Eurosion (2004). http://www.eurosion.org/shoreline/table.htm. Faber-Maunsell (2008) Traeth Crugan - Pwlheli Coastal Defence. Report to Gwynedd Council by Faber Maunsell / AECOM, Birkenhead, 292pp. Finkl, C.W. & Walker, H.J. (2005) Beach nourishment. In Schwartz, M.L. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Springer, Dordrecht, 147-161. Flintshire County Council (2003) Method Statement & Monitoring Programme for the Beach Nourishment Works at Talacre Beach. Flintshire County Council, Flint, Report Number TS0120/R01B. Gwynedd Council (2003) North Cardigan Bay Shoreline Management Plan. Gywnedd Council Dollgellau. Halcrow (2002) Futurecoast Report to DEFRA by Halcrow Group, Swindon. Available only on CD. Halcrow Group Ltd. (2006). Assessment of Constraints imposed on Future Shoreline Management of Rail Assets Adjacent to the Coast. Report to Railtrack by Halcrow Group Ltd. Swindon. Halcrow (2009) North West England and Wales Shoreline Management Plan SMP2. Main SMP Document Consultation Draft. Prepared for the North West England and North Wales Coastal Group by Halcrow Group Ltd., Swindon. Halcrow (2010). Shoreline Management Plan SMP2, Lavernock Point to St Anns Head: Identification of Preferred Policy. Report prepared on behalf of the Swansea and Carmarthen Bay Engineering Group by Halcrow Group, Swindon. Hamm, L., Capobianco, M., Dette, H.H., Lechuga, A., Spanhoff, R & Stive, MJ.F. (2002) A summary of European experience with shore nourishment. Coastal Engineering 47, 237264. Hanson, A. Brampton, M. Capobianco, H.H. Dette, L. Hamm, C. Laustrup, A. Lechuga, R. Spanhoff (2002). Beach nourishment projects, practices, and objectives - A European overview. HR Wallingford Ltd (1993) Pensarn Beach Numerical Model Studies. Report EX2848 prepared for Colwyn Bay Borough Council by HR Wallingford Ltd, Wallingford. HR Wallingford Ltd. (2008) Coastal Process Study: Rhyl to Prestatyn. Report EC5690, prepared for Martin Wright Associates Ltd as part of their report to Denbighshire County Council on the Development of a Coastal Defence Strategy. HR Wallingford Ltd, Wallingford. Jacobs-Babtie (2006) Gronant, Talacre and Point of Ayr Beach and Dune Study. Beach Nourishment Works, Report on Monitoring 2002-2004. Report to Flintshire County Council by Jacobs Babtie, Croydon.
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Jemmett, A. (1999) The Beach and sand Dunes at Point of Ayr An Overview of Recent Changes and Management Issues. Report prepared by Dr. Alan Jemmett, Project Manager Dee Estuary Strategy, for the Talacre Panel. Lee, M. (2005) Investigation of Beach Levels at Pensarn Shingle Ridge. Contract No. Fe 73-01507 Report prepared for Countryside Council for Wales by Dr. Mark Lee, York. McCue, J., Cousins, N. & Gubby, S. (2008) Supporting ICZM Delivery in Wales: Enhancing the evidence base for coastal decision making. CCW Contract FC 73-03-339. Mulder, J.P.M., Nederbragt, G., Steetzel, H.J., van Koningsveld, M. & Wang, Z.B. (2006) Different implementation scenarios for the large-scale coastal policy of the Netherlands. Proceedings International Conference on Coastal Engineering, 2006, Volume 2, pp1705-1717. National Research Council (1995) Beach Nourishment and Protection. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 334pp. Neill, S.P., Elliott, A.J. & Hashemi, M.R. (2008) A model of inter-annual variability in beach levels in Tremadoc Bay, eastern Irish Sea. Continental Shelf Research 28, 1769-1781. Posford-Duvivier (1996) Pwlheli Golf Course Strategy Study. Report to Dwyfor District Council Councilby Posford Duvivier, Peterborough. Pye, K. (2010) Beach and sand dune nourishment: past, present and future uses. Progress in Physical Geography (in press) Pye, K. & Blott, S.J. (2006) The Geomorphology and Environmental Context of the Aberdovey Coastal Dune System. Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd External Research Report No. EX604, prepared on behalf of Aberdovey Golf Club, June 2006. Pye, K. & Saye, S.E. (2005) The Geomorphological Response of Welsh Sand Dune Systems to Sea Level Rise Over the Next 100 Years and the Management Implications for SAC and SSSI Sites. CCW Contract Science Series Report No. 670, Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. Robinson, K. Ramsay, J. Wilson, A. Mackie, A. Wheeler, F. OBeirn, C. Lindenbaum, K. Van Landeghem, F. McBreen, N. Mitchell. (2007) HABMAP: Habitat Mapping for conservation and management of the southern Irish Sea. Report to the Welsh European Funding Office. Schwartz, M.L. & Bird, E.C.F. (ed.) (1990) Artificial Beaches. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue No. 6. The Coastal Education and Research Foundation, Fort Lauderdale, 140pp. Shoreline Management Partnership (1993) Point of Ayr Study, Talacre Dunes. Report to Hamilton Oil Company Ltd by Shoreline Management Partnership, Rossett, Nr. Chester. Shoreline Management Partnership (1999a) Liverpool Bay Shoreline Management Plan. Sub Cell 11a, Great Ormes Head to Formby Point. Prepared for Liverpool Bay Coastal Group by Shoreline Management Partnership, Rossett, Nr. Chester. 44
Shoreline Management Partnership (1999b) Shoreline Management Plan for Sub-Cell 11a (Great Ormes Head to Formby Point) Plan Document and Context Report. Prepared for Liverpool Bay Coastal Group by Shoreline Management Partnership, Rossett, Nr. Chester. Shoreline Management Partnership (2000) Worms Head to St. Govan's Head Shoreline Management Plan. Prepared for Carmarthen Bay Coastal Engineering Group by Shoreline Management Partnership, Rossett, Near Chester. Shoreline Management Partnership (2001) Lavernock Point to Worms Head Shoreline Management Plan. Prepared for Swansea Bay Coastal Engineering Group by Shoreline Management Partnership, Rossett, Near Chester. Simm, J.D., Brampon, A.H., Beech, N.W. & Brook, J.S. (1996) Beach Management Manual. CIRIA, London, 448pp. Speybroeck, J., Bonte, D., Coutens, W., Gheskierf, T., Grootaett, P., Maelfait, J-P., Mathys, M., Provoost, S., Sabbe, K., Stienen, W.W.M., van Lancker, V., Vincx, M. & Degraer, S. (2006) Beach nourishment: an ecologically sound coastal defence alternative: A review. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 16, 419-435. University of Newcastle (2000) Shingle Resources Survey, Wales. A Geomorphological Review of the Nature and Conservation Status of Welsh Shingle Beaches. Report to Countryside Council for Wales by the University of Newcastle Department of Coastal Management. Van de Graaff, J., Niemeyer, H.D. & van Overeem, J. (eds.) (1991) Artificial Beach Nourishments. Coastal Engineering Special Issue, (Volume 16, Part 1), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 162pp. Van der Lee, W. (2009) Practical experiences in monitoring and dynamic preservation of the Dutch coast: a case study. In Pye, K. & Ritchie, W. (eds.) The Measurement of Coastal Change. Proceedings of the St. Fergus Symposium. Aberdeen Institute of Coastal Management, University of Aberdeen, 85-94. Webb, H., Pye, K., Huckle, J. & Blott, S.J. (2010) Beach Topographic Variability in Relation to Significant Biological Change. CCW Contract Science Report, CCW, Bangor (in press). Welsh Assembly Government (2007) One Wales A Progressive Agenda for the Government of Wales. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff. Welsh Assembly Government (2008) Coastal Tourism Strategy Visit Wales. Report by the Tourism and Marketing Division of the Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff. Welsh Audit Office (2009) Coastal Erosion and Tidal Flooding Risks in Wales. Welsh Audit Office, Cardiff, 61pp. Wolf, J. (2008) Development of Estuary Morphological Models. Joint DEFRA / EA Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management R & D Programme R & D Technical Report FD2107/TR, Appendix A1: Swan Modelling of Liverpool Bay Including Dee, Mersey and Ribble Estuaries, 22pp. 45
APPENDIX A: EUROSION DATA

Previous Beach Nourishment Schemes from elsewhere in Europe (Eurosion, 2004).
Number 1. Country Belgium Case study De Haan Coastal type Sedimentary macrotidal (Sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (Sandy beaches and dunes) Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (Sandy beaches) Sedimentary microtidal (Shingle beaches) Soft rock Sedimentary microtidal (Sandy beaches) Sedimentary microtidal (Sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (Sandy beaches and dunes) Policy Hold the line Measure Seawall / Nourishment
2.
Belgium
Zeebrugge-Knokke Heist Shabla-Krapetz
Hold the line
3.
Bulgaria
4.
Cyprus
Dolos-Kiti
5.
Denmark
HyllingebjergLiseleje
Hold the line / Managed realignment Limited intervention / Do nothing Hold the line
Seawall / Groynes / Harbour breakwater / Nourishment Seawall / Dyke
6.
Denmark
Kge bay
Move seaward / Hold the line Hold line / Managed realignment / Do nothing / Limited intervention Hold the line / Limited Intervention
Harbour breakwater / Groynes / Detached breakwater / Revetment Slope protection / Groynes / Detached breakwater / Nourishment Groynes / Dyke / Filter tubes Groynes / Detached breakwater / Revetment/ Nourishment / Dune protection Revegetation forestry / Nourishment / Seawall / Slope protection
7.
Denmark
Western coast of Jutland
8.
Estonia
Tallin
9.
Finland
Western coast of Finland
10.
France
Aquitaine coast
11. 12.
France France
Chatelaillon Haute-Normandie
13.
France
RmireMontjoly (French Guyana)
Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy & shingle beaches, narrow vegetated shores, artificial coastline) Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy & shingle beaches, saltmarsh) Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beach) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (shingle beaches) Hard Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches) Sedimentary microtidal (delta, sandy beaches and dunes) Hard Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (estuary, saltmarsh)
Do nothing
None
14.
France
Rhne delta
Hold the line /Limited intervention Hold the line / (Move seaward) Do Nothing / Hold the line / Managed realignment Do nothing (Limited interventionfuture) Hold the line / Do Nothing / Limited intervention Hold the line
Revegetation / Seawall / Revetment / Groynes Seawall / Groynes (past) Nourishment Groynes / Nourishment
Future: Breakwater / Nourishment
15.
France
Sables dOlonne
Groynes / Seawall / Breakwater / Revetment / Nourishment / Wind trap Sand ripping Seawall / Beach drainage
16.
Germany
Elbe estuary
Hold the line
17.
Germany
Isle of Sylt (Isles SchleswigHolstein)
Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes)
Hold the line / Managed realignment
Dyke / Revetment / Saltmarsh creation / Polder / Groynes / Saltmarsh Drainage Revetment / Seawall / Rif Enhancement / Groynes / Nourishment
46
Number 18. Country Germany Case study Rostock Coastal type Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes, saltmarsh) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beach) Hard Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beach) Sedimentary microtidal (delta, sandy beaches and dunes) Hard Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches, artificial coastline) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches) Policy Hold the line / Limited intervention Limited intervention Hold the line Measure Groynes / Revetment / Seawall / Revegetation / Nourishment Detached breakwater Groynes
19. 20.
Greece Greece
Lakkopetra Mesollogi lagoon area Rosslare
21.
Ireland
Hold the line
Groynes / Revetment / Nourishment
22.
Ireland
Rossnowlagh
None (Locally Hold the line) Hold the line
Revetment (Future: dune nourishment) Beach drainage / Breakwater Groynes / Seawall / Detached breakwater / Nourishment Nourishment / Groynes / Revetment / Dune rebuilding None
23.
Italy
24.
Italy
CirqaccioCiracciello (Isle of Procida) Giardini-Naxos (Isle of Sicily) Goro mouth- Po delta Lu Littaroni La Liccia (Isle of Sardinia) Marina di Massa Marina di Pisa
Hold the line
25.
Italy
26.
Italy
Limited intervention / Hold the line Do nothing
27.
Italy
Hold the line
28.
Italy
Marina di RavennaLido Adriano
Hold the line
29.
Italy
Marinella di Sarzana
Hold the line
30.
Italy
Vecchia Pineta
31.
Latvia
Gulf of Riga
32.
Lithuania
Klaipeda
33.
Malta
Xemxija Ghajn Tuffieha Holland coast
34.
The Netherlands
35.
The Netherlands
Wadden Sea islands
Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (delta, sandy beaches and dunes, narrow vegetated shores) Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes, narrow vegetated shores) Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches) Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (estuary, saltmarsh)
Hold the line
Limited intervention / Hold the line Limited intervention
Seawall / Groynes / Detached breakwater / Submerged breakwater / Nourishment Seawall / Submerged breakwater / Detached breakwater / Groynes / Jetty / Nourishment Groynes / Detached breakwater / Jetty / Artificial island / Nourishment Submerged breakwater / Nourishment / Beach Drainage Forest plantation / Seawall / Revetment / Nourishment Forest plantation / Nourishment
Do nothing / Limited intervention Hold the line
Revegetation
Nourishment / Groynes
36.
The Netherlands
Western Scheldt estuary
Limited intervention / Hold the line / Do nothing Hold the line / Move seaward
Groynes / Revetment / Nourishment / Crossshore dam Nourishment / Revetment / Groyne / Pier protection
47
Number 37. Country Poland Case study Hel peninsula Coastal type Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Hard Rock Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (delta, sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Hard Rock Soft Rock Sedimentary microtidal (shingle beaches, saltmarshes, artificial coastline) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy & shingle beaches, dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (delta, sandy beaches and dunes) Policy Hold the line Measure Groynes / Seawall / Nourishment
38.
Poland
Western Coast of Poland
Hold the line / Do nothing
Seawall / Groynes / Nourishment / Revegetation Harbours / Marinas / Slope stabilisation Nourishment / Groynes / Seawall
39. 40.
Portugal Portugal
Azores (Azores Islands) Cova do Vapor
Hold the line Hold the line
41.
Portugal
Estela
Limited intervention Hold the line / Managed realignment Hold the line
42.
Portugal
Vagueira-Mira
Dune nourishment / Sand ripping / Wind trap / Sand bags Groynes / Jetty / Nourishment Revetment / Nourishment
43.
Portugal
Vale do Lobo
44.
Romania
Danube delta
(Hold the line) Do Nothing Limited intervention / Hold the line Hold the line / Limited intervention / Move seaward
Jetty / Groynes / Nourishment Detached breakwater / Nourishment Seawall / Submerged breakwater / Dyke
45.
Romania
Mamaia
46.
Slovenia
Slovenian coast
47.
Spain
Can Picafort (Isle of Mallorca) Castelln
Limited intervention Hold the line
Nourishment
48.
Spain
49.
Spain
Ebro delta
50.
Spain
El Mdano (Canary Islands)
51.
Spain
Gross
52.
Spain
Mar Menor
53.
Spain
Sitges
Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes, narrow vegetated shores) Hard Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Hard Rock Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and dunes) Sedimentary microtidal (sandy beaches and
Limited intervention / Hold the line / (Managed relignment) Do nothing / Limited intervention Hold the line
Groynes / Detached breakwater / Nourishment Dune nourishment / Wind traps / Revegetation / Beach Drainage Dune nourishment / Revegetation
Jetty / Nourishment
Hold the line / Limited intervention Hold the line
Groynes / Nourishment
54.
Sweden
Falsterbo peninsula
Do nothing
55.
Sweden
Ystad
Hold the line
Groynes / Detached breakwater / Seawall / Artificial island / Nourishment Seawall / Groynes(Future: revegetation / nourishment) Groynes / Seawall / Dune plantation /
48
dunes) Coastal type Sedimentary macrotidal (estuary, saltmarsh, shingle beaches) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy and shingle beaches) Sedimentary macrotidal (estuary, saltmarsh) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (shingle beaches) Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (shingle beaches) Geotextile Measure Seawall / Revetments / Embankment / Groynes / Polder / Nourishment Groynes / Seawall / Revetment
Number 56.
Country United Kingdom
Case study Essex estuaries
57.
United Kingdom
Holderness coast
Policy Hold the line / Managed realignment / Do nothing Hold the line / Do nothing
58.
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Humber estuary
59.
LuccombeBlackgang (Isle of Wight) South Downs (Sussex)
60.
United Kingdom
Hold the line / (Managed realignment) Managed realignment / Hold the line / Do nothing Hold the line / Managed realignment
Embankment / Revetment / Seawall / Tidal flat recreation Seawall / Revetment / Groynes / Nourishment / Slope stabilisation Seawall / Groynes / Nourishment
49
APPENDIX B: SITE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY SHEETS
50
Beach Management Case Study Site Talacre

Unitary Authority: Sir y Fflint Flintshire Length of Coastline: 2900m Current SMP2 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview This North/North-west facing coastline has a large unspoiled expansive sandy foreshore backed by gently sloping dunes which graduate into a low-lying backshore. To the east there are shingle banks and dune ridges with large quantities of aeolian sand between which lie tidal channels and developing saltmarsh. The shingle banks are formed primarily from drifted beach nourishment material. Further east at Talacre Warren are two dune ridges with dune slacks. Located behind these dunes is the Prestatyn Gutter canal which discharges to the western frontage of the dunes. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology Assuming no inlet was established on the North Wales shoreline, this area would be likely to gradually silt up because of the available sediment within the Dee estuary, with subsequent re-formation of saltmarsh geomorphology. The limit of the flooding would be constrained by the original cliff-line of the estuary. The majority of sand material is either retained by coastal defences or contributes to the significant accretion of material at the Point of Ayr, where it forms an expansive intertidal zone, and subsequently material to be used in the development of the Talacre Sand Dunes. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk This section of shoreline has been defended over the last 100 years, and with no defences there would be significant flooding of the low-lying land as there is no natural form of defence either in front of or behind the present embankment. With no secondary defences in place this inundation could extend behind Talacre, resulting in a dramatic change in the shoreline form and position. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Designated areas include: Ramsar The Dee Estuary (Wales); SPA The Dee Estuary (Wales); SAC Dee Estuary / Aber Dyfrdwy; SSSI Dee Estuary / Aber Afon Dyfrdwy; and Gronant Dunes & Talacre Warren SSSI. Beach Recreational Issues Gronant Dunes is an area of sand dunes and foreshore that stretch to the Point of Ayr, Talacre. This area has outstanding wildlife and it is a site of Special Scientific Interest. Both Gronant and Talacre Dunes are popular with holidaymakers and local residents. Governance Issues The Crown Estate licenses nearby dredge sites that may prove a possible source of future recharge material although the management and provision of the material is currently less clear. Material may also be available from Mostyn Docks. Future Beach Nourishment Implications Nourishment Volume (m3) Initial volume of nourishment material required 148,080 Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea 504,000 level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment 531,000 in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses
Beach Management Case Study Site - Abergele

Unitary Authority: Conwy Conwy Length of Coastline: 2700m Current SMP2 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview This stretch of the coastline is North/North-west facing, with Pensarn beach situated centrally, between Rhyl to the east and Colwyn Bay to the west. The beach is generally a combination of sand and shingle. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology East of Abergele the three controlling headlands at Rhos Point, Tan Penmaen Head and Llanddulas would experience a moderate degree of erosion. To the west, from Abergele to Prestatyn, the shoreline would take a more linear form. This would cause the shoreline to become more normal to the approaching wave direction thus ultimately reducing the net sediment transport rate along the frontage. Accretion toward the Point of Ayr would consequently be reduced. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk A revetment and seawall in places, originally constructed 1845-48, re-furbished 1906, defends the entire frontage with an additional flood embankment protecting the Abergele to Towyn frontage from inundation. Following in destruction in the 1990 storms, the seawall and rock revetment was rebuilt in 1993, at Towyn. At Kinmel Bay, beach recharge and groynes have acted as a drift barrier and advanced the shoreline seaward. A shingle bank fronts the wall to the east of Abergele with dunes to landward and low-lying hinterland. Bars and troughs in the sand foreshore migrate eastward across the frontage influencing cycles of erosion / accretion. The developed frontage beach is constrained in places by railway and trunk roads, though is well-developed between this infrastructure. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Designated areas include three SSSIs: the Traeth Pensarn; Llanddulas Limestone and Gwrych Castle Wood; the Coed y Gopa. Beach Recreational Issues Pensarn beach is important for recreational activities such as Windsurfing and Canoeing. The developed frontage is a tourist destination. Future Beach Nourishment Implications Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses Nourishment Volume (m3) 429,709 68,000 1,301,000
Beach Management Case Study Site Traeth Crugan

Unitary Authority: Gwynedd Gwynedd Length of Coastline: 2730m Current SMP1 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview This area of South-east facing coastline has a backshore characterised by a single, narrow sand dune ridge. The height of the dune is generally 3 - 5 m and the crest width is approximately 3 - 4 m. Much of the dune system is poorly vegetated. At the low water mark, patches of clean sand, shingle and boulders are apparent, while at high water this gives way to a cleaner ground of gravel and coarse sand. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology Erosion of the sand dunes at Traeth Crugan and Pwllheli Golf Club are providing sand, which accretes eastwards by littoral drift along the Pwllheli promenade. There is, however, ongoing loss to this frontage as material by-passes Carreg yr Imbill and is deposited in the harbour mouth. There is a problem with siltation of the inner harbour at Pwllheli and this is thought to be due to the low tidal current velocities through the harbour entrance. Although the sea bed is generally free of silt outside the harbour entrance, the eroding glaciogenic cliffs to the west of the harbour are a source of suspended silt and mud. Continued protection of the dunes at Traeth Crugan and Pwllheli Golf Club would eventually result in a reduced supply of sand to the promenade area of Pwllheli south beach and as a consequence the areas that are currently accreting are likely to experience erosion. Continued sea level rise and a breach in the dunes at Morfa Garreg due to the reduced supply of sediment could result a new outlet to the sea to the east of Carreg yr Imbill. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk The sand dunes at Traeth Crugan and Pwllheli Golf Club are subject to local erosion and are protected in places by stretches of rock revetment. Natural and Historic Environment Issues This area of coastline is undeveloped, with designated sites; the Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC, and the Mynydd Tir Y Cwmwd A'r Glannau At Garreg Yr Imbill SSSI. Beach Recreational Issues This area is important recreationally for the golf course users and also for sea anglers. The lagoon at Traeth Crugan also has a lagoon which sits within a string of banks and reefs which form an arc offshore which has a very diverse bivalve fauna. Future Beach Nourishment Implications
Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses
Nourishment Volume (m3) 68,159 30,000 210,000
Beach Management Case Study Site Morfa Dyffryn

Unitary Authority: Gwynedd Gwynedd Length of Coastline: 6800m Current SMP1 Policy: Do Nothing
Coastal Management Overview This South-west facing coastline has an extensive dune foreland, begining at Llanaber and has grown northwards and incorporated within itself the former moraine island of Mochras. Between Llanaber and Morfa Dyffryn there is sand beach overlying peat beds, fringed with dunes on its outer margin. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology In areas of the beach, the underlying peat is exposed and eroding, thereby causing permanent loss in beach volume since the eroded peat will disperse from the area. There is a large-scale northwards sediment transport pathway throughout most of Cardigan Bay. This longshore movement of sediment has generally been considered to contribute to the northwards prolongating spits and structures including Morfa Dyffryn. The accreting sediment is attributed largely to that sourced by erosion of the glacigenic cliffs in the southern part of Cardigan Bay. Along the southern coast of the Lleyn Peninsula, littoral drift is generally to the east, with widespread erosion of the glacigenic cliffs and sand dune systems contributing to the sediment supply. If beach nourishment is not undertaken, in the short term it is possible that material released from erosion of the dunes capping the ridge, and the breakdown of the ridge itself, would feed Morfa Dyffryn to the north, temporarily halting erosion of the dune system there. However, when the supply of sand and shingle diminishes, further erosion of Morfa Dyffryn dunes would be expected, with the eroded material being deposited on the foreshore. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk With present management practices, the small sections of defended coastline (Llanaber Point, the caravan parks at Sunnysands, Islawrfordd and Barmouth Holiday Village) are likely to remain as hard spots resisting landward movement and effectively becoming promontories as the shoreline to either side migrates landwards. The promontories would effectively reduce northwards littoral drift of material, resulting in a smaller supply of sand to Morfa Dyffryn resulting in erosion of the Morfa Dyffryn dunes. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Designated sites include: Morfa Harlech a Morfa Dyffryn SAC; Morfa Dyffryn NNR; Morfa Dyffryn SSSI; Snowdonia National Park; Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC. Beach Recreational Issues Part of the beach is an officially recognised naturist area. The beach is also known for dolphin sightings. Future Beach Nourishment Implications
Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses
Nourishment Volume (m3) 369,486 202,000 1,144,000
Beach Management Case Study Site - Broadwater-TywynAberdovey

Unitary Authority: Gwynedd Gwynedd Length of Coastline: 8300m Current SMP1 Policy: Retreat south of Twywn, hold-the-line north of Twywn to Broadwater
Coastal Management Overview This coastline is South-west facing with a combination of sandy and pebbly beaches. The area is a mixture of developed and undeveloped with Tywyn town and a golf course, along with undeveloped areas around. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology This area of the coast is eroding between Tywyn and Club House Aberdovey / accretion East of Aberdovey. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk There is a groyne field in front of Tywyn / Shingle ridge in place, sandy beach backed by dunes or Penllyn marshes. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Sites include Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC; Broadwater SSSI; Dyfi SSSI; Snowdonia National Park; Dunes part of Dovey SSSI within Pen Llyn AR SAR. Beach Recreational Issues This area is important for recreation e.g. fishing, sailing, surfing and other water sports off Aberdovey harbour. Future Beach Nourishment Implications
Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses Nourishment Volume (m3) 491,394 257,000
1,518,000
Beach Management Case Study Site - Tenby

Unitary Authority: Sir Benfro Pembrokeshire Length of Coastline: 800m Current SMP2 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview This part of the coastline has sandy beaches backed by rocky cliffs. Carmarthen Bay within which Tenby is situated is a storm-dominated bay, which has been cut largely into softer Carboniferous rocks, in particular mudstones of the Carboniferous Coal Measures. Resistant Carboniferous Limestones form headlands on the Gower Peninsula, and at Tenby and Giltar Point. Millstone Grit forms cliffed promontories between Tenby and Ragwen Point. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology Carmarthen Bay, as a whole is a sink for sediments. This is due to its position sheltered from the main tidal streams. Sediment cover, predominantly sandy, is up to 10 metres thick in the centre of the Bay, thinning towards the shoreline. The Bay contains a fairly constant volume of sediment, which is reworked during storms, with no major exchange of sediment between the Bay and the Bristol Channel or Celtic Sea. Varying rates of cliff retreat around the western end of Carmarthen Bay, due to differential erosion of rocks of varying resistance, is responsible for the current topography of headlands and bays. Carboniferous sandstones and limestones form headlands, but mudstonerich beds within the Carboniferous Coal Measures and Millstone Grit have been susceptible to greater erosion and recession. Very little sand is derived from erosion of sandstones on this coastline. Most sand released from cliff erosion will be stored locally on the beaches, or washed into Carmarthen Bay by storm wave currents. There is a small net littoral drift to the east within the western part of Carmarthen Bay. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk Much of the open-cliffed coastline is undefended, with defences being restricted to the settlements of Tenby, Saundersfoot, Wisemans Bridge, Amroth and Pendine, with few implications for the rest of the coastline. These defences will not significantly affect the future shoreline evolution. The construction of the railway embankment across the Ritec estuary aided the development and stabilisation of South Beach Tenby. The presence of the railway embankment will limit the scope for retreat of the sand dunes here. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Designated areas include the following: SSSI Lydstep Head To Tenby Burrows; National Park Pembrokeshire Coast; SAC Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries / Bae Caerfyrddin ac Aberoedd; SSSI Tenby Cliffs and St. Catherine's Island. Beach Recreational Issues Tenby beach is a popular tourist destination which is used for Canoeing, Sailing and Sea Angling. Future Beach Nourishment Implications Nourishment Volume (m3) Initial volume of nourishment material required 45,964 Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea 24,000 level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment 142,000 in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses
Beach Management Case Study Site Port Eynon

Unitary Authority: Abertawe Swansea Length of Coastline: 1200m Current SMP1/2 Policy: No Active Intervention
Coastal Management Overview Port Eynon is a very popular tourist resort. Port Eynon Point, to the south west of the bay, is the most southerly point of the Gower Peninsula. The bay is also in the area of outstanding natural beauty with sandy beaches and rock pools. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology The coastline is backed by dune systems within the embayments, e.g. Oxwich Bay and Port-Eynon Bay. The orientation of the bays, as illustrated by soft sediments, has been due to incident wave climate over longer periods of time. The resistant geology of the cliffs throughout this frontage is a fundamental control upon both large-scale and local-scale development. The Carboniferous Limestone rocky headlands are local controls because they act to refract and diffract incident waves, creating weak drift reversals. This means that the larger embayments, e.g. Oxwich Bay, along this coastline are generally stable and experience limited net drift. Oxwich Point also provides some shelter to the western part of this shoreline. These cliffs have a very low potential recession rate and therefore significant change along the cliffed shoreline is not expected over the next century. Unfortunately, both Port Eynon and Horton beaches have suffered in the last ten years from denudation of their sand cover. A large proportion of the sand on the coast is likely to have been derived by wave action from the shoreface. There has been large scale dredging of sand from Helwick Bank and it is possible that the dredging of sands from Helwick Bank may influence sand budgets on the coast, such as at Port Eynon Bay. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk Much of the open-cliffed coastline is undefended, with defences being restricted to individual embayments. Where defences are present, principally in the form of seawalls or revetments (such as in Port Eynon, Oxwich, Caswell, and Langland Bays), they protect localised areas from erosion but with few implications for the rest of the coastline. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Designated areas include the following: SAC Limestone Coast of South West Wales / Arfordir Calchfaen De Orllewin Cymru; SSSI Gower Coast: Rhossili to Porteynon; AONB Gower; SSSI Horton, Eastern And Western Slade; SSSI Oxwich Bay; SAC Gower Ash Woods / Coedydd Ynn Gwyr; NNR Oxwich. Beach Recreational Issues This area is popular for sailing, surfing, and has boat launching facilities. Future Beach Nourishment Implications Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses Nourishment Volume (m3) 151,636 66,000 467,000
Beach Management Case Study Site Swansea (North)

Unitary Authority: Abertawe Swansea Length of Coastline: 4900m Current SMP1/2 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview This area of coast is a large, sweeping, curving, sandy bay with the headland at Mumbles as the focal point to the West. Apart from the cliffs which occur near Mumbles, the rest of the coastline is low lying. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology The seabed east of Swansea Bay comprises mainly bedrock, with locally thin accumulations of sand and gravel. Extensive areas of rock are exposed across the channel off the South Glamorgan coast where there are maximum stresses on the seabed due to the tidal currents. Closer to shore near Swansea Bay, Helwick and Nash Sands form banner banks reflecting changes in the orientation of the coastline. These banks provide limited protection to the coastline from open-ocean wave activity. Overall, the plan shape of Swansea Bay is dominantly a south to southwest facing bay bounded on either side by broadly east-west trending hard rock coasts composed primarily of early Carboniferous limestones. Rates of transport of sand and gravel are likely to have been lower than those of the cliffed coasts of the Gower and South Glamorgan because Swansea Bay has been largely sheltered from westerly storms and weaker ebb-currents. Swansea Bay is generally a sink for sediments. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk As a whole, there has been significant human interference within Swansea Bay, where reclamation, slag dumping, dredging, navigation works, and sand winning have all had an influence upon its recent evolution. The estuaries within the Bay have been heavily modified through human development. Within the Afan Estuary, there are no saltmarshes or mudflats, with sand occupying virtually the whole system. The upper part of the Neath Estuary is extensively reclaimed and industrialised, with docks and considerable navigational dredging. The dredging of sediments from the river channels has impacted on the distribution of sands and muds in the bay to date and it is likely that the cessation of dredging in the River Neath would influence sand and mud accumulation in the central part of Swansea Bay. The Swansea Barrage, built between 1989 and 1992, now limits the flux of bedload sediments transported by tidal processes. Natural and Historic Environment Issues The Blackpill SSSI is the only designated area on this stretch of the coastline. Beach Recreational Issues Sea uses in this area include leisure craft for sailing and fishing from Oystermouth/Mumbles, Swansea-Cork Ferry and commercial craft using Swansea, Port Talbot and Neath docks. Future Beach Nourishment Implications Nourishment Volume (m3) Initial volume of nourishment material required 344,832 Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea 614,000 level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment 1,144,000 in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses
Beach Management Case Study Site - Aberavon

Unitary Authority: Castell-nedd Port Talbot - Neath Port Talbot Length of Coastline: 4800m Current SMP1/2 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview Aberavon, to the East of Swansea Bay is a highly industrialised area of coast characterised by heavy industry around Port Talbot including the Corus (margam) steel works, whose tall apparatus and chimneys are clearly visible from the beach. The coastline here is straight, in contrast to the curved coast which can be seen further west, and has a high, hilly backdrop, particularly in the Port Talbot area. The Neath and Tawe fault valleys emerge betwen the hills. There are extensive coastal dune systems to the South-east at Kenfig, Margam and Crylyn Burrows. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology The coastal plain widens particularly around Port Talbot, which is built on former sand dunes. These are still apparent around the very extensive Kenfig and Margam Burrows although the latter helps cover waste from the steel works. The Tawe and Neath rivers reach the coast, the latter forming a minor estuary of mud and sand flanked by sand dunes including Crymlyn Burrows. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk In the 1950s many of the sand dunes of Aberavon Beach disappeared as part of the development of the Sandfields estate. During this development, a 1.25 mile sea defence wall was built. This is also fronted by a rock revetment. Natural and Historic Environment Issues One designated area exists to the north of this area of coastline; Crymlyn Burrows SSSI. Beach Recreational Issues Averavon Beach is a favourite with surfers. Future Beach Nourishment Implications
Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses Nourishment Volume (m3) 640,784 541,000 2,017,000
Beach Management Case Study Site - Porthcawl

Unitary Authority: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr Bridgend Length of Coastline: 1400m Current SMP1/2 Policy: Hold-the-line
Coastal Management Overview This area is characterised by a flat coastal plain around Porthcawl with low rocky headland and sandy enclosed beaches. Much of the coastline is composed of relatively resistant cliffs and rock platforms, which have experienced little movement over the centuries. Porthcawl is an urban area with a large caravan site at Trecco Bay, and a golf course. Coastal Processes and Geomorphology There has been significant modification to this shoreline as a result of human interference. Much of the area of dunes has since been significantly modified and built up, so little of the originally morphology remains. Merthyrmawr Warren is an extensive sand dune system nestled in a natural cove between Porthcawl and the River Ogmore. Although most of the sand contained within this system is relict, the dunes having built up over the last 6,000 years, there is still an active interchange between the beach and dunes. The cliffs at Porthcawl and between Ogmore River and Nash Point would continue to be dominated by low rates of erosion. The foreshore could be subjected to narrowing under increased storm wave activity as landward movement of the beaches is constrained by the backing cliffs. Some local coastal protection works exist in the form of seawalls and revetments between Hutchwns Point and Porthcawl Point. Overall, there is no notable trend of either accretion or erosion of beaches, though some beaches, such as in Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, have seen erosion in recent years. Coastal Protection and Flood Risk Climate change may threaten low lying land with flooding in the future. Porthcawl waterfront is also proposed for substantial regeneration as part of the 7 Bays Project. The Planning Guidance outlines proposals that will result in the regeneration of Porthcawl's Waterfront, stretching from Cosy Corner and the harbour in the south, to Trecco Bay in the east. The plan includes the construction of new sea defences, enabling regeneration of the area to take place and whilst also helping to protect over 440 existing properties which may be at the risk of flooding. Natural and Historic Environment Issues Close by designated areas to the east of this shoreline include the Kenfig / Cynffig SAC, and the Merthyr Mawr SSSI. Beach Recreational Issues The sea here is used for swimming and surfing. Future Beach Nourishment Implications
Initial volume of nourishment material required Volume of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile for sea level rise to 2100 (medium emissions scenario) Volume of sediment required by 2030, assuming an initial re-nourishment in 2010 and five-yearly re-nourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses Nourishment Volume (m3) 159,268 133,000
501,000
Tables
Table 2.1
Assumed tidal levels at possible nourishment sites in Wales, taken from the 2009 Admiralty Tide Tables. Values taken directly from the tables in bold type, values extrapolated from the relevant Standard Port in regular type. MHW and MLW assumed to be midway between spring and neap levels. Station used for tidal levels Hilbre Island Colwyn Bay Pwllheli Barmouth Aberdovey Tenby Mumbles Swansea Port Talbot Porthcawl Elevations relative to Ordnance Datum (in metres) MHWN MTL MLWN MLW MLWS LAT 2.27 0.22 -1.83 -2.73 -3.63 -4.62 2.00 0.24 -1.66 -2.49 -3.32 -4.23 1.16 0.32 -0.54 -1.19 -1.84 -2.42 1.06 0.20 -0.64 -1.19 -1.74 -2.23 1.06 0.17 -0.44 -1.09 -1.74 -2.32 1.80 -0.01 -1.50 -2.55 -3.60 -4.53 1.90 0.05 -1.90 -3.00 -4.10 -5.08 2.20 0.16 -1.90 -2.95 -4.00 -5.00 2.20 0.22 -1.70 -2.90 -4.10 -5.17 2.20 0.01 -2.00 -3.15 -4.30 -5.32
Site Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn Site 3 : Traeth Crugan Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey Site 6 : Tenby North Beach Site 7 : Port Eynon Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon Site 10 : Porthcawl
HAT 5.21 4.77 3.41 3.31 3.31 4.95 5.50 5.50 5.80 5.80
MHWS 4.07 3.70 2.66 2.56 2.56 3.90 4.30 4.50 4.60 4.60
MHW 3.17 2.85 1.91 1.81 1.81 2.85 3.10 3.35 3.40 3.40
CD -4.93 -4.10 -2.44 -2.44 -2.44 -4.50 -5.00 -5.00 -5.20 -5.30
MSTR 7.70 7.02 4.50 4.30 4.30 7.50 8.40 8.50 8.70 8.90
Table 2.2
Advance or retreat of the HAT mark, between the Firest Edition County Series Ordnance Survey maps (published in 1880s and 1890s) and aerial photography flown in 2006.
Profile Period Advance (+) or Retreat (-) (m) -18 0 +14 -53 -107 +58 +90 +66 +40 +12 +3 0 -18 -19 -4 0 0 +25 +152 +39 -21 -7 0 0 0 -37 -8 +77 0 0 -24 +4 -41 -24 -22 0 +84 +898 +723 +115 -30 -48 0 +20 -62 Average Rate of Change (cm/year) -13 0 +10 -39 -79 +43 +67 +49 +30 +9 +3 0 -15 -16 -3 0 0 +21 +128 +33 -18 -5 0 0 0 -31 -6 +65 0 0 -18 +3 -31 -19 -17 0 +65 +685 +552 +88 -23 -36 0 +15 -48
Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre
Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn
Site 3 : Traeth Crugan Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn
Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey
Site 6 : Tenby North Beach Site 7 : Port Eynon Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay
Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon
Site 10 : Porthcawl
P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P45 P46 P47 P48 P49 P70 P71 P34 P35 P36 P37 P38 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P12 P13 P103 P104 P206 P207 P208 P209 P210 P217 P218 P219 P220 P221 P237 P238 P240
1871-2006 1871-2007 1871-2008 1871-2009 1871-2010 1872-2006 1872-2006 1872-2006 1872-2006 1872-2006 1888-2006 1888-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1887-2006 1877-2006 1877-2006 1876-2006 1876-2006 1876-2006 1876-2006 1876-2006 1875-2006 1875-2006 1875-2006 1875-2006 1875-2006 1876-2006 1876-2006 1876-2006
Table 2.3
UKCP09 predictions of future increases in relative sea level , assuming low, medium and high emissions scenarios. Increases are relative to 2010. UKCP09 grid cell Increase in mean sea level from 2010 (cm) 50% value (5-95% range in brackets) 2030 2060 2100 5.2 (2.2 - 8.1) 5.1 (2.2 - 8.0) 5.2 (2.4 - 8.1) 5.3 (2.5 - 8.2) 5.5 (2.7 - 8.4) 6.1 (3.3 - 9.0) 6.1 (3.3 - 9.1) 6.1 (3.3 - 9.0) 6.1 (3.3 - 9.0) 6.2 (3.3 - 9.1) 14.5 (6.3 - 22.8) 14.4 (6.2 - 22.5) 14.7 (6.6 - 22.9) 14.9 (6.8 - 23.2) 15.4 (7.3 - 23.6) 16.9 (8.8 - 25.1) 17.0 (8.8 - 25.2) 16.9 (8.8 - 25.2) 16.9 (8.8 - 25.1) 17.0 (8.9 - 25.2) 30.0 (12.9 - 47.1) 29.7 (12.6 - 46.8) 30.3 (13.3 - 47.5) 30.8 (13.8 - 47.9) 31.6 (14.6 - 48.8) 34.3 (17.3 - 51.4) 34.4 (17.4 - 51.5) 34.4 (17.3 - 51.5) 34.3 (17.3 - 51.4) 34.5 (17.5 - 51.6)
Site
Low Emissions Scenario (SRES B1 Storyline) Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre 18964 Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn 18961 Site 3 : Traeth Crugan 19976 Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn 20184 Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey 20800 Site 6 : Tenby North Beach 23048 Site 7 : Port Eynon 23259 Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay 23261 Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon 23263 Site 10 : Porthcawl 23470 Medium Emissions Scenario (SRES A1B Storyline) Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre 18964 Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn 18961 Site 3 : Traeth Crugan 19976 Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn 20184 Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey 20800 Site 6 : Tenby North Beach 23048 Site 7 : Port Eynon 23259 Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay 23261 Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon 23263 Site 10 : Porthcawl 23470 High Emissions Scenario (SRES A1FI Storyline) Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre 18964 Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn 18961 Site 3 : Traeth Crugan 19976 Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn 20184 Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey 20800 Site 6 : Tenby North Beach 23048 Site 7 : Port Eynon 23259 Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay 23261 Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon 23263 Site 10 : Porthcawl 23470
6.3 (2.6 - 10.1) 6.3 (2.4 - 10.0) 6.4 (2.6 - 10.1) 6.5 (2.7 - 10.2) 6.6 (2.9 - 10.4) 7.2 (3.5 - 11.1) 7.3 (3.5 - 11.0) 7.3 (3.5 - 11.0) 7.2 (3.5 - 11.1) 7.3 (3.6 - 11.0)
17.7 (7.1 - 28.4) 17.6 (6.8 - 28.3) 17.9 (7.2 - 28.6) 18.2 (7.5 - 28.8) 18.6 (7.9 - 29.3) 20.1 (9.4 - 30.9) 20.2 (9.5 - 30.9) 20.1 (9.5 - 30.8) 20.1 (9.4 - 30.9) 20.2 (9.5 - 30.9)
36.7 (14.4 - 59.0) 36.4 (14.0 - 58.7) 37.0 (14.7 - 59.3) 37.4 (15.1 - 59.8) 38.3 (16.0 - 60.6) 41.0 (18.7 - 63.4) 41.1 (18.8 - 63.4) 41.0 (18.7 - 63.4) 41.0 (18.7 - 63.4) 41.2 (18.8 - 63.5)
7.7 (2.9 - 12.5) 7.6 (2.8 - 12.4) 7.8 (3.0 - 12.5) 7.9 (3.1 - 12.6) 8.0 (3.3 - 12.8) 8.6 (3.8 - 13.4) 8.7 (3.9 - 13.5) 8.7 (3.9 - 13.4) 8.6 (3.8 - 13.4) 8.7 (3.9 - 13.5)
21.7 (8.1 - 35.3) 21.4 (7.8 - 35.0) 21.8 (8.2 - 35.4) 22.1 (8.5 - 35.7) 22.5 (9.0 - 36.1) 24.0 (10.4 - 37.6) 24.1 (10.5 - 37.7) 24.1 (10.5 - 37.7) 24.0 (10.4 - 37.6) 24.1 (10.6 - 37.7)
44.9 (16.5 - 73.2) 44.5 (16.1 - 72.9) 45.2 (16.8 - 73.6) 45.6 (17.3 - 74.0) 46.5 (18.1 - 74.9) 49.2 (20.8 - 77.5) 49.3 (20.9 - 77.6) 49.2 (20.8 - 77.6) 49.2 (20.8 - 77.5) 49.3 (21.0 - 77.7)
Beach nourishment options in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise and climate change
Table 3.1 Selected case study sites.
Criteria GEOGRAPHY Open coast or estuarine? Eroding or accreting?
Talacre
Abergele
Traeth Crugan
Morfa Dyffryn
Broadwater-TywynAberdovey Open Coast
Estuarine
Open Coast
Open Coast
Open Coast
The majority of sand material is either retained by coastal defences or contributes to the significant accretion of material at the Point of Ayr, where it forms an expansive intertidal zone, and subsequently material to be used in the development of the Talacre Sand Dunes.
Source of material is relict sediment supply through reworking of shoreline deposits. East of Abergele the three controlling headlands at Rhos Point, Tan Penmaen Head and Llanddulas would experience a moderate degree of erosion.
Erosion of the sand dunes at Traeth Crugan and Pwllheli Golf Club are providing sand, which accretes eastwards by littoral drift along the Pwllheli promenade. There is ongoing loss to this frontage as material by-passes Carreg yr Imbill and is deposited in the harbour mouth. There is a problem with siltation of the inner harbour at Pwllheli and this is thought to be due to the low tidal current velocities through the harbour entrance. Although the sea bed is generally free of silt outside the harbour entrance, the eroding glaciogenic cliffs to the west of the harbour are a source of suspended silt and mud. At the low water mark, patches of clean sand, shingle and boulders are apparent, while at high water this gives way to a cleaner ground of gravel and coarse sand. The backshore is characterised by a single, narrow sand dune ridge. The height of the dune is generally 3 - 5 m and the crest width is approximately 3 - 4 m. Much of the dune system is poorly vegetated. The sand dunes at Traeth Crugan and Pwllheli Golf Club are subject to local erosion and are protected in places by stretches of rock revetment.
In areas of the beach, the underlying peat is exposed and eroding, thereby causing permanent loss in beach volume since the eroded peat will disperse from the area. There is a large-scale northwards sediment transport pathway throughout most of Cardigan Bay.
Eroding between Tywyn and Club House Aberdovey / Accretion East of Aberdovey
COASTAL DEFENCES Material? This beach has a large unspoiled expansive sandy foreshore backed by gently sloping dunes which graduate into a low-lying backshore. Hard or soft Large sandy beach with shallow gradient / defences? shingle ridge. Considerable tidal range backed throughout by dunes.
The beach is generally a combination of sand and shingle.
Sandy beach overlying peat beds.
A combination of sandy and pebbly beaches. Groyne field in front of Tywyn / Shingle ridge in place, sandy beach backed by dunes or Penllyn marshes
Revetment (and wall in places) originally constructed 184548, re-furbished 1906. New revetment in places built in 1993 following 400m breach at Towyn in 1990. Shingle bank fronts wall to east of Abergele with dunes to landward and low-lying hinterland. Bars and troughs in sand foreshore migrate eastward across frontage influencing cycles of erosion / accretion.
Sandy beach backed by dunes . Outcropping of shingle ridge down to Llanaber/ timber breastwork and rock revetment in front of caravan park 1km north. Down to Llanaber, railway line is built against the shoreline and protected by rock armour / Concrete promenade in front of railway line at Llanaber, fronted by rock revetment
MANAGEMENT ISSUES Developed or Undeveloped but caravan park, golf course and undeveloped villages of Talacre and Gronant in the hinterland coast?
Developed frontage tourist destination, beach constrained in places by railway and trunk roads though well-developed between this infrastructure.
Undeveloped along the whole coast line.
Largely undeveloped - Four caravan parks, Llanaber village and railway line along part of the frontage
Mixed - Tywyn town and golf course.
Cross council boundary coverage?
Sir y Fflint - Flintshire
Conwy Conwy
Gwynedd Gwynedd
Gwynedd Gwynedd
Gwynedd North of Estuary
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Designated or Dee Estuary SSSI and Gronant Dunes & Talacre nonWarren SSSI. Gronant Dunes and Talacre designated? Warren are part of the proposed Dee Estuary SAC and the proposed extension to the Dee Estuary SPA and Ramsar Site.
SSSI: Traeth Pensarn SSSI: Llanddulas Limestone And Gwrych Castle Wood SSSI: Coed Y Gopa
Designated sites: Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC, and the Mynydd Tir Y Cwmwd A'r Glannau At Garreg Yr Imbill SSSI.
SAC: Morfa Harlech a Morfa Dyffryn NNR: Morfa Dyffryn SSSI: Morfa Dyffryn National Park: Snowdonia SAC: Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau
Dunes part of Dovey SSSI within Pen Llyn AR SAR
Important for recreation and access?
Both Gronant and Talacre Dunes are popular with holidaymakers and local residents. Beach access through dunes and car park.
Pensarn beach is important for recreational activities such as Windsurfing and Canoeing. Beach access over mainline railway.
This area is important recreationally for the golf course users and also for Sea Anglers. The lagoon at Traeth Crugan also has a lagoon which sits within a string of banks and reefs which form an arc offshore which has a very diverse bivalve fauna.
Part of the beach is an officially recognised naturist area, one kilometre in length. The beach is also known for regular sightings of dolphins.
Fishing, sailing and watersports off Aberdovey harbour.
Beach nourishment options in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise and climate change
Table 3.1 (contd) Selected case study sites.
Criteria GEOGRAPHY Open coast or estuarine? Eroding or accreting?
Tenby (North) Open Coast Varying rates of cliff retreat around the western end of Carmarthen Bay, due to differential erosion of rocks of varying resistance, is responsible for the current topography of headlands and intervening bays. Carboniferous sandstones and limestone form headlands, but mudstone-rich beds within the Carboniferous Coal Measures and Millstone Grit have been susceptible to greater erosion and recession. Open Coast
Port Eynon
Swansea Bay (North) Estuarine / Open Coast Rates of transport of sand and gravel are likely to have been lower than those of the cliffed coasts of the Gower and South Glamorgan because Swansea Bay has been largely sheltered from westerly storms and weaker ebb-currents. Swansea Bay is generally a sink for sediments.
Aberavon Open Coast / Estuarine
Porthcawl Estuarine / Open Coast Much of this coastline is composed of relatively resistant cliffs and rock platforms, which have experienced little movement over the centuries. Overall, there is no notable trend of either accretion or erosion of beaches, though some beaches, such as in Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, have seen erosion in recent years.
The cliffs between Worms Head and Port Eynon Point, around Oxwich Point and between Great Tor and Mumbles Head will be dominated by very low rates of erosion.
COASTAL DEFENCES Material? Resistant Carboniferous Limestones form headlands such as Worms Head and Burry Holms on the Gower Peninsula, and at Tenby and Giltar Point. Millstone Grit forms cliffed promontories between Tenby and Ragwen Point.
Hard or soft defences?
4 km of sandy beaches. Very little sand is derived from erosion of sandstones on this coastline. Most sand released from cliff erosion will be stored locally on the beaches, especially within pocket beaches, or will be washed into Carmarthen Bay by storm wave currents. Rock clasts (pebbles and shingle) liberated by rock falls generally remain on the adjacent rock platforms in the short term. Clay released from erosion of mudrocks will be carried by storm and tidal currents into the outer Bristol Channel. Much of the open-cliffed coastline is undefended, with defences being restricted to the settlements of Tenby, Saundersfoot, Wisemans Bridge, Amroth and Pendine, with few implications for the rest of the coastline.
The resistant early Carboniferous limestone geology will constrain the future broad-scale configuration of this rocky cliffed coast. These cliffs have a very low potential recession rate and therefore significant change along the cliffed shoreline is not expected over the next century. Due to the exposure of these rocky shorelines and the lack of contemporary sediment input there would not be any significant new sediment accumulations. Much of the open-cliffed coastline is undefended, with defences being restricted to individual embayments. Where defences are present, principally in the form of seawalls or revetments (such as in Port Eynon, Oxwich, Caswell, and Langland Bays), they protect localised areas from erosion but with few implications for the rest of the coastline.
The seabed east of Swansea Bay comprises mainly bedrock, with locally thin accumulations of sand and gravel. Extensive areas of rock are exposed across the channel off the South Glamorgan coast where there are maximum stresses on the seabed due to the tidal currents. Overall, the plan shape of Swansea Bay is dominantly a south to south-west facing bay bounded on either side by broadly east-west trending hard rock coasts composed primarily of early Carboniferous limestone. Sand (mud?), wide intertidal area, wood fences to retain sand on the western side bay / Seawall and concrete revetment on the northern side then harbour jetty Closer to shore near Swansea Bay, Helwick and Nash Sands form banner banks reflecting changes in the orientation of the coastline. These banks provide limited protection to the coastline from openocean wave activity.
This is a highly industrialised area of coast. The coastal plain widens particularly around Port Talbot, which is built on former sand dunes.
This area is characterised by a flat coastal plain around Porthcawl with low rocky headland and sandy enclosed beaches.
In the 1950s many of the sand dunes of Aberavon Beach disappeared as part of the development of the Sandfields estate. During this development, a 1.25 mile sea defence wall was built. This is also fronted by a rock revetment.
Rocky coast on western side with coves / sandy beach alternated with headlands / concrete promenade / jetty harbour / four small fishtail groynes / sandy beach backed by dunes to the east / rocky platform in front of Ogmore. There has been significant modification to this shoreline as a result of human interference. Much of the area of dunes has since been significantly modified and built up, so little of the originally morphology remains. Developed - Town, golf course, caravan park Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr Bridgend
MANAGEMENT ISSUES Developed or Tenby is developed with undeveloped land around. undeveloped coast? Cross council Sir Benfro Pembrokeshire boundary coverage? ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Designated or SSSI: Lydstep Head To Tenby Burrows non-designated? National Park: Pembrokeshire Coast SAC: Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries / Bae Caerfyrddin ac Aberoedd SSSI: tenby cliffs and st. Catherine's island
Port Eynon is largely undeveloped with a small residential area and camping and caravan park. Abertawe - Swansea
Heavily developed
Abertawe Swansea
This is a highly industrialised area of coast characterised by heavy industry around Port Talbot. Castell-nedd Port Talbot - Neath Port Talbot
Important for recreation and access?
Tenby is a very busy UK holiday resort during summer.
SAC: Limestone Coast of South West Wales / Arfordir Calchfaen De Orllewin Cymru SSSI: Gower Coast: Rhossili To Porteynon AONB: Gower SSSI: Horton, Eastern And Western Slade SSSI: Oxwich Bay SAC: Gower Ash Woods / Coedydd Ynn Gwyr NNR: Oxwich Caravan and Camping park.
SSSI: Blackpill, Swansea
SSSI: Crymlyn Burrows
SAC: Kenfig / Cynffig SSSI: Merthyr Mawr
Access beach, watersport
Averavon Beach is a favourite with surfers.
The sea here is used for swimming and surfing.
Table 4.1
Initial volumes of nourishment material required at each site for the example scenario. The design profile assumes a 20 m wide flat-topped berm at the level of HAT, sloping down to the existing profile at a angle of 1:25, or to MTL, whichever is closer to the HAT mark.
Profile Shoreline length represented by profile (m) 408 756 712 671 365 1306 385 498 466 612 1079 897 1607 1245 1133 270 633 806 1241 987 670 691 1082 1218 656 Existing profile area to MTL (m2) 183 219 245 295 231 98 101 101 125 35 50 74 165 149 162 129 126 104 89 93 79 75 34 32 71 Design profile area to MTL (m2) 202 266 306 353 292 316 162 200 279 74 90 128 220 284 218 169 178 185 186 151 141 130 92 67 101 Required nourishment width (m) 43 59 72 91 68 121 52 69 103 28 39 62 122 163 120 69 79 93 100 76 70 63 39 23 45 Additional area required (m2) 20 47 61 58 62 218 60 100 154 39 41 55 55 136 56 40 52 81 97 58 63 55 58 35 31 Nourishment volume required per profile (m3) 8139 35169 43431 38833 22508 284997 23301 49618 71793 24163 43996 48935 88303 168948 63300 10817 32616 65210 120550 57042 41988 37981 62599 42551 20041 Total nourishment volume required for site (m3) 148080 Assumed nourishment profile slope 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL 1:25 1:25 1:25 Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL
Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre
Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn
Site 3 : Traeth Crugan Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn
Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey
P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P46 P47 P48 P49 P70 P71 P34 P35 P36 P37 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13
429709
68159 369486
491394
Table 4.1
continued.
Profile Shoreline length represented by profile (m) 347 425 508 704 768 979 934 1103 996 641 1055 1078 767 860 418 234 700 Existing profile area to MTL (m2) 62 192 307 293 298 332 424 372 346 311 343 295 327 246 320 384 338 Design profile area to MTL (m2) 132 243 461 398 412 460 444 429 397 355 419 474 484 500 396 454 496 Required nourishment width (m) 63 80 149 128 99 125 128 106 91 74 96 128 128 155 83 117 142 Additional area required (m2) 70 51 153 105 114 128 20 57 51 44 76 179 158 254 76 70 159 Nourishment volume required per profile (m3) 24291 21673 77908 73728 87565 125261 18589 62604 50813 28296 80427 192948 120739 218374 31794 16417 111056 Total nourishment volume required for site (m3) 45964 151636 344832 Assumed nourishment profile slope Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL Slope to MTL 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25 1:25
Site 6 : Tenby North Beach Site 7 : Port Eynon Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay
Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon
Site 10 : Porthcawl
P12 P13 P103 P104 P206 P207 P208 P209 P210 P217 P218 P219 P220 P221 P237 P238 P240
640784
159268
Table 4.2
Planar areas of the defined possible nourishment areas (between HAT and MTL), and minimum, maximum and best estimates of volumes of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile by 2030, 2060 and 2100 based on UKCP09 sea level rise predictions. Minima represent the 5% values for the low emission (SRES B1) scenario, maxima represent the 95% values for the high emissions (A1FI) scenario, and best estimates represent the 50% values for the medium emissions (A1B) scenario. Increases are relative to 2010. N.B. The calculations make no allowance for post-nourishment losses and re-nourishment required, and therefore are underestimates of the total volumes of sediment which would be required. Planar area of proposed nourishment (x103 m2) 1373 187 81 540 670 58 160 1498 1319 323 Volumes of sediment required to maintain the existing beach profile (x10 3 m3) Sea level rise by 2030 (cm) Sea level rise by 2060 (cm) Sea level rise by 2100 (cm) Minimum Best Maximum Minimum Best Maximum Minimum Best Maximum 30 4 2 14 18 2 5 49 44 11 Estimate 86 12 5 35 44 4 12 109 95 24 172 23 10 68 86 8 22 201 177 44 86 12 5 37 49 5 14 132 116 29 Estimate 243 33 14 98 125 12 32 301 265 65 485 65 29 193 242 22 60 565 496 122 177 24 11 75 98 10 28 259 228 56 Estimate 504 68 30 202 257 24 66 614 541 133 1005 136 59 400 502 45 124 1163 1022 251
Site
Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn Site 3 : Traeth Crugan Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey Site 6 : Tenby North Beach Site 7 : Port Eynon Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon Site 10 : Porthcawl
Table 4.3
Nourishment volumes required over the period 2010 to 2030, assuming an initial nourishment in 2010 followed by five-yearly renourishment campaigns to replace 50% losses, and additional volumes required to raise the beach profile due to sea level rise, based on minimum, maximum and best estimates from UKCP09 sea level rise predictions. Minima represent the 5% values for the low emission (SRES B1) scenario, maxima represent the 95% values for the high emissions (A1FI) scenario, and best estimates represent the 50% values for the medium emissions (A1B) scenario. Initial nourishment 3 3 (x10 m ) Four renourishments assuming 50% losses every five years 3 3 (x10 m ) 296 859 136 739 983 92 303 690 1282 319 Volumes required to maintain existing beach profile (x10 m ) Minimum 30 4 2 14 18 2 5 49 44 11 Best Estimate 86 12 5 35 44 4 12 109 95 24
3 3
Site
Total volume of sediment required by 2030 (x103 m3) Best Estimate 531 1301 210 1144 1518 142 467 1144 2017 501 Maximum 616 1312 215 1177 1560 146 477 1235 2099 521
Maximum Minimum 172 23 10 68 86 8 22 201 177 44 474 1293 206 1122 1492 140 460 1084 1966 488
Site 1 : Gronant-Talacre Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn Site 3 : Traeth Crugan Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn Site 5 : Broadwater-Aberdovey Site 6 : Tenby North Beach Site 7 : Port Eynon Site 8 : Northwest Swansea Bay Site 9 : Baglan-Aberavon Site 10 : Porthcawl
148 430 68 369 491 46 152 345 641 159
Table 5.1 Summary of actual and potential benefits of beach nourishment at the ten study sites.
Has beach nourishment been used to date?
If so, has it been thought a success?
Actual or potential benefits of beach nourishment Flood and coastal erosion risk management Habitat creation/ remediation Tourism and recreation
Talacre
Abergele - Pensarn
Traeth Crugan
Morfa Dyffryn
Broadwater - Tywyn Aberdovey Tenby North Beach
Port Eynon Bay
Northern Swansea Bay (Black Pill to Swansea Docks) Aberavon Sands (eastern Swansea Bay) Porthcawl (Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay)
Figures
Abergele-Pensarn
Talacre
Traeth Crugan
Morfa Dyryn BroadwaterAberdovey
BaglanAberavon Tenby North Beach Port Eynon Northwest Swansea Bay Porthcawl
Figure 1.1
Location of possible case study areas.
(a) Soft defences, sand only
Flood protection: Recreational use: Biodiversity/nature conservation: Visual appearance/landscape quality: Beach access:
Moderate/Good Good Good Good Good sand dunes
WIND TRANSPORT WAVE DISSIPATION MHW Wide backshore, with drying beach embryo dunes
sand
MLW
sand
Wide forshore, gently sloping
(b) Gravel upper beach, sand lower beach
Flood protection: Recreational use: Biodiversity/nature conservation: Visual appearance/landscape quality: Beach access:
Moderate/Good Moderate/Good Good Good Moderate/Good sand dunes
LIMITED WIND TRANSPORT WAVE DISSIPATION MHW active shingle vegetated shingle
sand
gravel
Wide, high backshore, with drying beach
MLW
nd ad sn sa
Wide forshore, gently sloping
Figure 2.1 Concept diagrams showing examples of Good beaches.
(a)
(b)
Figure 2.2 Examples of Good beaches: wide, high, wave-dissipative beaches at (a) Harlech, looking north in August 1991; and (b) Broad Haven, west of Stackpole Warren, in March 2009.
(a) Low beach levels fronting sea wall

sea wall HIGH DEGREE OF WAVE REFLECTANCE no high tide dry beach thin sand layer scour hole
(b) Low beach levels fronting rock armour

sea wall/ revetment REDUCED WAVE REFLECTANCE angular rock armour thin sand layer
MHW MLW
MHW MLW
exposed back-barrier sand/ peat deposits Flood protection: Recreational use: Biodiversity/nature conservation: Visual appearance/landscape quality: Beach access: Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor
exposed back-barrier sand/ peat deposits Flood protection: Recreational use: Biodiversity/nature conservation: Visual appearance/landscape quality: Beach access: Moderate Poor/Dangerous Poor Poor Poor
(c) Narrow beach fronting eroding sand dunes

Flood protection: Recreational use: Biodiversity/nature conservation: Visual appearance/landscape quality: Beach access: Poor Poor Poor Moderate Moderate very narrow backshore narrow eroding foredune landward movement of dunes
LIMITED WAVE DISSIPATION MHW MLW

sand
narrow foreshore
(d) Narrow beach fronting narrow shingle barrier

Flood protection: Recreational use: Biodiversity/nature conservation: Visual appearance/landscape quality: Beach access: Poor Poor Moderate Moderate Moderate
LIMITED WAVE DISSIPATION MHW MLW back-barrier deposits exposed on foreshore relatively narrow foreshore
shingle berm with narrow crest very narrow backshore
retreat by washover and breaching
gravel
infilling over back-barrier saline lagoons and burial of marsh
back-barrier deposits
sand
Figure 2.3 Concept diagrams showing examples of Poor beaches.
(a)
(b)
Figure 2.4 Example of a Poor beach: Ffrith Beach, Rhyl, with very low beach levels, dilapidated groynes and exposed sea wall: (a) oblique aerial photograph taken March2008; (b) ground photograph looking west taken February 2010.
11
coastal plain
9 7 1 5 6
riv
ma
rina
er
4
Dominant wave approach
Solid rock upland 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Port and harbour dredging (captial and maintenance) Inland quarry (hard and soft rock) Inland quarry (unconsolidated gravel and/or sand) Excavation for buildings and infrastructure Industrial waste products Nearshore sea bed borrow pit Nearshore banks (ebb tidal delta shoal) Proximal offshore zone (>20 m depth) Distal offshore deposits Neighbouring beach deposits Downdrift sediment sink - sediment recycled
10
Figure 2.5 Concept diagram showing possible alternative sources of articial nourishment material. After Pye (2010).
rainbow deposition dredger
Key initial beach nourishment material
Hydraulic nourishment
dredger
pipe
conveyor deposit
conveyor transport
excavation site
offshore deposit (subtidal berm)
landward movement of sediment by natural processes
truck haul beach deposit
dune nourishment deposits (usually truck or tractor/trailer haul)
road
longshore trickle-feed SEA marine inputs land inputs LAND
Figure 2.6
Some alternative methods of beach nourishment. After Pye (2010).
(a)
sediment losses due to longshore drift
t0
spead out losses
t3 t2
offshore losses
t1
Landward transfer losses (aeolian transport and/or washover)
spead out losses
Key initial beach (t0) nourishment material (t1)
(b)
seaward position of beach after time period (t2) seaward position of beach after time period (t3)
Landward losses to dunes gravel concentrated on backshore
headland
t3
sediment spreads out but little is lost from the system limited losses offshore
t2
t1
sand moves to nearshore
t0
headland
Figure 2.7 Schematic diagrams showing sediment losses following initial beach nourishment on (a) an open-ended system, such as a straight open-coast beach, and (b) a semi-closed system, such as a pocket beach. After Pye (2010).
(a)
(b)
Figure 2.8 Examples of previously successful beach nourishment: (a) Miami Beach, taken 2007; (b) oblique aerial photograph of West Shore, Llandudno, taken March 2008.
(a) Simple 2-D Bruun Model Natural retreat, no nourishment
erosion distance Shoreline position 2 Shoreline position 1
t2 t1
Erosion
Mean sea level 2 Mean sea level 1
sea level rise
Accretion
(b) Hold The Line Large-scale nourishment required

Mean sea level 2 Mean sea level 1
No change in shoreline position
t2 t1
Whole profile accretion
sea level rise
Figure 2.9
Conceptual models of shoreline evolution during sea level rise: (a) Bruuns model of shoreline retreat in response to sea level rise, and (b) Hold The Line model with no net change in shoreline position or beach form in response to sea level rise.
1.00 DEFRA (2006) 0.90 0.80 0.70 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0.00 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100 UKCP09 - low emissions 95%ile UKCP09 - medium emissions 95%ile UKCP09 - high emissions 95%ile
Sea level rise (m)
Figure 2.10
Future sea level rise preditions from 1990 based on the DEFRA (2006) sea level rise allowances (for south west England and Wales), and UKCP09 projections (for Holyhead, grid cell 18745) based on the 95th percentile modelled output values (considered very unlikely to be exceeded) for low (SRES B1), medium (SRES A1B1) and high (SRES A1FI) emission scenarios.
386000
Point of Ayr Lighthouse

385500
385000
384500
Talacre Lower Gronant
384000
383500
383000 308500 309000 309500 310000 310500 311000 311500 312000 312500 313000
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.2
Oblique aerial photographs of (a) Talacre and Point of Ayr viewed from the east, and (b) the nourished area of the shore near the Point of Ayr Lighthouse, taken in March 2008. Source: Northwest Coastal Group.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.3 The beach at Talacre taken during nourishment in February-March 2003. Source: Countryside Council for Wales.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.4 The upper beach (a) and frontal dunes (b) at Talacre in March 2004, one year after beach nourishment.
8 6 Elevation (m OD) Elevation (m OD) 4 2 0 -2
8 6 4 2 0 -2
P3
-4 0 8 6 Elevation (m OD) Elevation (m OD) 4 2 0 -2 -4 0 8 6 Elevation (m OD) 4 2 0 -2 -4 0 100 200 300 400 Chainage (m) 500 600 700 8 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 0
P4
100 200 300 400 Chainage (m) 500 600 700
P5
100 200 300 400 Chainage (m) 500 600 700
-4 0
P6
100 200 300 400 Chainage (m) 500 600 700
P7
100 200 300 400 Chainage (m) 500 600 700
Figure 4.5
Cross-sectional profiles P3 to P7 at Talacre, Autumn 2007.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.6 The upper beach and frontal dunes (a) east and (b) west of Point of Ayr Lighthouse, in February 2010.
380000
379500
P49 P48 P47

379000
R. Dulas mouth
P45
P46
378500
Pensarn
378000
Hen Wrych Abergele
377500 291000 291500 292000 292500 293000 293500 294000 294500 295000 295500 296000
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.8
Oblique aerial photographs of (a) central part and (b) western end of the Abergele-Pensarn ridge complex, March 2008. Source: Northwest Coastal Group.
8 6 Elevation (m OD) Elevation (m OD) 4 2 0 -2 -4 -50
8 6 4 2 0 -2
P46
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Chainage (m)
-4 -50
P47
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Chainage (m)
8 6 Elevation (m OD) Elevation (m OD) 4 2 0 -2 -4 -50
8 6 4 2 0 -2
P48
-4 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Chainage (m) -50
P49
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.9
Cross-sectional beach profiles across the beach at Site 2 : Abergele-Pensarn , surveyed in October 2009.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.10 Western end of the Abergele-Pensarn ridge complex looking (a) west and (b) east, February 2010.
334000
333800
333600
333400
333200
P70
333000
P71
332800
332600
332400
332200
332000 234000
234200
234400
234600
234800
235000
235200
235400
235600
235800
236000
236200
236400
9 8 7 6
Elevation (m)
5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2
Profile P70
0 50 100
-5 0
Chainage (m)
Spring 1996 Spring 2000 Autumn 2003 Spring 1997 Autumn 2000 Spring 2004 Autumn 1997 Spring 2001 Autumn 2004 Spring 1998 Autumn 2001 Spring 2005 Autumn 1998 Spring 2002 Autumn 2005 Spring 1999 Autumn 2002 Spring 2006 Autumn 1999 Spring 2003
9 8 7 6
Elevation (m)
5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2
Profile P71
0 50 100
- 50
Chainage (m)
Figure 4.12
Cross-sectional beach profiles across the beach at Traeth Crugan. After Faber Maunsell (2008).
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.13 Rock armour sea defences and upper beach at Traeth Crugan looking (a) west and (b) east, in 2006.
Composite aerial photograph of Site 4 : Morfa Dyffryn, flown 15/07/2006. Also shown are the limits of the defined possible nourishment area, positions of Gwynedd Council beach cross sectional profiles, and tide lines from First Edition County Series Ordnance Survey maps surveyed in 1887.
Distance from Station (m) 100 120 140 160 180 200 100 120 140 160 180 200 20 0 40 60 80 20 40 60 80 0 S1992 A1992 S1993 A1993 S1994 A1994 S1995 A1995 S1996 A1996 S1997 A1997 S1998 A1998 S1999 A1999 S2000 A2000 S2001 A2001 S2002 A2002 S2003 A1997 S1998 A1998 S1999 A1999 S2000 A2000 S2001 A2001 S2002 A2002 S2003 PROFILE 35 Year/Season S1997 A1996 Year/Season
HAT MTL
Distance from Station (m)
S1992 A1992 S1993 A1993 S1994 A1994 S1995 A1995 S1996
PROFILE 34
HAT
MTL
Figure 4.15 Offset of tidal contours relative to the station on beach profiles 34 and 35 at Morfa Dyffryn. After Pye and Saye (2005)
MHWST MHWST MHWNT MHWNT
Distance from Station (m) 100 120 140 160 180 200 100 120 140 160 180 200 20 0 40 60 80 20 40 60 80 0 S1992 A1992 S1993 A1993 S1994 A1994 S1995 A1995 S1996 A1996 S1997 A1997 S1998 A1998 S1999 A1999 S2000 A2000 S2001 A2001 S2002 A2002 S2003 A1997 S1998 A1998 S1999 A1999 S2000 A2000 S2001 A2001 S2002 A2002 S2003 PROFILE 37 Year/Season S1997 A1996 Year/Season S1996 A1995 S1995 A1994 S1994 A1993 S1993 A1992 S1992
Figure 4.15 continued.

Distance from Station (m)
HAT HAT MTL MTL MHWST MHWST MHWNT MHWNT
PROFILE 36
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.16 The dunes at Morfa Dyryn, taken May 2007.
304000
303500
303000
P13
302500
302000
P12
301500
301000
P11
300500
300000
P10
299500
P9
299000
P8
298500
298000
297500
P7
297000
P6
296500
P5
296000
295500
P4
0 295000 255000 255500 256000 256500
250 500 750 1000 257500 258000 258500 259000 259500
P3
257000
260000
260500
261000
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.18 (a) Removal of excess sand from area of boat ramp at Aberdovey promenade, (b) emplacement of nourishment sand at low points in the foredunes, Aberdovey Golf Club frontage. Source: Gwynedd Council.
8 7 6 Elevation (m OD) 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -50 May-08 Feb-92 Elevation (m OD)
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 May-08 Feb-92
P3
0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300
0 -1 -50
P4
0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300
8 7 6 Elevation (m OD) 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -50 8 7 6 Elevation (m OD) 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -50 May-08 Feb-92 Elevation (m OD) May-08 Feb-92 Elevation (m OD)
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 May-08 Feb-92
P5
0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300
0 -1 -50 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
P6
0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300
May-08 Feb-92
P7
0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300
0 -1 -50
P8
0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300
Figure 4.19
Cross-sectional beach profiles between Aberdovey and Tywyn, measured on 13-14 February 1992 and 2 May 2008.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.20 (a) Nourished area of the frontal dunes, Aberdovey Golf Club frontage, March 2007; and (b) the beach fronting Penllyn Marshes, north of Aberdovey Golf Club, April 2008
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.21 (a) The beach at Tywyn, showing low beach levels and damage to promenade, and (b) beach and railway line between Tywyn and Broad Water, showing limited ood protection, both taken May 2007.
201600
201400
First Point 201200
P13
201000
200800
P12
200600 Castle Mound Tenby 200400
200200 212800
213000
213200
213400
213600
213800
214000
214200
12
08/10/1999 10/10/2000 26/10/2001 15/10/2002 14/04/2004 28/06/2005 20/06/2007 01/05/2003 22/03/2000 04/04/2001 26/04/2002 07/10/2003 30/09/2004 04/07/2006 21/05/2008 14/05/1999
10
Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 12
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300 350
12
08/10/1999 10/10/2000 29/10/2001 15/10/2002 14/04/2004 28/06/2005 20/06/2007 01/05/2003 22/03/2000 04/04/2001 26/04/2002 07/10/2003 30/09/2004 04/07/2006 21/05/2008 14/05/1999
10
Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 13
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300 350
Figure 4.23
Cross-sectional beach profiles at Site 6 : Tenby North Beach.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.24 Tenby North Beach (a) looking north from Castle Mound, taken March 2009, (b) looking south from the northern end, taken February 2010.
185800 Horton 185600
185400
Port Eynon
P104
185200
185000
P103
184800
184600
184400
Port Eynon Point
184200 246400
246600
246800
247000
247200
247400
247600
247800
248000
248200
248400
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.26 The beach at Port Eynon (a) looking southwest from Horton; and (b) looking northeast from Port Eynon. Source: Llanelli Sand Dredging.
14
29/09/1999 08/09/2000 25/09/2001 16/09/2002 16/03/2004 27/04/2005 13/06/2007 11/03/2003 03/03/2000 11/03/2001 03/04/2002 19/08/2003 08/09/2004 01/06/2006 02/07/2008 10/04/1999
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 103
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 Chainage (m)
14
29/09/1999 08/09/2000 25/09/2001 16/09/2002 16/03/2004 27/04/2005 13/06/2007 11/03/2003 03/03/2000 11/03/2001 03/04/2002 19/08/2003 08/09/2004 01/06/2006 02/07/2008 10/04/1999
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 104
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 Chainage (m) 200 250 300 350
Figure 4.27
Cross-sectional beach profiles at Port Eynon.
Swansea 193000
192500 Brynmill Swansea University 192000 P209 191500 Lower Sketty 191000 P207 P208 P210 West Pier
190500
Black Pill
P206
Scale (m)
190000 261500 262000 262500 263000 263500 264000 264500 265000 265500 0 250 266000 500 750 1000 267000
266500
12
08/04/1999 11/03/2000 08/03/2001 02/04/2002 02/09/2003 14/09/2004 08/06/2006 10/06/2008 09/06/1998 02/10/1999 01/09/2000 07/10/2001 09/09/2002 24/03/2004 10/05/2005 30/05/2007 17/03/2003
10
Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 206
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
12
31/03/1999 11/03/2000 08/03/2001 02/04/2002 02/09/2003 14/09/2004 08/06/2006 10/06/2008 10/06/1998 03/10/1999 01/09/2000 07/10/2001 09/09/2002 24/03/2004 10/05/2005 31/05/2007 17/03/2003
10
Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 207
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.29
Cross-sectional beach profiles in Northwest Swansea Bay.
12
30/03/1999 01/03/2000 08/03/2001 02/04/2002 02/09/2003 14/09/2004 08/06/2006 10/06/2008 10/06/1998 16/09/1999 31/08/2000 04/10/2001 09/09/2002 24/03/2004 10/05/2005 30/05/2007 17/03/2003
10
Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 208
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m) 12
30/03/1999 01/03/2000 08/03/2001 03/04/2002 02/09/2003 14/09/2004 31/05/2006 10/06/2008 10/06/1998 16/09/1999 31/08/2000 02/10/2001 19/09/2002 26/03/2004 09/05/2005 30/05/2007 27/03/2003
10
6 Elevation (m OD)
-2
-4
Profile 209
-100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500
Chainage (m)
Figure 4.29
continued.
12
30/03/1999 01/03/2000 08/03/2001 03/04/2002 26/08/2003 13/09/2004 12/06/2006 11/06/2008 10/06/1998 16/09/1999 31/08/2000 24/09/2001 19/09/2002 26/03/2004 04/05/2005 31/05/2007 01/04/2003
10
Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 210
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.29
continued.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.30 (a) Northern Swansea Bay near Black Pill (a) looking west and (b) looking east, taken February 2010.
193500
193000
e Ri v
rN
ea t
250
500
750
1000
Crymlyn Burrows Baglan
192500 Baglan Burrows 192000
191500
P2 1 8
191000
P2
17
Port Talbot
P2 19
190500
190000
P2 20
Aberavon 189500
1
2 P2
189000
188500
188000
187500
Scale (m)
0 187000 271000 271500 272000 250 500 750 1000 273500 274000 274500 275000 275500
272500
273000
14
12/04/1999 17/03/2000 15/03/2001 16/04/2002 09/09/2003 17/09/2004 18/07/2006 30/06/2008 01/07/1998 22/09/1999 05/09/2000 08/10/2001 23/09/2002 29/03/2004 17/05/2005 05/06/2007 01/04/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 217
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
14
12/04/1999 17/03/2000 15/03/2001 08/04/2002 09/09/2003 17/09/2004 18/07/2006 09/06/2008 01/07/1998 22/09/1999 05/09/2000 08/10/2001 23/09/2002 29/03/2004 17/05/2005 04/06/2007 01/04/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 218
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.32
Cross-sectional beach profiles between Baglan and Aberavon.
14
05/04/1999 02/03/2000 07/03/2001 04/04/2002 20/08/2003 07/09/2004 05/06/2006 09/06/2008 11/06/1998 22/09/1999 05/09/2000 25/09/2001 23/09/2002 16/03/2004 17/05/2005 01/06/2007 01/04/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 219
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
14
05/04/1999 02/03/2000 07/03/2001 04/04/2002 20/08/2003 07/09/2004 05/06/2006 09/06/2008 11/06/1998 22/09/1999 04/09/2000 25/09/2001 23/09/2002 16/03/2004 17/05/2005 01/06/2007 01/04/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 220
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.32
continued.
14
05/04/1999 02/03/2000 07/03/2001 04/04/2002 20/08/2003 07/09/2004 05/06/2006 09/06/2008 11/06/1998 22/09/1999 04/09/2000 25/09/2001 23/09/2002 16/03/2004 17/05/2005 01/06/2007 01/04/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 221
-4 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.32
continued.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.33 (a) The upper beach at Aberavon looking north, taken March 2009; (b) Bulldozer removing sand from sea wall steps at Aberavon, February 2010.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.34 (a) The beach towards the northern end of Aberavon promenade, looking south, showing windblown sand buildup on the stepped revetment; and (b) the beach fronting the southern end of Baglan Burrows, looking north. Photographs taken February 2010.
177600
Newton
177400
177200 Porthcawl 177000
Newton Burrows
176800
Sandy Bay Trecco Bay

P237 P238
176600
176400 Porthcawl Point 176200
Rhych Point
P240
Newton Point
176000 281400
281600
281800
282000
282200
282400
282600
282800
283000
283200
283400
283600
283800
284000
200
400
600
800
14
28/03/1999 11/03/2000 09/03/2001 05/04/2002 29/08/2003 21/09/2004 20/06/2006 04/06/2008 16/06/1998 18/09/1999 07/09/2000 26/09/2001 17/09/2002 18/03/2004 25/05/2005 06/06/2007 18/03/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 237
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 Chainage (m)
14
28/03/1999 11/03/2000 14/03/2001 08/04/2002 15/09/2003 23/09/2004 20/06/2006 04/06/2008 16/06/1998 18/09/1999 07/09/2000 26/09/2001 17/09/2002 18/03/2004 01/06/2005 06/06/2007 12/03/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 238
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.36
Cross-sectional beach profiles at Porthcawl.
14
09/04/1999 13/03/2000 09/03/2001 05/04/2002 13/08/2003 23/09/2004 20/06/2006 04/06/2008 16/06/1998 18/09/1999 07/09/2000 26/09/2001 17/09/2002 10/03/2004 01/06/2005 06/06/2007 12/03/2003
12
10
8 Elevation (m OD)
-2
Profile 240
-4 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 Chainage (m)
Figure 4.36
continued.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.37 The beach at Sandy Bay, Porthcawl (a) looking east from the western end; and (b) looking west from the eastern end. Photographs taken February 2010.
(a)
331 GRANGE-OVER-SANDS
ish 6 M il e F
ing
BARROW-IN-FURNESS
ile T 12 M
L im
04 00 W
MORECAMBE
03 30 W
03 00 W
it
ial itor er r
54 00 N
CHART H: LICENSED DREDGING AREAS FOR THE NORTH WEST REGION DATE: APRIL 2010
From 01/07/2010 457
Se
im aL it
FLEETWOOD BLACKPOOL PRESTON SOUTHPORT
CEMEX UK Materials Ltd. (Mersey Sand Supplies - Tel. 01512 071 886) 193/1 (A) 193/2 (B) Norwest Sand & Ballast Co. (Mersey Sand Supplies - Tel. 01512 071 886) 175/1 (A) 175/2 (B) 393 Tarmac Marine Dredging Ltd. (Tel. 01243 817 200) 195/1 (A) 195/2 (B) 331 392 Westminster Gravels Ltd. (Tel. 01489 885 933) 457 (From 01/07/2010)
53 30 N
SCALE : 1:500,000
392 393
A B
LIVERPOOL
NOTE: NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
(b)
04 30 W
CAMARTHEN
03 30 W
LLANELLI
04 00 W
SWANSEA
03 00 W
NEWPORT
373* 476
PORTHCAWL
51 30 N
CARDIFF
391 385 470/2 470/1
CHART G: LICENSED DREDGING AREAS FOR THE SOUTH WEST REGION DATE: APRIL 2010 British Dredging Ltd. (Tel. 023 8072 0200) 379 385
les Bou ndary England / Wa

it hin g Lim 6 M ile Fis
377 379 381
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
CEMEX UK Marine Ltd. (Tel. 023 8072 0200) 472
472
ILFRACOMBE MINEHEAD WATCHET
BURNHAM-ON-SEA
Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd. (Tel. 023 8082 8200) 377 391 470/1 470/2 472
Llanelli Sand Dredging Ltd. (Tel. 01489 885 933) 373 (Dormant) 476
WESTWARD HO!
Tarmac Marine Dredging Ltd. Formerly United Marine Dredging Ltd. (Tel. 01243 817 200)
51 00 N
381 470/1
470/2 472
SCALE : 1:600,000 NOTE: NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

BUDE
Awaiting relicensing* Licence
Figure 5.1 Licensed dredging areas in: (a) NW Region and (b) SW Region. Source: Crown Estate.
CAMARTHEN
04 30 W
04 00 W
03 30 W
LLANELLI
SWANSEA
03 00 W
NEWPORT 455 459 CARDIFF
CHART F: DREDGING APPLICATION, OPTION AND PROSPECTING AREAS FOR SOUTH WEST REGION DATE: APRIL 2010
PORTHCAWL 486/1 486 486/3 486/4 486/2 486/5
51 30 N
Application Area Pre Application Area Option or Prospecting Area

British Dredging Ltd. (Tel. 023 8072 0200)
s Bo Englan d/Wale
Limit
und ary
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
486/1 486/2
486/3 486/4
486/5
Severn Sands Ltd. (Tel 01633 258589) 455 459
g 6 Mile Fishin
BURNHAM-ON-SEA ILFRACOMBE MINEHEAD WATCHET
Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd. (Tel. 023 8082 8200) 486/1 486/2 486/3 486/4 486/5
Tarmac Marine Dredging Ltd. United Marine Dredging Ltd. (Tel. 01243 817200) 486/1 486/2 486/3 486/4 486/5
WESTWARD HO!
51 00 N
SCALE : 1:600,000 NOTE: NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
Figure 5.2 Dredging application, option and prospecting areas in the SW Region (there are currently no areas in the NW Region). Source: Crown Estate.

Beach Nourishment Operations in Wales and Likely Future Requirements in An Era of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change 2010-CCW Science Report No 928

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Beach Nourishment Operations in Wales and Likely Future Requirements in An Era of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change 2010-CCW Science Report No 928

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Beach nourishment operations in Wales and likely future requirements for beach nourishment in an era of sea level rise

and climate change a Pilot Study

Oblique aerial image of Rhyl Beach Source: Environment Agency (2008)

COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

CCW Science Report No. 928 Contract No: 211 MFG 09

McCue, J; Pye, K; Wareing, A.

The Strategic Importance of Beach Nourishment ............................................................. 4

Results Individual Case Study Sites .............................................................................. 14

Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................ 40

2 THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF BEACH NOURISHMENT

4 RESULTS INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY SITES

6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

APPENDIX A: EUROSION DATA

Zeebrugge-Knokke Heist Shabla-Krapetz

Hold the line

Seawall / Groynes / Harbour breakwater / Nourishment Seawall / Dyke

Western coast of Jutland

Western coast of Finland

RmireMontjoly (French Guyana)

Future: Breakwater / Nourishment

Hold the line

Isle of Sylt (Isles SchleswigHolstein)

Soft Rock Sedimentary macrotidal (sandy beaches and dunes)

Hold the line / Managed realignment

Lakkopetra Mesollogi lagoon area Rosslare

Hold the line

Groynes / Revetment / Nourishment

None (Locally Hold the line) Hold the line

Hold the line

Limited intervention / Hold the line Do nothing

Hold the line

Marina di RavennaLido Adriano

Hold the line

Hold the line

Xemxija Ghajn Tuffieha Holland coast

Wadden Sea islands

Hold the line

Limited intervention / Hold the line Limited intervention

Do nothing / Limited intervention Hold the line

Western Scheldt estuary

Western Coast of Poland

Hold the line / Do nothing

Azores (Azores Islands) Cova do Vapor

Hold the line Hold the line

Can Picafort (Isle of Mallorca) Castelln

Limited intervention Hold the line

El Mdano (Canary Islands)

Hold the line / Limited intervention Hold the line

Hold the line

Country United Kingdom

Case study Essex estuaries

United Kingdom United Kingdom

LuccombeBlackgang (Isle of Wight) South Downs (Sussex)

APPENDIX B: SITE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY SHEETS

Beach Management Case Study Site Talacre

Beach Management Case Study Site - Abergele

Beach Management Case Study Site Traeth Crugan

Nourishment Volume (m3) 68,159 30,000 210,000

Beach Management Case Study Site Morfa Dyffryn

Nourishment Volume (m3) 369,486 202,000 1,144,000

Beach Management Case Study Site - Broadwater-TywynAberdovey

Beach Management Case Study Site - Tenby