Effective Dune Fencing Methods on Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Colleen Cochran
colleen@betterdunes.org
Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

Dunes on Long Beach Island, New Jersey recently experienced complete devastation from
Superstorm Sandy. In many towns along the New Jersey coastline, strong primary dunes
helped to limit the amount of damage to communities. The dunes in this study were
completely engulfed by the ocean. Long Beach Township attempted to restore the dunes by
manually pushing up sand. Although this produced immediate visual results providing great
comfort to oceanfront homeowners, it did not provide a sufficient barrier against erosion.
Previous studies have suggested that the most efficient way to accrue sand is through dune
fencing, which captures wind-blown sand. On Long Beach Island, fencing is commonly
arranged in a straight fashion from north to south. In this study a modified method was
created, by attaching diagonal east to west lateral sections perpendicular to the existing
fencing. This method exhibited faster vertical sand accretion than straight fencing. During
the study, dunes with straight fencing often experienced erosion, while dunes with the
modified fencing exhibited continual sand accretion. The extended surface area and angles
of the fencing are believed to be the factors positively affecting sand growth in this study.
The additional perpendicular fencing sections allow the system to collect sand from every
wind direction. Wind patterns were also evaluated in this study; without wind the sand
cannot be blown up onto the dunes. This study clearly suggests that the modified fencing
increases sand accretion on dunes.
Introduction
Coastal dunes are constantly changing geologic features. A dunes profile varies from high
elevation with buildup from wind-trapped sand and from being practically flat as a result of an
extreme storm or hurricane (Rogers et al. 2003). Many of the dunes on Long Beach Island were
flattened by the recent devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Dunes form where there is a proper
sediment source, winds cable of transporting that sediment, and a structure to trap the traveling
sand (Nordstrom and Jackson 2013). On Long Beach Island that structure is straight dune fencing
along the coastal dunes. Fencing is used to capture wind-blown sand. Dune fencing also prevents
pedestrians from trekking onto the dunes resulting in further damage to the dune (O Connell
2008).
Different methods of fencing such as using synthetic fabrics have been tested in previous
studies (Miller et al. 2001). Experimentations with changing fence configurations and orientations
to facilitate accretion have also been conducted. Zigzag fencing is believed to accrue sand faster
because of the extended area and angles to capture the wind-blown sand (Reo 2013).
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In this study a similar orientation of fencing was used on Long Beach Island as the method
exploited in Reos report at Island Beach Park. Attaching lateral sections to the posts of the
existing traditional straight fencing configured the modified fencing. This method also increases
both the surface area and angles of the fencing.

Methodology

Fence Installation
Before beginning the procedure, half of the dune on the north side of the jetty had already
been installed with lateral sections. To install the same method of fencing on the adjacent
southbound dune the first step was to purchase 15 m of 90 cm dune fencing and five wooden 3 m
pilings. The purchased fencing was divided into 3 m sections. The stakes were placed about every
3.5 m diagonally at about a forty-five degree angle to the existing straight fencing. A manual post
hole digger was used to dig the holes for each stake. The stake was then dropped into the hole and
filled it with sand and patted down to insure it. The 3 m dune sections were used to connect the
existing dune fencing with the stakes using galvanized staple nails. Stainless steel was used to
prevent rusting and the nails were hammered in a way that would be safe to beachgoers. This
method was repeated at each stake planted in the sand.

Figure 1: Cutting the

fencing into 3 m sections.

Figure 4: Line up fencing

diagonally to existing post
and new post.

Figure 2: Measuring out 3 m

from the fencing to
determine piling placement.

Figure 5: Hammer in wire of

fencing to post using
galvanized staples.

Figure 3: Digging a hole for

each piling and then placing
it in.

Figure 6: Repeat process

along the dune.

Almost a month after installing the lateral sections there was no apparent growth on the
southbound dune because the existing straight fencing dune fencing did not meet the sand of the
dune and appeared to hang in the air. To facilitate sand build up pine trees were placed between
the gap of the sand and the fencing. On the northbound modified dune fencing pine trees were also
laid to imitate what was done on the southbound dune. Because the sand build up on this dune
exceeded the 90 cm straight fencing additional two foot fencing was placed.
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Figure 7: The finished product.

Figure 8: Adding discarded Christmas

trees to facilitate sand trapping.

Recording Data
Throughout the procedures both the modified and straight fenced dunes growth were
recorded. To record the growth the existing exposed 90 cm straight fence was measured with a
simple tape measure. The part of the fence exposed was subtracted by the initial height of the
fencing. The calculations represent the portion of the fencing that was being covered by the sand
buildup, which translated to the total growth of the dune since the township initially installed the
fencing. Data was collected on all four dunes once a month for four months. Measurements were
taken at five consistent points labeled as point a-e as seen in Figure 9.

Figure 9: The layout of points used for vertical sand accretion measurements at Long Beach Island,
NJ from Dune B.

Wind data was also obtained using NOAAs weather database. NOAA has a weather
station in Atlantic City, NJ. This weather stations data was used because it is relatively close to
the site location. A Monthly Weather Summary (CLM) was used for the four months of study.
The summary gave average wind in mph and peak wind in mph for each day.
Study Site
The study site, located in Brighton Beach, Long Beach Island, was impacted by Hurricane
Sandy that had devastated the site the previous year. The two dunes studied on had been
completely engulfed by the ocean. The waves surpassed the beach and wiped out the immediate
homes with water traveling down the streets. Many of the homes faced severe damage as shown in
Figure 10. The township sent out tractors to push up sand onto the dunes. This initially seemed to
work and provided visual improvement. However, it was not long before the dunes on the site
location became dangerously eroded. Enormous sand bags had to be placed at the berm of the
dune in Figure 11. After this it was only a matter of time before the dune returned to a safe state.
A year after Sandy the dunes are diminutive compared to their former profile before the storm.

Figure 10: The site location after Hurricane

Sandy.

Figure 11: Sand bags added to restore dune.

In an effort to restore the dunes the method described above was installed on the two divided
dunes. Two homeowners share one stretch of dune and then a street follows, which can be seen in
Figure 12. The first dune is located on the north side of the jetty. Half of the dune is fenced with
lateral sections as seen in Figure 13. The same layout follows on the south side of the jetty.

Figure 12: The site location on Long Beach Island, 3936'28.6"N 7412'13.5"W

C
A

D
A

Figure 13: Dunes A-D located at Brighton Beach, Long Beach Island, N.J.

Statistical Analysis
A correlation test was preformed with the wind data. The wind and accretion data was played
around with until a strong r-squared value was achieved. The r-squared value measures how
close the regression line is to the actual plotted data.
Results
The accretion data collected was plotted on a line graph for each month, shown in Figures
14-17. Each line represented the four different dunes. The x-axis was made with all five points
that measurements were taken for each dune, and the y-axis was vertical sand accretion in
centimeters. Measurements for Dune C were not recorded until December because the lateral
sections had nit yet been installed. Dune B consistently had the highest vertical sand accretion.
Dune Bs highest recorded accretion was 102 cm, Dune Cs was 35 cm, Dune Ds was 48 cm,
and Dune As was 66 cm.

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Figure 14: Vertical sand accretion for the first month of study.

Figure 15: Vertical sand accretion for the second month of study.

Figure 16: Vertical sand accretion for the third month of study.

Figure 17: Vertical sand accretion for the fourth month of study.

The accretion data was also made into another line graph for each dune to visually
represent the data in a different way. Each dune was given its own graph as seen in Figures 1821. The lines represented each point where measurements were taken. Time was on the x-axis in
months, and the y-axis was once again vertical sand accretion in centimeters. Dune A in Figure
18 experienced erosion in December, losing 18 cm of sand on point d. Dune A also had
inconsistent accretion across its points with 0 cm of sand on point a and 63 cm of sand in January.
Dune B in Figure 19 never experienced erosion. The growth was consistent; the greatest
difference was 7 cm across the points. Dune C in Figure 20 had a problem with its growth, which
was not solved until February. From January to February Dune C had an average of 10 cm of
growth. Dune D in Figure 21 often experienced erosion during the study. From January to
February point e lost 27 cm of sand.
9

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Figure 18: Vertical sand accretion on the first non-modified dune.

Figure 19: Vertical sand accretion on the first modified dune

Figure 20: Vertical sand accretion on the second modified dune

Figure 21: Vertical sand accretion on the second non-modified dune

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R = 0.96429

Ver$al Sand Accre$on

5
4
3
2
1
0
17.5

18

18.5

19

19.5

20

20.5

21

21.5

Days Above 20 mph Peak

Figure 22: Vertical sand accretion correlated to the number of days in each month the peak wind was
above 20 mph.

Discussion
In addition to adding the lateral sections to the fencing discarded Christmas trees were
placed on the dune. The dense pine needles helped trap the traveling sand. The needles will
eventually fall off and the tree will naturally decay, becoming a part of the dunes composition
(Rogers et al. 2003). The trees were placed on the modified dunes after measurements in January
were calculated. Before placing the trees along dune Cs fencing the dune had experienced little to
no vertical sand accretion. The lack of accretion is believed to be a result of the poor configuration
of the township issued fencing. The fencing did not meet the sand of the dune. This is believed to
be a crucial error in fence configurations because the greatest volume of wind-blown sand travels
about six inches above the ground (Rogers et al. 2003). However, after the pine trees were placed
in between the gap of the fencing and the sand on dune C there was a dramatic spike in vertical
sand accretion as seen is Figure 20.
Dune B experienced the greatest vertical sand accretion over the four months of study. Looking at
Figures 12-17 Dune B clearly demonstrates greater accretion over the non-modified dunes.
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Fencing had to be added to continue its accretion rate (Mendelsohn et al. 1991). The greatest
advantage displayed in the dunes with modified fencing was consistent growth. Neither modified
dunes experienced loss in growth. The increased vertical angles and length of fencing served to
better hold the sand (Reo 2013), while, the non-modified dunes experienced varying erosion
multiple times.
Dune fencing traps wind blown sand. As the wind travels through the fencing a drag is
created slowing down the wind. When the wind slows down the sand is deposited around the
fencing (Massachusetts 2013). Through this process sand accretes along the dune. Placing fencing
straight across the dune only builds up sand when the wind is blowing directly east or west
directly towards the fencing. On Long Beach Island, dunes are preceded by homes along the west
side of the dune, so west winds are also blocked by homes. Placing the fencing in a diagonal eastwest fashion traps wind blown sand coming from the north and south. A common storm in the
winter and fall is a Noreaster, a storm of northeastern winds. Residents of Long Beach Island
have longed griped about Noreaster because they have caused much erosion to the dunes. The
northeast winds would blow across the dunes starving them (US Army Corps of Engineers 2014).
Adding the lateral sections prevents this dune starvation because the fencing sections slow down
the wind and deposit the sand along the dune. So not only do the segments prevent erosion, the
fencing also adds sand accretion.
Wind needs to reach speeds of above a certain threshold for it to pick up sand (Rogers et
al. 2003). To determine the threshold on the dunes used in this study the monthly weather
summaries for each month of study were examined. Using the peak wind data, correlation tests
were run to see which peak wind produced the greatest amount of accretion. The strongest
correlation was found with peaks over 20 mph. The number of days when the peak wind was
above 20 mph was found using the wind data from the monthly weather summaries for each
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month of study. The number of days that peak wind was above 20 mph was correlated to the
amount of accretion for that month in Figure 22. The r-squared value found was 0.9643. This
shows that there is a very strong correlation between the number of days where wind peak was
above 20 mph and vertical sand accretion. The values used for vertical sand accretion were from
one of the modified dunes points.
Adding fencing segments is a very cost effective method to accrete sand. Stable dunes are
an area of high level of concern for communities along the shore, especially in areas like Long
Beach Island where the dunes are immediately preceded by homes. Sand dunes serve as storm
surge barriers to protect these homes. In order to protect these homes many areas along the coast,
including part of Long Beach Island, have used the United States Army Corps of Engineers Beach
Replenishment. The purpose of the project is to increase dune height and beach size. This is done
so by pumping in several million cubic yards of sand on to the beach from the ocean using a series
of pipes as seen in Figure 23. Despite the great amount of sand used the beach was still severely
eroded. After Hurricane Sandy the United States Army Corps of Engineers granted $30.6 million
to restore the previously replenished beaches. On December 5, 2014 a contract of $128 million to
begin beach replenishment on the rest of Long Beach Island (US Army Corps of Engineers 2014).
To install lateral sections of dune fence across one dune costs under $200 with all the
materials. An oceanfront owner could contribute a $100 to have lateral sections installed on their
dune to protect their homes.

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Figure 23: Series of tubes used to pump in sand (US
Army Corps of Engineers 2014)

General Conclusion
The results of the study clearly indicate that the modified fencing holds sand better against

wind and erosion. Adding lateral sections harnesses the wind better because it traps windblown
sand from more wind directions than straight fencing. The more days wind reaches above 20 mph
the greater sand will accrete. Dune fencing also needs to meet the sand in order for additional sand
to accrete. Adding discarded pine trees and lateral sections to Long Beach Townships issued
fencing increases vertical sand accretion along coastal Long Beach Island dunes. In the future
when installing fencing townships and homeowners should install fencing with lateral sections, the
fencing meeting the sand, and pine trees.
To further investigate the effectiveness of this method it should be tested on more dunes of
varying locations and initial profiles. The dunes in this study were post Hurricane Sandy dunes so
they were not vegetated. The fencing method should be tested on dunes of varying vegetation and
sand particle size to see how these factors work together. In order to further see the effect of the
fencing method measurements of the overall dune profile should be taken along with vertical
accretion measurements.

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Acknowledgements

This research project could not have been possible without many individuals in the Marine

Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences community. This project was originally
inspired by the work of Bianca Reo and her mentor, Dr. John Wnek. Dr. Wnek has continually
worked to help improve this project. Mr. Jason Kelsey has provided much guidance and aid
towards the growth of the project. A portion of this project would not have been possible without
the work of the Long Beach Island Municipal Township for installing the initial straight fencing.
Thank you to Carol Rogen for not only willingly, but gratefully allowing continual
experimentation on her dune. Additionally, the weather data would not have been possible without
the guidance and information from meteorologist, Mr. Kurt Kelsey. Lastly, thanks goes out to
Robert Cochran for his support, inspiration, time, ideas, and resources.

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