Presentation Abstract
Over the past century, many of the shorelines in the Salish Sea have undergone a transformation from natural to armoured. In response, there is now a significant push to use soft solutions, such as gravel beaches and vegetation, to try to mitigate effects on the natural environment. While in many areas soft solutions are entirely appropriate, in others they do not provide adequate protection from erosion or flooding. This presentation explores the idea that a one-size-fits-all solution is insufficient, and outlines a novel evaluation framework to assess the feasibility of shoreline protection works using 11 environmental and engineering performance indicators. SNC-Lavalin Inc developed an Engineering and Environmental Evaluation Framework for the Town of Qualicum Beach, BC, to assess the feasibility of shoreline protection works proposed for the Town’s waterfront. The Framework assesses the relative feasibility and impact of shoreline protection alternatives (or options), recognizing that there may only be a ‘best’ option and not necessarily a ‘right’ option in some cases. Each shoreline protection alternative is evaluated based on the same set of 11 criteria, which identify option- and site-specific relationships with the expected coastal/marine conditions, foreshore ecological services, and efficacy of investment. We will outline the Framework basis and criteria, and present two real-world examples of how it was applied to waterfront projects in Qualicum Beach. The first project is a low-lying property with a natural shoreline that was undergoing significant erosion. The second project is located along a portion of the Town’s waterfront walkway, where upgrades to the adjacent roadway and estuary are underway. The examples illustrate the importance of considering multi-faceted performance indicators to determine the best option for a shoreline, whether that be a beach fill or a seawall.
Session Title
Challenges and Solutions for Shoreline Armor Removal and Design of Soft Shore Protection: Part I
Keywords
Coastal engineering, Shoreline, Framework
Conference Track
SSE1: Habitat Restoration and Protection
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE1-168
Start Date
4-4-2018 2:15 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 2:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Shorelines--Monitoring--British Columbia--Qualicum Beach; Beach erosion--British Columbia--Qualicum Beach; Sustainability--British Columbia--Qualicum Beach--Planning
Geographic Coverage
Qualicum Beach (B.C.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Engineering sustainable shorelines: an evaluation framework
Over the past century, many of the shorelines in the Salish Sea have undergone a transformation from natural to armoured. In response, there is now a significant push to use soft solutions, such as gravel beaches and vegetation, to try to mitigate effects on the natural environment. While in many areas soft solutions are entirely appropriate, in others they do not provide adequate protection from erosion or flooding. This presentation explores the idea that a one-size-fits-all solution is insufficient, and outlines a novel evaluation framework to assess the feasibility of shoreline protection works using 11 environmental and engineering performance indicators. SNC-Lavalin Inc developed an Engineering and Environmental Evaluation Framework for the Town of Qualicum Beach, BC, to assess the feasibility of shoreline protection works proposed for the Town’s waterfront. The Framework assesses the relative feasibility and impact of shoreline protection alternatives (or options), recognizing that there may only be a ‘best’ option and not necessarily a ‘right’ option in some cases. Each shoreline protection alternative is evaluated based on the same set of 11 criteria, which identify option- and site-specific relationships with the expected coastal/marine conditions, foreshore ecological services, and efficacy of investment. We will outline the Framework basis and criteria, and present two real-world examples of how it was applied to waterfront projects in Qualicum Beach. The first project is a low-lying property with a natural shoreline that was undergoing significant erosion. The second project is located along a portion of the Town’s waterfront walkway, where upgrades to the adjacent roadway and estuary are underway. The examples illustrate the importance of considering multi-faceted performance indicators to determine the best option for a shoreline, whether that be a beach fill or a seawall.
