The Necessity of an Adequate Duneline to Overall Barrier Island Beach Stability

Abstract

As can be seen from the extremeness of their property values, barrier island beaches are of the rarest and most desired of all recreational lands. Of equal or greater importance is how perfectly these beaches serve as natural buffers between the land and the sea. Vital to the stability of these islands is the existance of adequate dune structures. These dunes serve two important functions. They act as a dike to prevent exceptionally high storm waves from flooding the land, and more importantly, they hold a reserve of sand which allows for bar formation and beach replenishment during times of severe erosion. Man has created two situations that are detrimental to the effectivenes of the dunes. The first problem is the destruction of dune vegetation by pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The second is the critical amount of material that is removed from these dunes to make room for waterfront construction. All coastal states have seashore-management programs, but few single out barrier islands as areas whose preservation deserves special concern. To prevent loss of these islands or the establishment of a Dutch-style of total engineered coastline, it is recommended that something should be done to preserve these vital landforms.