Wise practices for coping with beach erosion Turks and Caicos Islands

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Environment and development
in coastal regions and in small islands

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Wise practices for coping with beach erosion:
Turks and Caicos Islands

Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Islands
Department of Planning, Turks and Caicos Islands
University of Puerto Rico, Sea Grant College Program
Caribbean Development Bank
UNESCO Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands

FORCES TO BE RECKONED WITH

Beaches are continuously changing – from day to day, month to month and year to year – as the natural forces of wind and water meet the land. These changes, which have been taking place for millions of years, are linked to variations in wind, waves, currents and sea level.

But it is not just natural forces that change the beach. Humans have a big role to play in this process as well, through mining stones, gravel and sand from the beaches, polluting and damaging coral reefs, and constructing buildings and walls too close to the sea.

Changes in the beaches affect everyone. The coast is a place we are all attracted to for recreation, sports and simple enjoyment. This constantly changing and hazard-prone coastal environment is also where the greatest financial investment is concentrated, as roads, airports, buildings and tourism properties continue to be attracted towards the shores of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Tourism is a driving force in country’s economy so the state of its beaches is of major importance.

Natural forces

Hurricanes and tropical storms, occurring between June and November, cause dramatic beach changes usually resulting in serious beach erosion.
High waves in ‘winter’ months resulting from storms in the North Atlantic Ocean, and known as swell waves, or locally as ‘groundseas’.
Sea-level rise, which is a long-term factor, taking place very slowly over decades causes shorelines to retreat inland.

Since 1995, the Atlantic Basin (including the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico) has entered a more active hurricane cycle, which may continue for more than 20 years.

Hurricane frequency between 1990 and 1999 in the Atlantic Basin

Source: Gray et al. http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/1999/nov99/

In the Atlantic Basin the number of really severe hurricanes (categories 3, 4 and 5) increased from one per year (1990 –1994) to four per year (1995 – 1999).

Human forces
Removing sand and other materials from beaches and dunes for construction purposes causes erosion and the loss of beaches and coastal lands, destroying the natural heritage of the coast and reducing the vibrancy of the tourism industry. Building too close to the beach interferes with the natural sand movement and may impede beach recovery after a serious storm or hurricane. Badly planned sea defences may cause the loss of the beach, and of neighbouring beaches. Pollution from human activities on the land may damage coral reefs and seagrass beds; these biological systems protect, and provide sand to the beaches. Removing vegetation from coastal areas destabilises beaches; and clearing sites inland results in increased soil and dirt particles being washed offshore and smothering coral reef systems.	Abandoned sand mining pit at South Bay, South Caicos, 1999
***********	Abandoned sand mining pit at South Bay, South Caicos, 1999

Beach monitoring in progress at Pelican Bay Providenciales, 1997		WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH BEACHES IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS?
		In order to manage these changes, it is essential to measure the beach regularly. The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources takes a lead in this with a limited beach monitoring programme, which includes measuring the beach slope and width at several sites around some of the islands. Owners of beachfront properties are urged to assist in this effort.

Turksand Caicos Archipelago

Location of monitored beaches
in Providenciales

Pelican Bay,
Providenciales,
2001

***********

SAND IN, SAND OUT

Beaches often show changes from season to season and from year to year. Here at Emerald Beach in Providenciales there has been dramatic erosion over recent years.

BEACH PROFILE
Emerald Beach, Providenciales. Beach erosion


	In 1995 there was a narrow beach backed by a dune ridge at one part of Emerald Beach in Providenciales...
	By 2001, erosion of the beach and the dune ridge has occurred, resulting in the loss of some of the casuarina trees.

***********

Dunes also provide
protection to
beachfront property,
Grace Bay,
Providenciales, 2001
DUNES AS RESERVOIRS OF SAND
Dunes function as reservoirs of sand, supplying beaches during storms and protecting coastal land from flooding. Every effort should be made to conserve sand dunes and their protective vegetation cover, which is fragile and can easily be destroyed by people trampling over it.

Protective dunes at
Grace Bay,
Providenciales, 2001, are an important part of
the beach system
and need special
care

At Booby Rock Point
in Grand Turk, the
dunes have been
extensively mined
leaving the beach
vulnerable during
storms and
hurricanes, 1995

***********

HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

Beaches show very rapid and dramatic changes as a result of storms and hurricanes. The Turks and Caicos Islands have experienced fewer severe hurricanes than their Caribbean neighbours over recent years. However, it pays to be continually vigilant and prepared.

Beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands are also influenced by the tidal channels that run between the islands. At Leeward-going-through a huge sand bank has built up naturally at the mouth of the tidal channel, holding up the sand movement along the coast. This has resulted in erosion at several Leeward beaches, causing damage to buildings and necessitating the construction of protective measures.


A huge underwater sandbank has built up at the mouth of the channel between Little Water Cay (left) and Providenciales (right), 1997
	Revetments have been built to protect valuable coastal property, seen here at Emerald Beach, Providenciales, 1997
	Erosion at one of the Leeward beaches (Providenciales) has resulted in the collapse of this swimming pool, 2001

***********

Sea lavender
helps to hold
the sand in place,
Pillories Beach,
Grand Turk, 1995

WISE PRACTICES FOR A HEALTHY BEACH

The state of the beach affects everyone’s lives. There are no simple or universal solutions to shoreline erosion, since there are often several factors, both human and natural, contributing to the problem at a particular beach. Each beach behaves differently, so it is advisable to find out as much information as possible about a particular beach before taking any corrective action. It is necessary to consult the Department of Planning before undertaking any action at a beach.

Some forces of change, such as hurricanes and winter swells are natural, and there is little we can do to stop them, yet there are ways we can help to slow down the rate of erosion:

Planning new development so that it is a ‘safe’ distance behind the beach will reduce the need for expensive sea defence measures in the future.
Revegetating beach areas beyond the reach of storm waves, and sand dunes, with native vegetation, e.g. grasses, vines and salt resistant, deep-rooting trees, such as sea-grape.

Ensuring new development is a ‘safe’ distance from the dynamic beach zone, helps conserve the beach and the buildings		Buildings close to the beach are vulnerable to erosion
		Buildings at a ‘safe’ distance from the beach are less vulnerable to erosion

Seawalls, such as
this one at Grand
Turk, protect the
road and buildings,
but do not
encourage sand
build-up, 1999

Resorting to ‘hard’ engineering structures such as seawalls, revetments and bulkheads, only when there is a need to protect beachfront property from wave action. Such structures, even with careful design, result in the loss or narrowing of the beach over time.
Considering all other beach enhancement measures such as offshore breakwaters, groynes and beach nourishment (placing sand from the offshore zone or from an inland source on the beach) at a particular site. All such measures require careful design and environmental impact assessments, so always first consult the Department of Planning.

Groynes result in
sand build-up on
one side, but
erosion on the
other side, Grand
Turk, 1997

This walkway at
Grace Bay,
Providenciales,
protects the
delicate dune
vegetation from
trampling by
human feet, 1999

***********

	WISE PRACTICES CHECKLIST
	Plan for existing and future coastline change by positioning all new development (large and small) a ‘safe’ distance landward of the vegetation line (consult the Department of Planning for information on ‘safe’ distances).
	Conserve and restore vegetative cover, both adjacent to the beach in order to stabilise the sand, and further inland to reduce sediment reaching the reefs and sea grass beds.
	Stop the mining of sand from beaches and dunes, ensure that inland mining sites are restored after use, and investigate alternative building practices.
	Provide for dedicated public access lanes to all beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and where appropriate provide facilities for beach users (e.g. parking, safety measures, sanitary facilities).
	Ensure the physical planning process is fair, equitable and transparent.
	Review and carefully consider ALL options when planning ways to slow down the rate of coastline change, these should include planning, ecological and engineering measures.
	Monitor the rate of coastline change and share the findings with all other stakeholders.
	Coordinate an integrated approach to beach management, by ensuring that individuals, groups and agencies work together.
	Promote the concept of coastal stewardship and civic pride.
	Respect the rights of all beach users.

For more information on shoreline
change in the TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS consult:

Department of Environment
and Coastal Resources
South Base, Grand Turk
Turks and Caicos Islands

T: +1 649 946 2970/2801
F: +1 649 946 1895
E: decr@tciway.tc

Department of Planning
South Base, Grand Turk
Turks and Caicos Islands

T: +1 649 946 2220
F: +1 649 946 2448
E: planningtcig@tciway.tc

For more information on shoreline
change in the CARIBBEAN consult:

Coping with Beach Erosion
by Gillian Cambers
UNESCO Publishing, 1998
ISBN 93-3-103561-4

This booklet is a result of
co-operation between
UNESCO, the Caribbean
Development Bank and
Turks and Caicos Islands’
Governmental agencies.

This booklet is one of a series
covering several Caribbean islands.

Illustrations: Barbara Navi – Photographs: Gillian Cambers – Design: Eric Loddé

Back to the list of all the booklets in the series Wise Practices for Coping with Beach Erosion

	Introduction	Activities	Publications	Search
	Wise Practices	Regions	Themes

Dunes also provide protection to beachfront property, Grace Bay, Providenciales, 2001	DUNES AS RESERVOIRS OF SAND Dunes function as reservoirs of sand, supplying beaches during storms and protecting coastal land from flooding. Every effort should be made to conserve sand dunes and their protective vegetation cover, which is fragile and can easily be destroyed by people trampling over it.
Protective dunes at Grace Bay, Providenciales, 2001, are an important part of the beach system and need special care
At Booby Rock Point in Grand Turk, the dunes have been extensively mined leaving the beach vulnerable during storms and hurricanes, 1995