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Puerto Rico Ratings
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Indicator Type |
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Info |
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Status |
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Beach Access |
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4 |
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3
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Water Quality |
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3 |
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2
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Beach Erosion |
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5
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- |
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Erosion Response |
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- |
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3
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Beach Fill |
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1 |
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- |
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Shoreline Structures |
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1 |
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2 |
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Beach Ecology |
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4
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- |
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Surfing Areas |
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5 |
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3
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Website |
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4 |
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- |
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Puerto Rico Shoreline Structures
PoliciesInformation on Puerto Rico's shoreline stabilization policies was not readily
available.
According to the report "State Coastal Program Effectiveness in Protecting
Natural Beaches, Dunes, Bluffs, and Rock Shores" (T. Bernd-Cohen and M. Gordon),
Coastal Management 27:187-217, 1999, permits for shoreline stabilization
in Puerto Rico are administered at the local or county level.
Inventory
Information on the extent of shoreline armoring in Puerto Rico was not readily
available.
Some information regarding coastal armoring and Puerto Rico’s shorelines is presented on the Web site of the Rincón chapter of Surfrider Foundation:
http://www.surfrider.org/rincon/seawalls.asp
The Fiscal Year 2010 Civil Works Budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides $5.125 billion for water resources projects in the areas of commercial navigation, flood and coastal storm damage reduction, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. A new budget activity this year is Response to Climate Change at Corps Projects, to assess broadly how and where climate change may affect the management of Civil Works projects and to identify options such as changes in operation or other modifications in response to climate change. This budget lists proposed projects by state.
ContactN/A
Perception of Effectiveness
Sand replacement at tourist beaches and resort complexes has experienced
limited and sometimes only short-term success. Replacement of sand after
an oil spill or other contamination has shown similar short-term usefulness.
Watershed disruption and coastal armoring block natural sources of sand,
and with no natural sand source to replenish formerly sandy beaches, replenished
shorelines often last only until the next big swell or hurricane.15
Coastal developments continue to impact the dynamic and energetic Puerto
Rico coast. Shoreline armoring, breakwaters, piers, port and marina infrastructure,
and watershed disruption impact every region, preventing the natural flow
of sand along the beaches. Sea level forecasts for Puerto Rico in 2100 are
plus one meter. Expect the "World Port of the Americas" to impact major portions
of the southwest corner of Puerto Rico.16
A 1998 UNESCO/Puerto Rico Sea Grant report Planning for Coastline Change,
Saving Our Beaches provides a nice discussion about beach erosion, beach
fill, and shoreline armoring issues. The following is an excerpt from this report:
Sea Walls Serve a Few
While our coastlines were undeveloped, beach erosion happened but it went
largely unnoticed. Now however, coastal development is threatened by
the normal erosion process, plus what seems to be a rise in sea level
throughout the region, in addition to storm-related surges of ocean water
that can easily destroy million dollar buildings within a few hours time.
As a result, more and more oceanfront property owners have built structures
such as sea walls in order to protect luxury hotels and private homes.
But these hotels, homes and other buildings are being built on land that
can easily wash away. And while sea walls may protect small beachfront areas,
they often lead to accelerated beach erosion by preventing the natural process
of inland sand migration. Concrete sea walls also contribute to the "armoring" of
once-green coastlines. This aesthetic defilement surely lowers the tourism
value of our shores.
Alternatives to Concrete Armor
One "soft" alternative to sea wall construction is beach fill, which represents
the deposition of massive amounts of sand, similar in weight to the original
sand it replaces. Although the benefits may outweigh the cost, beach fill is
a very expensive proposition, especially since its results may very well last
only until the next storm. Clearly, this alternative is feasible only for a few,
highly developed island beaches.
A less expensive, long-term solution includes the adoption of wise policies of
retreat, which dictate that new buildings be set back at a healthy distance from
the ocean, that no new sea walls be constructed, and that old sea walls not be
repaired.
Planning for Coastline Change
Since 1997, a project titled Planning for Coastline Change is helping the smaller
Caribbean islands to plan for the future by establishing safe setbacks between
new developments and the active beach zone. As part of the project, which is
sponsored by UNESCO and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Sea Grant College
Program, safe setbacks are also determined for other geological features such
as the cliffs and low, rocky shores on each island.
Public Education Program
The UNESCO Publication Coping with Beach Erosion is a source of information on
hurricane processes and beach erosion. It also includes information on erosion
mitigation measures, and what to look for when investing in coastal property.
Surfrider Foundation's Rincón Chapter Web site has some great information about the the impacts of seawalls in Rincón and at all beaches.
http://www.surfrider.org/rincon/seawalls.asp
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