The U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association are working together to advance coastal dune science and management through workshops and research investments.
They have funded projects at Oregon State University, University of North Carolina, University of Pennsylvania, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Alabama.
These projects, which received a total of about $250,000 in funding, are aimed at improving dune management in developed coastal communities.
“High, continuous dunes are economically and ecologically sensible elements of a larger shore protection program, ” said Nicole Elko, Ph.D., ASBPA’s Vice President of Science and Technology.
“Hurricane Matthew’s recent dune erosion highlights the need for a consistent national program to evaluate dune management strategies so that the nation is ready for future storms and sea-level rise.”
Researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center have also been studying dune evolution for the past three years, along with scientists from the Naval Research Laboratory.
“USACE coastal researchers take a three-pronged approach to research in dune evolution,” said Jeff Lillycrop, USACE Technical Director for Civil Works Research and Development . “Field data collection, physical modeling, and numerical modeling are all important.“
Each academic institution is collaborating with a local government agency or a non-governmental organization involved in coastal management. Each project will be presented at the ASBPA’s annual National Coastal Conference, which will be held October 24-27, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.