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Questions and Answers
Which percentage of sandy coastlines in America experience erosion?
What happens to a beach when erosion occurs?
What is the driving factor for beaches that generate tourism?
What is the process called that coastal engineers use to counter the natural loss of sand?
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What is the main method used in beach nourishment?
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What happened to the beach in Miami in the 1970s?
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How was the beach in Miami re-emerged in the 1980s?
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Which strategy is primarily used in the United States to protect coastal properties from erosion?
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How often, on average, do nourishments need to be repeated?
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What percentage of the cost for nourishments is paid by the federal government?
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Which group approves and designs nourishments?
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Why do poorer communities often not receive nourishments?
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What is one potential negative consequence of beach nourishment?
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What is the potential impact of building more property in areas with nourished beaches?
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What is the main reason why beach nourishment is appealing?
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Beach nourishment is the main strategy used to protect coastal properties from risky ______.
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The funding for these projects gets a little wonky, but here's what's important: The federal government pays for a lot of these ______.
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The Army Corps of Engineers — the group that approves and designs ______ —prioritizes defending some beaches over others, based on the potential loss of value.
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According to ProPublica, the Corps only funds ______ where the expected benefit is 2 and a half times as high as the cost.
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According to research published by the American Geophysical Union, there is a feedback loop. [Blank] tends to happen along beaches that generally have expansive properties and they also seem to drive development along the same shores, despite the risk of future erosion.
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True or false: Beach nourishment is the primary strategy used to protect coastal properties from erosion in the United States?
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True or false: The federal government pays for up to 65% of the cost of nourishment projects?
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True or false: Nourishments need to be repeated every 2 to 8 years, on average?
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True or false: Research has found that areas with nourished beaches tend to have homes that are about three times bigger than non-nourished ones?
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True or false: Beach nourishment may actually mask or reduce the impact of coastal hazards without changing the natural processes that drive them?
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Study Notes
Erosion and Its Impact
- Approx. 70% of sandy coastlines in America experience erosion.
- Erosion leads to loss of beach area, affecting marine ecosystems and coastal properties.
Tourism and Beach Dynamics
- Beaches that generate tourism are primarily driven by recreational appeal, natural beauty, and accessibility.
- Erosion can deter tourists, impacting local economies reliant on beach activities.
Coastal Engineering and Sand Loss
- Coastal engineers employ beach nourishment to counteract natural sand loss.
- Beach nourishment involves adding sand to eroded beaches to rebuild them.
Historical Context of Miami Beach
- In the 1970s, Miami beach dramatically lost sand, affecting its viability for tourism.
- The beach was revitalized in the 1980s through extensive nourishment projects.
U.S. Coastal Protection Strategies
- Beach nourishment is the primary strategy used for protecting coastal properties from erosion.
- Nourishments typically need to be repeated every 2 to 8 years, on average.
Funding Aspects
- The federal government covers approximately 65% of the nourishment costs.
- The Army Corps of Engineers designs and approves these nourishment projects, prioritizing beaches based on potential loss of property value.
Community Equity and Nourishment
- Poorer communities often miss out on nourishment benefits due to funding priorities and economic disparities.
- A negative consequence of beach nourishment may include increased development pressure in vulnerable areas.
Development and Erosion Feedback Loops
- Expansive properties along nourished beaches can lead to a feedback loop, driving further development despite erosion risks.
- Beach nourishment is appealing primarily for its ability to maintain property values and tourism attractiveness.
Key True/False Statements
- True: Beach nourishment is the primary strategy used to protect coastal properties from erosion in the United States.
- True: The federal government pays for up to 65% of the cost of nourishment projects.
- True: Nourishments need to be repeated every 2 to 8 years, on average.
- True: Research indicates that areas with nourished beaches typically have homes about three times larger than those in non-nourished areas.
- True: Beach nourishment may mask or reduce the immediate impacts of coastal hazards without altering underlying natural erosion processes.
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Description
Test your knowledge on beach erosion and learn about the measures taken by the government to combat this widespread issue. Explore the causes, impacts, and solutions of beach erosion in this informative quiz.
