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David M. Bush University of West Georgia

COASTAL HAZARDS ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SEVERELY ERODING TROPICAL SHORELINE: PALO SECO, PUERTO RICO. David M. Bush University of West Georgia. Puerto Rico is the smallest and easternmost of the Greater Antilles.

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David M. Bush University of West Georgia

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  1. COASTAL HAZARDS ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SEVERELY ERODING TROPICAL SHORELINE: PALO SECO, PUERTO RICO David M. Bush University of West Georgia

  2. Puerto Rico is the smallest and easternmost of the Greater Antilles

  3. The insular shelf around Puerto Rico is variable, but very narrow on the north.

  4. A side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) image clearly shows the physiography of the 150 x 50-km island of Puerto Rico. Several small rivers drain to the north, and the northern coastal lowlands are wide compared to the southern. Courtesy of Simulation Systems, Inc.

  5. Study Area Punta Salinas Isla de Cabras Palo Seco Old San Juan Ensenada de Boca Vieja San Juan Bay Levittown

  6. Bacardi Rum Plant Power Plant (fuel oil) Río de Bayamón

  7. Recreational, cultural, and historical site Lone access road is also main road through Palo Seco Erosion problem

  8. We met with Palo Seco town planners and business leaders in May, 2009, to assess the problem.

  9. Google Earth image showing location of photographs 5 4 6 3 7 2 1

  10. Photo 1. Typical rock revetment.

  11. Photo 2. No recreational beach. View out into Ensenada de Boca Vieja.

  12. Photo 3. There are short stretches of sandy beach.

  13. Photo 4. Some businesses are nearly buried in rock revetment.

  14. Photo 5. San Juan Harbor, view north toward El Morro Fort, which is on the eastern side of the entrance to the harbor.

  15. Photo 6. Río de Bayamón may be a source of replenishment sand. It empties into San Juan Bay.

  16. Photo 3. There are some erosion problems along Río de Bayamón. The river water is being discharged from the Bacardi plant.

  17. Recommendations (in increasing order of cost) • 1. Do Nothing • 2. Continue armoring • 3. Beach replenishment • 4. Seawall upgrade • 5. Major seawall, boardwalk, Municipal plan

  18. Do Nothing (Least Expensive) • This is the cheapest solution, however, speaking long term, there are dire consequences, due to the constant erosion. An alternate solution must take place, because not taking action ultimately does not solve anything.

  19. Continue to armor community with large rocks • This recommendation is basically the strategy Palo Seco is doing now. As seen in the photos of the Palo Seco shoreline below. One of the situations occurring from this solution is the aesthetics. Dumping loads of rocks and concrete on the shoreline does not appeal to many citizens.

  20. Beach replenishment • The concept of beach replenishment works as a short term solution. Moving about 2 to 3 dump trucks of sand every two or so weeks might slow down the erosion process, this, however, can not be a permanent solution.

  21. Seawall Upgrade • Seawalls are never a good way to prevent erosion, due to the fact that they actually increase erosion in other areas, as shown in the photo from the USGS at Vero, Beach in Florida. If the seawall were built more sturdy and solid, then it would definitely act as a shield for vital infrastructure, such as the electricity plant.

  22. Major seawall, boardwalk, Municipal plan (Most Expensive) • Although this technique is very expensive, it can provide a long-term solution. With a sturdy seawall in place and a boardwalk to provide for the aesthetics, this concept is non-intrusive and does not involve having to tear down the road that connects Isla de Cabras to the main land.

  23. East of San Juan, along the Boca de Cangrejos shoreline, is an example of a low-cost stabilization project with a bike trail.

  24. The island of Vieques, off Puerto Rico’s east coast, used to be home to a U. S. Naval base and bombing range. Only the middle one-third of the island was public. The naval portions are now administered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Villa Esperanza Along the southern shore of Vieques, the town of Villa Esperanza was suffering an erosion problem similar to Palo Seco in the late 1980’s. Their response was a seawall/boardwalk structure that was designed to not only protect the shorefront buildings but also to attract vacationers and locals to enjoy newly added amenities.

  25. Villa Esperanza, Vieques, Puerto Rico boardwalk

  26. Villa Esperanza, Vieques, Puerto Rico boardwalk

  27. Villa Esperanza, Vieques, Puerto Rico boardwalk

  28. Palo Seco’s shoreline will never look like this.

  29. But maybe we can help make it look less like this.

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