PLAZA DEL MAR, COAST PROTECTION PLAN IN ACTION

The first phase needs to be temporary and address the immediate threat to beach-front properties.  They need to be able to stop the erosion affording protection to existing land properties without negatively affecting other areas.  This emergency solution needs to be implemented and paid by the affected regimes.

The second phase contemplates a longer term or permanent solution to the problem such as placing an off-shore artificial reef that will reduce the wave energy reaching the shore line and change the sea current patterns to avoid further beach erosion, and potentially be supplemented with beach nourishment.

This longer term solution will require the collaboration and coordination of the entire Palmas del Mar community with local (i.e., PRDNER, PREQB, etc.) and federal (i.e., USACE, NOAA, etc.) regulatory and resource agencies and manage the implementation of the artificial reef and beach nourishment project from a more regional or holistic approach,” explained Jorge Suárez from the Plaza del Mar board of directors.

Without hesitation, on August 2015, Plaza del Mar contracted a coastal engineering firm, Tetra Tech Inc., to present them with different alternatives for controlling the erosion in front of their property.  They came with two alternatives, one using geotextile tubes filled with sand and the other one using properly sized and graded rocks.

In July 2016 Plaza del Mar received the permit from the government agency and in August began the construction of 100 meters of rock revetment and 55 meters of sand bags for controlling the erosion.  The rock revetment has been completed and the sand filled geotubes should be completed by the second week of October.  Both sections of temporary shoreline stabilization measures are going to be covered by sand and coastal native vegetation to cover the structure and provide additional habitat.