Advantages and Disadvantages of Sea Wall Construction
We can differentiate the numerous benefits of seawalls for the natural environment, animals, and people. The main idea is to understand both pros and cons, which will help you determine which one is the best for your specific situation.
Generally, it is an effective solution that will provide you peace of min. It is important to click here to learn more about seawalls.
You should know they are a long-term solution offering numerous advantages. They are highly useful when you have risky coastlines, especially due to potential erosion that may lead to serious damage. At the same time, you can use it to protect the inland areas and shoreline from flooding and weather conditions.
Benefits
- Prevent Coastal Erosion – The most critical factor is they can offer additional protection against flooding and coastal erosion. It will form a permanent, stationary barrier between the land and the sea. Compared with other approaches, you should know that a stationary barrier is a practical solution overall. Compared with soft beach nourishments, you will achieve the long-term solution to handle shoreline erosion.
- Use It as Renewable Energy – You should know that they will allow us to take advantage of tide power and turn it into renewable energy instead of destructive force. Generally, tidal wave energy is reliable, clean, and renewable energy that you can incorporate into a sea wall to obtain the power required for specific tasks.
- Small Footprint – Compared with other coastal defenses, these options require a small building area. Therefore, the structures are vertical with a compact footprint, requiring minimal space on land. The minimal footprint will reduce construction expenses. Buying it is one of the biggest expenses, especially if your goal is constructing a defense system.
- Flexible – You can upgrade and expand them as simply as possible. You should know that due to changing climate and new threats that are developing, you can modify seawalls to meet new standards and weather conditions, which will stand the test of time.
- Add Value – It is vital to remember that implementing a barrier will make the coastline more secure. As a result, that will increase the land values while promoting local investment. Remember that the project can feature additional construction, including leisure zones and promenades, meaning you can boost tourism and recreation.
Check out this guide: https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Seawall to learn how to build a seawall with ease.
- Durability – You should know that they are highly durable and robust, meaning they will last for centuries, mainly if you use proper materials and maintain them as time passes. For instance, people built it in Texas at the beginning of the 20th century, and it is still a perfect protection against flooding and erosion.
Downsides
The main idea is to use sea walls in areas where you can prevent potential erosion, mainly because it is essential to do it for additional protection. However, they are the last resort due to significant investment and financial strain.
- Expensive Maintenance and Construction – Since they must withstand significant force and pressure, sea walls can be costly to maintain and build. For instance, investing in curved type will reflect the wave’s energy into the ocean. However, this may take its toll because it will start to crack and erode, requiring regular maintenance, which is an expensive endeavor. Therefore, adding them may be a permanent solution, but it is not the most affordable option.
- They Can Disturb Coastal and Marine Habitats – Constructing a significant and permanent structure will directly affect the natural environment. Sea walls can easily affect coastal ecosystems and the marine environment, meaning the habitat will suffer. They act as barriers blocking fish, birds, and other animals, preventing them from accessing vital resources and handling feet. The walls will affect water levels due to tidal flow restriction, eliminating rock pools in high-tide areas.
You should check out Salt of The Earth, Inc. to learn more about the different coastline protection options you can choose.
- Sediment Flow – Another essential environmental impact directly connected with sea walls is the sediment flow restriction, which will lead to starvation in specific situations. Therefore, the seaside wall will experience significant erosion, but you will not replace sediment using hinterland erosion due to the wall that will stand by it.