I am a full-time student at Kaua’i Community College who is enrolled in oceanography under the tutelage of Nancy Bushnell. During our course of studies, we happened to cover a section on seawalls. From what I’ve learned in class, the
I am a full-time student at Kaua’i Community College who is enrolled in oceanography under the tutelage of Nancy Bushnell. During our course of studies, we happened to cover a section on seawalls. From what I’ve learned in class, the seawall project does not seem to be the best solution to the erosion problem at Wailua Golf Course. I would like to voice my displeasure with its proposed construction.
Seawalls actually do more harm than good. “One of the most destructive types of hard stabilization’s is the seawall” (Thurman & Trujillo, 1999). Hard stabilizations are structures built to reduce erosion of shorelines, such as jetties, breakwaters and seawalls. Seawalls are the worse of the three. Constant wave action on the ocean side of the wall undermines the sediment beneath. The result is the collapsing of the wall.
Even when a wall is well-built, it will only last a few decades (Thurman & Trujillo, 1999). Once the wall falls, what is left is a big concrete eyesore and continued erosion. Some seawalls have actually increase erosion on some barrier islands (Thurman & Trujillo, 1999).
In conclusion, the construction of a seawall is a temporary solution at best, not to mention the fact that it is a highly expensive endeavor, as well. I believe a more practical and economical approach would be to plant vegetation that would help curtail the erosion at the golf course. For the reality of the situation is that erosion is a normal process of nature, it has been happening to this island for the past 5 million years, and it will probably continue for the next 5 million more. I seriously doubt a seawall will change this fact.
ALBERT PONDOK, Kapa’a
