Fairhope, Alabama
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| Proposed new beach rendering. |
NORTH MAGNOLIA BEACH
During tonight's Magnolia Beach erosion control meeting, project engineers from GMC described the problems there and presented their solutions. If all goes well and Army Corps of Engineer permits can be obtained in a timely manner it could be completed by the end of the year, according to city representatives present.
Waves and wind push sand south in Winter and north in Summer but northern ones are stronger, according to the data collected by engineers. Due to better erosion controls inland, no new sand is coming into the bay; sea level is rising too.
The design was based on a 2016 beach management plan developed by the same team. Funding is by a $700K federal GOMESA grant.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Magnolia Beach Restoration and Stabilization Project – GOMESA grant
The Beach:
This reach of bay shoreline known as Magnolia Beach Park is comprised of the sandy beach south of the public boat ramp (Pier Avenue) extending past Trinity Presbyterian Church to the American Legion property beach.
The Problem:
Erosion of this City’s beach has been an ongoing concern for some time. In the past 15-
20 years, beach erosion has threatened some of the City’s infrastructure at the north end of
Magnolia Beach Park and the City has been doing regular and costly beach nourishments in lieu
of building a bulkhead to maintain that beach. Beach nourishment is the direct placement of
beach quality sand on the beach to widen the beach.
The City has restored the sandy beach at the north end of Magnolia Beach Park with regular nourishment (some heavy) projects on dozen occasions since 2004. Exported, washed beach sand average cost per renourishments is more than $20,000.00 not including equipment and labor to place and grade sand.
The Solution:
Construction of a shoreline stabilization project at the north end of Magnolia Beach Park that includes an offshore segmented breakwater system in conjunction with a major beach nourishment project. The purpose is to more permanently stabilize this highly visible sandy beach shoreline while providing better infrastructure protection – see attached rendering of the proposed engineering of Magnolia Beach.
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| The problems. |
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| Sea level rising. |
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| Seasonal wind direction. |
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| Solution proposed. |
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