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Galveston Island, Texas has been experiencing high rates of erosion in recent years, spawning an interest in developing complex beach management programs. However, before any effective management project can be implemented we must understand all of the processes that control the shoreface. It is only recently that scientists have begun to recognize the importance of the role that the geologic framework plays on the coastal evolution of the shoreline. In this region, it is the antecedent geology as well as the anthropogenic obstructions which are the key factors controlling the formation of the modern shoreface. This study defines the extents to which these antecedent and anthropogenic factors influence the shoreface as well as refines the geologic interpretations offshore of Galveston Island. Using sidescan sonar, CHIRP seismic sonar, multibeam bathymetry data and sediment cores, the shoreface and subsurface geology were modeled. It was determined that the thickness, extent and slope of the modern sediment in the nearshore environment is controlled by the topography of the Beaumont Clay, a consolidated clay deposited during the Pleistocene. Anthropogenic obstructions, including the Galveston Seawall, groin and jetty system, have changed the sediment transport patterns in the region and have created a system of erosion and accretion not only along the shoreline, but for the entire length of the shoreface.

<p>Recreational beaches of the Great Lakes play a critical role in the quality of life for beach goers and contribute to the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes region. Over the past decade, concerned local residents, municipalities, and public beach goers have observed the deteriorating beach quality along the shores of the Great Lakes. Numerous problems exist at these beaches including: high levels of <em>E.coli</em>, encroachment of invasive and non-native vegetation, iron staining, loss of sand. However, the more pervasive problem appears to be increased wet conditions at beaches that use to be dry. This study was undertaken to investigate the physical and hydrological factors that control wet and dry beaches, in order to determine why these beaches exist. Combined field, laboratory, and modelling methodologies were used to characterize four beach sites and calibrate beach models along southern Georgian Bay in Tiny Township, ON. The results of this research indicate that there are three interconnected factors that influence wet and dry beaches, including: (1) texture of a beach, (2) depth to the water table, and (3) elevation of the ground surface. Texture is the primary factor that controls the moisture conditions at a beach even though all beaches were classified as sands. This is a consequence of the fact that fine grained sands have significantly higher capillary rise and retain higher moisture contents above the water table compared to coarse grained sands. Depth to the water table influences the moisture conditions at a beach through its association with the relative position of the top of the capillary rise within respect to the surface of the beach. Ground surface elevation influences the depth of sand above the water table at a beach; lower and flatter surface elevations have the water table (and capillary rise) closer to the beach surface than at beaches with steeper elevations. In summary, wet beaches have high moisture contents at and near the surface of a beach (> 10 %), shallow water tables (~ < 50 cm), and flat ground surface elevations. Dry beaches have low moisture contents at and near the surface of a beach (< 10 %), deep water tables (~ > 50 cm), and steep ground surface elevations. Using the numerical model HYDRUS-2D, four calibrated beach models provide a framework for beach managers to gain insights into beach quality issues through scenario testing. Beaches with shallow water tables and flat surface elevations (either natural or human-induced) are at greater risk of becoming wet under high lake level scenarios than beaches with steeper surfaces (dry beaches). Heavy precipitation events are temporary and do not convert dry beaches into wet beaches and high evaporation rates do not convert wet beaches into dry beaches; conversion of beaches is mainly influenced by beach surface alterations (e.g. bulldozing and removing sand dunes). The conclusion of this study is that hydrological factors are primary controls on the quality of the beaches and the associated problems along the shores of the Great Lakes.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

To manage common resources such as water bodies, forests and the air is complex since several stakeholders are involved and affected by the use of the resource. One way to manage common resources is through co-management. Co-management is a decentralized method that empowers the local level and enables collaboration between the government and the local community. Co-management within fishing communities can be realized through so called Beach Management Units (BMUs). Around Lake Victoria, there are 1087 BMUs. One of these BMUs is located in Ggaba, Kampala, Uganda and the purpose of this study is to highlight benefits and shortcomings connected to co-management within fisheries. The study aims to explore if and how sustainability aspects are tackled through the co-management of fisheries. The data was collected using qualitative semi-structured interviews where six BMU members contributed with their experiences. In addition, data was collected from a qualitative content analysis on two BMU guideline documents, representing the central level. The results showed that the Ggaba BMU provides a platform for creating control through collaboration. The local levels’ perception on co-management within fisheries seems to correspond with the central level’s aim of the management. Another indication is that the BMU has brought upon positive effects on economic, social and ecological aspects on the society of Ggaba. However, corruption and illegal fishing are two identified barriers which seems to limit the function of the Ggaba BMU and the level of co-management. / Gemsamma resurser så som vattendrag, skogar och atmosfären är komplexa att hantera eftersom flera aktörer är involverade och påverkas av resursanvändningen. Ett sätt att hantera gemensamma resurser är genom samförvaltning. Samförvaltning är en decentraliserad förvaltningsmetod som möjliggör ett samarbete mellan den lokala och statliga nivån vid beslutsfattande. Omkring Victoriasjön realiseras samförvaltning genom så kallade Beach Management Units (BMUs). Dessa utgörs av 1087 stycken varav en BMU är lokaliserad i Ggaba, Kampala, Uganda. Syftet med denna studie är att belysa fördelar och brister kopplade till samförvaltning av fiske. Vidare syftar studien till att undersöka om och hur aspekter inom hållbar utveckling kan tacklas genom det decentraliserade styret av fiske. Data insamlades genom sex stycken kvalitativa, semistrukturerade intervjuer. Dessutom gjordes en kvalitativ innehållsanalys av två BMU-riktlinjedokument, vilka representerar den centrala nivån. Det empiriska materialet visade att Ggaba BMU utgör en plattform för strukturering, kontroll och samarbete. Den lokala nivåns syn på samförvaltning inom fiske verkar överensstämma med den centrala nivåns avsikt av samförvaltning. Resultatet indikerar även att BMUn har påverkat ekonomiska, sociala och ekologiska aspekter i Ggaba på ett positivt sätt. Problem med korruption och olagligt fiske identifierades dock, vilka verkar begränsa BMUns funktion och möjligheterna till samförvaltning.

Coastlines are particularly susceptible to the necessary trade-offs which occur between different ecosystem services. Should the areas be managed for biodiversity or for people? Where sandy beaches are found there is usually a management decision to be made between managing for recreation or for biodiversity. Many popular tourist beaches (particularly those with a Beach Award) are often groomed with mechanical equipment to remove any stranded seaweed and associated litter which can get entangled in the wrack. This is likely to be having a negative impact on coastal biodiversity, with wide ranging implications for the entire habitat, including the intertidal zone, sand dunes and shorebirds. Beached wrack should be allowed to naturally decompose providing a habitat for numerous species of macro-invertebrates. These macro-invertebrate communities not only include many endemic species found exclusively along the strandline but they also provide a very rich source of food for shorebirds. The re-mineralised nutrients resulting from the decomposed macrophytes should then become available to provide a rich source of nutrients to dune, strandline and marine ecosystems populations of the strandline. In previous studies grooming has been shown to have a negative impact on the invertebrates of the strandline and this study reveals that tidal range has an effect on the impacts of grooming with a higher tidal range having a more negative impact on the invertebrates. A study to observe the impacts of grooming on both adult plant and seed bank communities of the sand dunes found that grooming is having a negative impact on these populations. Grooming is predominantly driven by beach managers who aspire to gain Beach Awards in order to attract tourists to their beaches. Using non-market valuation in the form of a stated preference choice experiment and a travel cost model, it was observed that Beach Awards are not valued by beach goers but are instead influenced to visit a particular beach by good bathing water quality, high levels of biodiversity and low levels of litter. It was also shown that stranded seaweed on the beach does not deter visitors. Future management suggestions include attempting to reduce the confusion arising from the presence of multiple beach awards by either removing them altogether or by making their criteria more clear and direct with consistency in their design and designation. Bathing water quality should be completely removed from the Beach Award system and real-time information in the form of electronic signage and a publicly available App should replace it.

The study presented in this thesis discusses the topic of ASRs through the use of a specific case study constructed at Boscombe, UK. With the main aim to provide an impartial and independent study into the environmental, social and economic impacts of an ASR. The research presented is therefore multidisciplinary in nature, the separate components utilise key techniques from the geophysical, numerical modelling and socio-economic disciplines are combined to present a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding of ASRs. Whilst previous studies have focused on one of these disciplines, there are no independent detailed studies of a constructed ASR utilising an multidisciplinary approach. The ASR concept and structures are still in their development infancy, the subject has received cursory independent review in the literature. There have been few successful projects, those that have survived structurally in the ocean are not being used primarily for surfing. The Boscombe ASR is an example of high overspend, poor management and construction, loss of geotextile SFC and users deem the project a failure. The consequences of not correctly planning, managing and overseeing the construction has resulted in a poorly viewed project of limited success. All stages of this project could have benefited from thoughtful planning, thereby avoiding this outcome. If lessons are to be learnt from this project then the planning and management are key areas of the process that need addressing. Ensuring that any future ASR projects are securely integrated with the coastal zone management plan will provide sustainability and success. The DPSIR framework approach can be used to highlight and address the causes of problems in the project. This framework enables the various disciplines to be discussed in relation to each other; links can be identified between the environmental, social and economic impacts of the ASR construction. Strict protocols will increase the success of any ASR project. The final crest height of the Boscombe ASR was 0.5 m higher than the final design height, this is a fundamental design flaw that should not be occurring in modern coastal engineering practice. It is suggested that guidelines are written based on this research for the design and construction process of an ASR. The recommendations and guidelines for ASR monitoring are provided by this research. The emphasis for future projects should lie in the final design and in monitoring, baseline field data should be collected to understand the environmental state change and socio-economic impacts. Planning and government proposals should be accompanied by extensive stakeholder engagement ensuring transparency for the project and ownership within the coastal community. The exclusion of stakeholders at key decision points created distrust and misunderstanding towards the Boscombe ASR project. Avoiding unrealistic expectations within the surfing community and wider coastal community was discussed throughout this research, and by others in the literature. This research agrees with these statements, the issue of poor surfability would be improved by a greater area to manipulate the bathymetry. However this would come at a greatly increased cost in geotextile SFCs, which the current construction method is certainly not capable of delivering successfully. It would be recommended in this case that an alternative construction material was used that is resilient to the marine environment and readily adaptable given poor performance. Further testing of materials, both geotextile SFCs and alternatives, are required for the successful advancement of ASR technology.