Speaker: Maria Winters, PhDc, Coastal Flood Lab, University of California. Los Angeles

Topic: Observations and Modeling of Anthropogenic Dune Evolution and Erosion in Southern California

Nature-based engineering solutions, such as dunes, are increasingly being implemented as sea-level rise adaptation solutions in place of traditional structures such as sea walls or revetments. In coastal southern California, human constructed sand dune-like structures, also known as beach berms, have traditionally served as seasonal coastal protection from energetic winter storms. Recently, dune and ecosystem restoration projects, such as the Cardiff State Beach Living Shoreline, have been implemented in southern California. The efficacy and physics of dune morphology are not well understood, particularly on coastlines characterized by long-period swell such as southern California. Additionally, high resolution observational data capturing dune response to extreme storm events and application of dune erosion models, such as XBeach, in long-period swell environments are limited. Here, observations and modeling results of two southern California dune structures, a large permanent sand berm and a novel hybrid-dune living shoreline, are presented.

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