The Beach Nourishment Program
Parlee Beach experiences natural erosion each year during fall, winter and spring seasons from wind, waves and storm surges. Sand is eroded from the beach at varying intensities. In many instances, sand is either forced up onto the dunes or it is washed farther down the shore line.
In order to maintain the beach, sand is excavated from an area adjacent to the Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf and trucked to Parlee Beach. This helps to mitigate the effects of erosion from year to year and provides a sandy beach area to begin each new summer season. This practice, referred to as 'beach nourishment’, has been carried out by the Department of Tourism and Parks for nearly 20 years.
Specifically, beach nourishment involves the replacement of sand (500 min.-1700 max. truck loads) along the beach and then levelling it off between the dune and low water mark. This is effective in maintaining the beach yet results in artificially high and steep dunes. In some locations the dunes have been measured up to three meters higher than 1990 levels. Dune crests in other areas are approximately 7 meters high. These same dunes were approximately 2 metres high in 1985 and approximately 3 metres high in 1990.
Over the past six years, the Department of Tourism and Parks has been studying alternatives for beach maintenance. In 2003, ACER Environmental Services was commissioned to undertake a study to review beach management approaches and alternatives. The status quo and an alternative option were explored. A combination of dune re-shaping and beach nourishment was recommended.
Tourism and Parks has consulted with the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment with regard to future options as they pertain to the Coastal Zone Protection Policy. Tourism and Parks has also reviewed the results and recommendations from the, New Brunswick Sea-Level Rise Study, which suggests:
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“On a national basis among the most severely threatened coastal areas are parts of the Atlantic Coast, including sections of the New Brunswick Gulf Coast. In this region sea level is already rising, with demonstrable impacts, and accelerated sea-level rise under greenhouse warming is expected to exacerbate these impacts with concomitant changes in adaptation requirements. Threats in this area come primarily from impacts of coastal flooding and erosion, and damage due to the impacts of ice caused by storm surge in winter. Parts of this study area are highly exposed to wave action during storms in the ice-free season, as demonstrated by shoreline and infrastructure damages experienced on October 29th, 2000.
Longer-term economic effects need to be considered in planning and regulations. Shediac Bay is a complex coastal and watershed area, highly vulnerable to coastal flooding. Nearby Parlee Beach is a valuable provincial asset and tourist resort.”
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