WA-first artificial reef trial could help tackle coastal erosion
December 30, 2024 8:20 PM   Subscribe

 
WA = Western Australia
posted by intermod at 9:13 PM on December 30


It literally says Australia right there in the post and the link is to an article at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and this has got to be at least well-known-Australian-Mefite chariot's 5th or 6th post on the ecology of Australian coral reefs. I know this site is PNW pilled to the gills but if people still can't understand that WA doesn't exclusively mean Washington State, that's a skill issue.

Chariot, thank you for your continued dedicated posting of content I'd otherwise never know about. Never change.
posted by phunniemee at 9:44 PM on December 30 [8 favorites]


If I want WA to be Washington State, I know where to find the "New Post".

Well OK technically I just now learned where, because the version of the site that I've configured... actually does not have a way to post things? Huh.
posted by away for regrooving at 12:10 AM on December 31


It’s always slightly horrifying to me that most coastal American states allow people not only to traipse over dunes if it’s public land but build so damn close to the ocean. In WA erosions has been a threat since founding but over time large swaths of dunes that are crown land have been closed for access so that the dunes can either recover or not be trampled by things like recreational off road drivers.

It’s more managed and wisely stewarded rather than tragically destroyed by the commons and private property owners alike. I cant think of anything like it in the US.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 6:12 AM on December 31


These work great in Louisiana, there s lots of designs of "round thing with habitat/ weight-saving holes" that do well.

One of my favorites is Oysterbreak (tm) because the hollow tops makes them stackable, so you can easily vary the design of the breakwater based on substrate and wave conditions. Also Newton can swim through the rings, so they are not a solid fish migration barrier, like some shoreline armoring can be

There was some research that you want a flat-topped breakwater, and that you get more energy dissipation the longer the reef is, in the direction of the wave action, a "thicker" flattop dissipates more energy.

Of course, this is balanced via yr budget against the length of the shoreline you want to protect

concrete is better than rock--it s lighter and will subside less in many mucky coastal substrates, while providing shellfish habitat (sessile and mobile) that rocks don't provide

The problem being that LA DOTD is heavily invested in rocks, so the Louisiana government loves dumb rock armoring projects for the kickbacks...besides the fact that the rocks will continue to sink, which means the contractor must continually add more rock to maintain height.....ugh. government contract pork hell.

We haven't been able to get past this kind of corruption atthe US Corps of Engineers to force implementation of the better technology.

But Glad to see it in WA!
posted by eustatic at 11:27 AM on December 31


Sorry, the machine edits "nekton" to 'newton'
posted by eustatic at 11:33 AM on December 31


Happy New Year to international treasure chariot pulled by cassowaries and loyal fans across the globe.
posted by legendary hot air bassoon pilot at 7:55 PM on December 31


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