1. Salisbury Beach residents pooled funds to build a sand dune to protect homes from coastal erosion.
2. High tides washed away half of the human-made dune after just three days.
3. An ocean engineer stated that the dune did what it was meant to do – protect homes – even though it eroded quickly.
Residents of Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts pooled over half a million dollars to build a human-made sand dune to protect their homes from flooding due to “king” tides. The project, organized by a community nonprofit, cost residents $600,000 and used 15,000 tons of sand. However, after only three days, a storm washed away half of the dune that had been built along the beach.
The initiative was sparked by a series of high tides and storms that caused significant erosion of the beachfront properties. Natural dunes were swept away, leaving homes vulnerable to future tides. In response, residents and the nonprofit group raised funds and built the dune themselves to protect their homes.
Despite the swift collapse of the dune, an ocean engineer stated that the project did exactly what it was supposed to do. Human-made dunes act as buffers between on-land infrastructure and the ocean, protecting homes from rising seas and storm surges. While the dune may wash away over time, it serves as a sacrificial construct that shields homes from destruction.
Residents are now exploring other solutions, such as planting dune grass to fortify the remaining dune against erosion. The state has not provided funding for coastal protections, leaving residents to take matters into their own hands. Despite some residents not being willing to invest further funds, the community remains dedicated to protecting their beach from future storms and erosion.