Protecting the Shoreline and Coastal Communities:

An Analysis of Ocean County's Viewpoint on Dunes and

Beach Management
Colleen Cochran
Abstract
Many shore communities along the mid-Atlantic United States recently experienced complete
devastation from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Strong primary dunes helped to limit the amount of
damage to communities that maintained them. Prior to the storm the importance of dunes and
beach management has often been debated and in some cases, neglected. Because dunes and
other management options are a source of tension, Ocean County beachgoers were surveyed to
gain an understanding of the perceptions and implications carried by common coastal
management options. The survey tool explored community member perceptions and knowledge of
the science of dunes, beach replenishment, and other forms of coastal protection as well as
legislative issues related to management regulations, FEMA and tax money allocation, and
homeowner rights. Informants also reported the changes they have noticed since Superstorm
Sandy, and the quality of current storm damage protection in their area. The survey was carried out
among beachgoers and property owners in Ocean County, NJ at six locations - Harvey Cedars,
Ship Bottom, Beach Haven, Ortley Beach, Island Beach State Park, and Bay Head. Results were
analyzed by demographic and location to recognize patterns in opinions and knowledge. Opinions
on beach replenishment and its practices varied, but all participants were in favor of dunes in front
of oceanfront homes. This is interesting because there is a general lack of education in dune
management, but a clear support for dune fortification. The information and lessons learned here
will only grow more important for future beach management practices.

Discussion

Procedure

Sampling Strategy
A quota sample, aiming for an equal representation of
informants from 6 different townships was used. The sampling
strategy strived to include men and women, as well as younger
and older residents. The youngest participant was 18 and the
oldest was 78. The quota sample includes eight residents from
each of the eight townships surveyed (N=48), Harvey Cedars,
Ship Bottom, Beach Haven, Ortley Beach, Island Beach State
Park, and Bay Head. Informants were selected randomly along
the beaches of each township.

Data Collection
A semi-structured interview instrument including open-ended
questions about opinions and attitudes regarding dune and
beach management was used in this study. Informants fell
into three different demographics: long-term resident,
frequent beachgoer, and oceanfront homeowner. For the
later, additional individuals were contacted by telephone as
beachfront homeowners are more difficult to randomly

Data Analysis
The text derived from the open-ended questions was first
quantified for each question. Answers were characterized into
set different responses. These responses were then analyzed for
reoccurring themes, conducting content analysis. The themes
were then correlated with demographic information using SPSS
to conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analysis
(Avenarius 2016).

To discover the opinions and knowledge base of Ocean County on beach management and
dunes, and thereby illuminate community misconceptions to pave the way for smoother future
management practices and thus a better protected shoreline.

Introduction

Dunes protect communities from destructive waves by physically blocking the area (Nordstrom
and Jackson 2013).
A dunes profile varies from high elevation with buildup from wind-trapped sand and from being
practically flat as a result of an extreme storm or hurricane (Rogers and Nash 2003).
In order to build up the recently flattened dunes, proper maintenance should be implemented
onto the dunes to fortify them. Dune fencing prevents pedestrians from trekking onto the dunes
resulting in further damage (O Connell 2008). Both fencing and vegetation catch the windblown
sand (Doody 2013). Vegetation also allows a dune to become a functioning ecosystem and adds
to the structural integrity of the dune (Freestone and Nordstrom 2001).
Although hard structures such as jetties, bulkheads, and seawalls have often dominated
coastal management, there has been a recent shift towards living shorelines, a more natural
approach of controlling inshore erosion that is better for the environment (Talton 2016).
Beach replenishment involves taking sand or gravel from an outside source and dumping it
along the retreating shoreline to widen or replace an eroding beach. Beach replenishment is a
form of soft stabilization. Shoreline stabilization is coastal engineering to hold a shoreline in
place.
Beach replenishment is used across the United States and parts of Europe to slow down
erosion, reduce storm surges, and create more recreational opportunities. However, beach
replenishment is an extremely costly, Band-Aid solution lasting only 3-7 years. Beach
replenishment also damages the beachs ecosystem and swimming conditions (Pilkey and
Cooper 2014).
The state Department of Environmental Protection is using eminent domain laws and
government funding to seize private property and enforce the project along the NJ coast.

Figure 9: Army Corp replenished dune

Figure 8: A tall, stable dune with vegetation

Figure 7: A nascent dune with vegetation and fencing

Results
Table 1:A total of 48 participants were
surveyed (N=48). There were 32 female
informants and 16 male informants. The
youngest was 18 and the oldest 78.

Identified that Vegetation Stabalizes Dunes

Most Cost Effective Coastal Protection

Current Protetcion in Ocean County

No; 17%

Good or Better
Poor and Needs
Improvement

30%

Gender
F
M
Age group Under
40
40 to 49

Yes; 83%

50 to 59
Over 60

Identified that Vegetation Catches Sand

Total

2%

10

11
10
32

4
6
16

15
16
48

70%

40%

Figure 13: Participants rated the current protection in

Ocean County. Men were overall more optimistic than
women.

Right of Oceanfront Homeowner to Refuse a Dune

Figure 18: Participants were asked what they believe is the most
cost effective solution to maintaining our beaches as safe shorelines.
In the free-response, 40% of participants cited dunes, which far
exceeded any other solution.

17%

Most Effective Forms of Coastal Protection

In Favor
Against

Identified that Fencing Keeps Humans Off Dunes

Under 20
K
20 to 50 K
50 to 100
K
100 to 200
K
Over 200
K

No; 48%

Total

40 to 49 50 to 59 Over 60

17

15

10

15

16

48

Mentioned these Forms of

Protection as Effective
Drainage
House Raising
Jetties
No data
Sandbags

83%

Figure 14: Participants gave their opinion on an oceanfront

homeowner's right to refuse a dune in front of their home.
Only 7 were for this right, 2 of which were oceanfront
homeowners.

2%
4%
2% 2%

8% 2% 2% 2%
10%

2%

Bulkheads
Dunes Further Back
Dunes
Houses Further Back
Replenishment
Sea Walls

In Favor
Against
No Opinion

6%

Needed Protection Suggestion

Figure 19: Participants were asked to list what forms of coastal

defense they were familiar with and then rank them in order of
effectiveness protecting against storm surge. The most popular
response was dunes with 60% of participants mentioning dunes.

35%

Figure 2: Island Beach State Park is characterized

with strong, natural and vegetated dunes.
Yes; 27%

Figure 15: Participants gave their opinion on a regulation

that prevents oceanfront homeowners from maintaining the
dune in front of their homes. Of the participants who were for
the regulation, a third of them believe the government should
regulate dunes.

Noticed Different Fencing Configurations

8%

Protection
Sand
Beach
"
"
Vegetation

6%
26%

15%

Dune Restoration Event

46%

40%

Figure 11: Informants (N=48) were asked how Ocean County could be
better protected in a free-response question.

Figure 3: Wide beaches and protected dunes in

Ship Bottom utilizing a modified-fencing pattern.

60%

Figure 20: The first question participants were asked was what
comes to mind when they here the term dune.

Figure 4: Wide beaches and protected dunes in

Ship Bottom utilizing a modified-fencing pattern.

Identified Purpose of Configuration

Start of Established Dune

Toe of Dune; 17%

No Data; 23%

Start of Nascent Dune

Idenitified Start; 13%

Toe of Dune; 42%

Figure 16: Informants were asked if they have ever

participated in a dune restoration event. Of those that had,
half of the were over 60 years of age. The best predictor of
involvement in a dune restoration event is owning a beach
front house (p<0.005).

Beach Preference and Replenishment Stance

Natural preferred

No; 52%

Foredune Slope; 33%

Replenish preferred

In Favor of Dunes
20

Idenified Start; 50%

Foredune Slope; 46%

Yes; 25%
0
8

100%
Figure 5: Fortified, vegetated dunes in Bay Head.

Figure 6: Army Corp Beach Replenishment in

Harvey Cedars.

Figure 10: Informants (N=48) were asked in a

free-response question to identify the purpose
of fencing, vegetation, and varying fence
configurations in dune management.

Figure 12: Informants were shown pictures of an established and nascent

dune and instructed to indicate the start of the dune. The actual start is at
the toe of the dune.

Figure 17: When asked to give their take on promoting the

building of dunes in Ocean County all participants were in
favor of dunes.

Ocean County fully supports the construction and maintenance of dunes along the coast.
Many are in favor of beach replenishment, but there is room for persuasion towards a living shoreline.
Dunes were cited most often as the most cost effective solution to maintaining our beaches as safe
shorelines.
Most of Ocean County is against the right of an oceanfront homeowner to refuse a dune.
Participants were optimistic on the current state of protection in Ocean County.
There is a lack of education in proper dune management, the public needs to be educated in order to
produce strong, stable dunes that will protect the coastal communities and also improve the health of
our shoreline.

I would like to thank Bianca R. Charbonneau of the University of Pennsylvania for giving me the
opportunity to conduct this study. I would also like to thank Christine Avenarius of East Carolina
University for assisting me in creating a survey tool and statistically analyzing the data. Lastly, I would
like to thank my school, the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science, and my advisor,
Dr. John Wnek.

References

Particated
Have Not Participated

Yes; 75%

Figure 24: Army Corp Beach

Replenishment in Ship Bottom.

Acknowledgements

Assocations with the Term "Dune"

59%

No; 73%

62%

Regulation that Prohibits Homeowners from Maintaning Their Dune

Figure 23: A severe blowout on Long Beach

Island after Superstorm Sandy.

Conclusion

Total

Identified that Fencing Collects Sand

No; 25%

Figure 22: Bay Head after

Hurricane Joaquin 2015.

Age group
Under
40

Yes; 52%

23%

4%

2%

Income by Age
No; 94%

2%

Total

Table 2: Economic backgrounds varied from under $ 20 000 gross a

year to earning over $ 200 000 a year. Income brackets correlates
highly with age, younger people and retirees reporting less income than
participants between 40 and 60 years of age (p<0.05 ).

Yes; 6%

10%

17%

Most Cost Effective

Coastal Protection
Community and
Education
Dont Know
Dredging
Dunes
Hard Structures
House Raising
Nothing Can Be Done
Replenishment

Age group by gender

Income

Figure 1: An example of the lack or protection in

Ortley Beach with a house right on the beach.

Objective

The results displayed in Figure 10 illustrate a lack of education on dune maintenance. Most
participants were aware that vegetation stabilizes dunes and fencing keeps humans off the dunes.
These are important aspects of dune maintenance; however most participants were unaware that
fencing and vegetation serve to catch windblown sand.
Additionally, many did not notice changes in fencing configurations, and even more did not know
the purpose of changing configurations is to accumulate more sand. The added surface area and
angles of modified fencing can grow a dunes profile to a protection level that rivals beach
replenishment (Cochran 2015).
Dunes can serve as both a protective barrier and a functioning ecosystem that benefits the overall
health of the beach (Charbonneau 2015). However, this role can only be achieved through
knowledge of proper dune maintenance. The results of this study indicate that education programs
are necessary to preserve the vitality of dunes.
Although 8% of participants intrinsically responded that they associate dunes with the term keep
out (Figure 20), only 33% of participants correctly identified the start of an established dune and
46% percent for a nascent dune as seen in Figure 12. The nascent dune and established dune
shown to participants can be seen in Figure 7 and 8. These results show that although participants
know to keep off dunes, they assume that dunes start further back then they actually do.
When referring to Figure 18 and 19, it is important to note that dunes was cited as the most
effective form of coastal protection, as well as the most cost effective.
The topic of beach replenishment was heavily explored in the survey. About half of the participants
prefer natural beaches and the other half prefers replenished beaches as seen in Figure 21.
However, 65% of participants support beach replenishment activities. The others are split equally
between people who are against any form of beach replenishment and those who wish to take a
neutral stand towards such measures. Not surprisingly, when correlating the preference for beach
types and the opinions towards beach replenishment, those who are against beach replenishment
prefer natural beaches (significant at the p<.001 level).
There is room for education and possibly persuasion. One third of the people who are for
replenishment state that they prefer natural beaches and two thirds of those with a neutral stance
prefer natural beaches.
However, it is equally important to communicate that all participants, without exception are in favor
of supporting dunes and their protection and maintenance as seen in Figure 17.

11

3
6

Figure 21: Correlating preference for beach types and opinions

towards beach replenishment, those who are against beach
replenishment prefer natural beaches (p<.001).

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