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Man-Made Structures in the California Coastal Zone

Voluntary Local Knowledge Survey 
The goals of this project are to:

               - Encourage communication between scientists, coastal planners, residents and beach users.

               - Document local knowledge of the coastline.

               - Determine how man-made coastal structures may impact beaches.

As you know, sandy beaches are one of our state’s greatest natural assets.  One way in which we have altered sandy beaches is through the construction of artificial structures along the shoreline.  There are currently more than 200 man-made structures on the California coast that extend from the beach into the ocean.  These structures include groins (used to hold sand in place), jetties (to keep harbor entrances and river mouths open), breakwaters (to reduce wave energy), piers, wharves and fences.  People, the beach, and the ocean all interact with man-made coastal structures in different ways that are not well understood. 

This survey was inspired by conversations with beach users in the Ventura area.  These conversations highlighted the lack of connection between scientific observations and local knowledge.  Many Californians regularly observe/interact with portions of the coast and develop an awareness and understanding of both typical and unusual local conditions.  This direct local knowledge is rarely recorded or explored.  Thousands of dollars of expensive equipment and scientific research cannot duplicate the historic observations that some regular beach users possess.  

This survey asks questions that will try to document your local knowledge of the effects that man-made coastal structures in your area have on recreation, ecology, sandy beaches and ocean waves.

The results of this survey will be used to evaluate the performance of existing structures, document public opinion of their effectiveness, appearance and impact and to increase our understanding of how these structures influence the coast.   This survey has no direct influence on management decisions in your immediate area but the findings will be made available to both local and state planners.

This academic survey is being conducted by the Coastal Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz. 
Funding for this project was generously provided by the Friends of Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz, CA.  To learn more about projects that they fund, events and activities you may visit their website at:   www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter
All individual responses will be kept confidential.
The inclusion of personal identifying information is optional.
Please complete the general survey questions below:

Town of residence:

Duration of residence in your general area:
0-1 year    
1-4 years    
5-9 years    
10-19 years    
20+ years    

Age: <18     18-29     30-49     50+    

Overall, how frequently would you say that you visit the beach?
Less than once per month    
At least once per month    
At least once per week    
Nearly every day      

Which of the following activities do you regularly engage in along the coast ( please check ALL that apply):
Surfriding     Fishing     Diving     Swimming     Walking/Running     Biking    
Sunbathing     Sand Sports     Boating      Other :    

Is there a certain time of year that you visit the ocean more frequently?
In the summer     In the winter     No, I am there year-round  


Occasionally additional sand is put on the beach by humans through a management practice known as “beach nourishment” (intended to widen beaches or dispose of excess sand from harbor dredging).
Which statement most closely matches your opinion of this practice?
        I disapprove of it completely.
        I believe that it should be considered in certain areas.    
        I think it is a good solution for areas impacted by erosion.    
        I have no opinion of it.

Have you ever observed the human addition of sand to beaches in your area?
No     Yes -- if yes, please answer the questions in the box below 
Where?

From your observations, what impacts do you think the addition of sand had on recreation?
 None     or describe:    

From your observations, what impacts do you think the addition of sand had on local plants and wildlife?
 None     or describe:    

How long did you notice the presence of the additional sand? less than 1 month     1 month to 1 year     more than 1 year     I don't know  



Many structures like the one shown in the photo above have been in place for 30 years or more. Think of a similar structure on a beach that you frequently visit. Which statement is closest to your own opinion?
       I like it, I think it serves a useful purpose and improves the beach.    
       I consider the structure to be a part of the beach and I don’t really think about it much.  
       I think of the structure as an unnecessary annoyance.    
       I don’t know or I can’t think of a structure near me.    

Which statement is closest to your opinion on the visual impact of these structures?
       They are eyesores on our beautiful beaches.    
       I don’t mind them but I would change their appearance if given the option.  
       I think the aesthetic impact is negligible.    
       I think they improve the appearance of the beach.    

Do you consider these structures to be dangerous?
       No    
       Yes    

Which of the following statements do you most closely agree with?
       All of these structures have a negative impact on areas located down the coast.    
       Some these structures have a negative impact on areas located down the coast.    
       None of these structures have a negative impact on areas located down the coast.    
       I don’t know.    

In your opinion, do these structures commonly trap additional litter and pollutants?
       No  
       Yes    

Have you observed any plants or animals on or around these types of structures that are not present elsewhere in the immediate coastal area?
No     Yes -- if yes, please answer the questions in the box below 
Where? 

 What Types?
  

What is your overall reaction to the following terms?                                     
Strongly Negative Negative Neutral Positive Strongly Positive Unfamiliar
     Artificial Beach                                      
     Man-made Structure                                        
     Coastal Management                                        
     Beach Nourishment                                      
     Sediment Retention Structure                                      
     Groin                                      
     Jetty                                      
     Breakwater                                      
     Dredging                                      
     Managed Retreat                                      

Do you have any memories of intense storm events that affected beaches in your area?
No     Yes -- if yes, please answer the questions in the box below 
Where? 
Approximately what year? (if you remember more than one please describe the largest event)

 What types of changes to the beach did you notice after the storm event?
 
Based on your memory, did beach areas right next to man-made coastal structures behave differently?
No     or describe:    

Man-made coastal structures in California were primarily constructed between the 1960’s and the 1990’s. Do you have any specific memories of the construction or maintenance of any of these features?
No     Yes -- if yes, please answer the questions in the box below 
Where? 
Did you notice any change in the behavior of waves after the construction?
No     or describe:
Did you notice any change in the shape of the beach after the construction?
No     or describe:


Are there any additional comments that you would like to make about man-made stuctures or coastal management in your area?  

Please share any additional information in the space below.
                                                  


THIS SECTION OF THE SURVEY IS OPTIONAL
Name:
Email Address:
Contact Phone:
Would you be interested in completing a one page survey about specific stuctures in your area?
No     Yes  (please insure your email address is correct)
Would you be interested in hearing about the results of this study by email?
No     Yes  (please insure your email address is correct)    

For more information please contact Nic Kinsman at nkinsman@ucsc.edu

***Click here to submit the completed Survey***-->                            
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
Created by mailform 2.0.6 on Tue Jan 20 15:10:21 2009.