Gulf Shores' 2001 Beach Nourishment

The City of Gulf Shores nourished several miles of their beaches in early 2001.  Beach nourishment is the placement of large amounts of good quality sand on the beach to widen it.  Nourishment is one of the engineering remedies to beach erosion that has been widely developed in the last few decades and dozens of America’s most popular beaches have now been saved by beach nourishment.  This was the first major, engineered beach nourishment project in Alabama's history.

Gulf Shores before nourishment

Between January and March, 2001, about 1.7 million cubic yards of sand were pumped along several miles of beach in the central business district of Gulf Shores.  After pumping, sand fencing was built and dune vegetation was planted along the back of the new beach.  The sand source was an ancient sand deposit found about a mile offshore of the beach.  In terms of grain size and color, the new sand matches the native beach sand very closely.  There appear to be more seashell fragments distributed in the new sand than were present in the native beach sands.

Gulf Shores after nourishment

As part of the design of the beach nourishment project, the City of Gulf Shores is now monitoring the behavior of the new sand.  Monitoring is a vital part of a sound beach restoration plan.  One year after construction, careful monitoring surveys found 100% of the new sand.  In April 2002, the beaches were, on average, about 160 feet wider and some of them were over 240 feet wider than before nourishment.   There were about 70 more acres of dry sand beach than before nourishment.  Some of the new sand has moved out into the nearshore sand bar system.  This expected shift has reduced the dry beach width and dry beach area since construction was completed.  The sand bar system is part of the beach system.

Nourishment under construction in March 2001