CCS Monthly Forum

Abstract: 

The state of Florida has invested more than $550 million in beach nourishment since 2019 to address coastal erosion. Nourishment slows coastal erosion through the widening of the beach to replace lost sediment. This method often represents a short-term solution requiring recurring sand placements. Sediments used for nourishment projects require quality control of grain size and color but not of shell content. Calcium Carbonate shell hash is naturally present on Florida beaches and can impact the geotechnical properties of beach sediments.

Investigation of beach sand from Flagler Beach, Florida provided a possible link between calcium carbonate shell hash presence and soil erodibility. Laboratory testing of beach sand with and without shell hash suggested that both soil grain size and soil friction angle increased with presence of shells while moisture content was more dependent on the proportion of shell present.

Bio:

Noah Evans is a coastal geosystems engineering Ph.D. student working under the guidance of CCS Director Nina Stark, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Emily Eidam, Ph.D., at Oregon State University. His research focuses on coastal sediment transportation and its impact on the geotechnical properties of muddy tidal flats. When he is not knee-deep in mud, Noah enjoys hiking and canoeing Florida’s trails and rivers, and he never misses an opportunity to photograph an interesting bird or breathtaking landscape.