Coastal Management Notes
Two different approaches: hard and soft engineering methods
Hard Approach- creating or building structure to defend against erosive power of waves
Soft Approach-No long-term structures, focuses on planning and management so that both coastal areas and properties will not be damaged by erosion. Aims at changing individual behaviour towards coastal protection by encouraging minimal human interference.
Hard approach:
Seawalls- They are built along the coast to absorb the energy of waves before they can cause erosion. Especially good at protecting cliffs and can be made out of concrete, wood , rocks, etc. Seawalls are costly to build and maintain. Cannot prevent the backwash or refraction of waves from washing away beach materials beneath the walls, which undermines the base of the wall and it can collapse.
Breakwater- Can be built with one end attached to the coast or away from the coast. They break the force of high energy waves before they can reach the shore. When constructed offshore, it can create a zone of calm water behind them and allow deposition to occur, forming beaches.
Groynes- They are built at right angles to the shore to prevent longshore drift. They absorbs or reduce the energy of waves and cause materials to be deposited on the side of the groyne facing the longshore drift. However, erosion can occur at places not protected by it.
Gabions- Wired cages filled with crushed rocks. Piles up along the shore to prevent or reduce coastal erosion by weakening wave energy. Short-term, requires a lot of maintanance and are easily eroded.
Soft Engineering:
Beach Nourishment- Constant replenishment of large quantities of sand to the beach system. Beach is extended seaward, which leads to the improvement of beach quality and storm protection. Costly to transport large quantities of sand to fill up the beach and sufficient sand is needed. Sand being eroded and transported away by waves and wind and can affect wildlife.
Relocation of properties- No building of properties are allowed in coastal areas vulnerable to coastal erosion. The east coast of England has a "green line" policy that discourages building located beyond it. With the danger of increasing sea levels due to global warming, relocation is important.
Planting of Mangroves- Mangroves with their prop roots help trap sediments and reduce coastal erosion. As mangrove communities grow seawards, they extend the coastal land seawards. People sometimes remove them, for development, very bad
Stabilising Dunes- Access points to the beach should be controlled and designated so as not to be disturbed by human traffic. Shrubs and trees can be planted to help keep sand in place.
Growth of Coral Reefs- Artificial reefs can be created by placing environmentally friendly and long-lived materials like steel or concrete on the sea floor. Living organisms start to grow on it. Just as productive as natural reefs. Break the waves and make it less abrasive on the shore
Reflection: North Carolina uses mainly soft approaches. That is because hard approaches wouldn't work with our beaches because the eyesore of hard approaches would reduce tourism and putting up blocks would impede the traffic of animals such as sea turtles.
Rangelands Notes
Types of Rangelands- Most deserts (except the barren parts) , tundra, vegetation around wetlands, savannas, shrublands, open forests , grasslands, and some pastures (not the highly-managed ones)
Rangeland- uncultivated land dominated by native plants
All land that is not farmland, dense forest, barren desert or land covered by solid rock, concrete, or glaciers
Not all rangelands are grazed, but it has to be a rangeland in order to be grazed
47% of the Earth's land is rangeland
Majority of rangeland in the US is "public land" overseen by the federal government.
8 uses of rangelands: livestock production, wildlife habitat, water, minerals (oil, coal, sulfur), native plant products, recreation, open space, western heritage.
Rangeland Management- careful use and management of rangeland of resources ( plants, animals, soil, and water) to met the needs and desires of society without damaging the resource. The term that best describes range management is INTEGRATED.
The "needs and desires of society" are continually changing, but the environment is very important as well.
Fences can be placed to control how a pasture is grazed and provide seasons or years of rest from grazing.
The number of livestock can be increased or decreased to meet management objectives. Very heavy grazing may be .....
The species of livestock to be grazed must be carefully selected because each species differs in the diet they select. And, different species of livestock also differ in type of terrain they use.
Range managers often need to use weed control practices (such as fire, grazing, or herbicides) to reduce the growth of weeds and allow native plants to grow. Fire is a natural force in nearly all rangeland ecosystems.
A riparian zone- on the sides of the banks of a river, you allow vegetation to grow to prevent soil erosion.
Rangeland- uncultivated land dominated by native plants
All land that is not farmland, dense forest, barren desert or land covered by solid rock, concrete, or glaciers
Not all rangelands are grazed, but it has to be a rangeland in order to be grazed
47% of the Earth's land is rangeland
Majority of rangeland in the US is "public land" overseen by the federal government.
8 uses of rangelands: livestock production, wildlife habitat, water, minerals (oil, coal, sulfur), native plant products, recreation, open space, western heritage.
Rangeland Management- careful use and management of rangeland of resources ( plants, animals, soil, and water) to met the needs and desires of society without damaging the resource. The term that best describes range management is INTEGRATED.
The "needs and desires of society" are continually changing, but the environment is very important as well.
Fences can be placed to control how a pasture is grazed and provide seasons or years of rest from grazing.
The number of livestock can be increased or decreased to meet management objectives. Very heavy grazing may be .....
The species of livestock to be grazed must be carefully selected because each species differs in the diet they select. And, different species of livestock also differ in type of terrain they use.
Range managers often need to use weed control practices (such as fire, grazing, or herbicides) to reduce the growth of weeds and allow native plants to grow. Fire is a natural force in nearly all rangeland ecosystems.
A riparian zone- on the sides of the banks of a river, you allow vegetation to grow to prevent soil erosion.
Rangeland Question
1.In what part of the US are most federal lands located? The west
2. Find the "Bread Basket" of the United States. On what type of land is most wheat grown on? Grasslands
3. Which state has the most Native American reservations? Arizona
4. Which agency of the federal government has the most land in Utah? Bureau of Land Managment
5. Which biome best describes the Utah lands indicated in yellow?
A. Savanna B. Desert C. Forest D. Grassland D. Grasslands
6. Along what geological feature is most Utah's forest land located? Rocky Mountains
7. What two geological features in Utah are owned by the Bureau of Reclamation? Canyons and rivers
2. Find the "Bread Basket" of the United States. On what type of land is most wheat grown on? Grasslands
3. Which state has the most Native American reservations? Arizona
4. Which agency of the federal government has the most land in Utah? Bureau of Land Managment
5. Which biome best describes the Utah lands indicated in yellow?
A. Savanna B. Desert C. Forest D. Grassland D. Grasslands
6. Along what geological feature is most Utah's forest land located? Rocky Mountains
7. What two geological features in Utah are owned by the Bureau of Reclamation? Canyons and rivers