Knowra Seawall Seawall A seawall is a barrier built along a shore to protect land and structures from waves, erosion, and flooding. It can be made from concrete, stone, steel, or other materials.
Wave reflection : The return of wave energy from a surface or boundary toward the direction it came from. A seawall reflects wave energy, which can scour the seabed at its base.
Breakwater : A structure built offshore or nearshore to reduce wave energy reaching a coast or harbor. Unlike a seawall, a breakwater typically reduces waves before they reach the shore.
Coastal flood defense : Measures that reduce flooding from the sea in coastal communities and landscapes. Seawalls are one structural option for limiting coastal floodwaters.
Coastal squeeze : The loss of intertidal habitat when rising seas meet fixed barriers or developed land that prevents inland migration. A seawall can block marshes and beaches from moving landward as sea level rises.
Wave run-up : The maximum height waves reach on a beach or coastal structure above still water level. Run-up determines how high a wall must be to limit overtopping.
Groynes : Structures projecting from a shore that interrupt sediment movement along the coast. Groynes manage beach sediment, while seawalls chiefly shield land behind them.
Storm surge : An abnormal rise of coastal water generated primarily by a storm's winds and low pressure. Surge raises water against a seawall and can combine with waves to overtop it.
Beach erosion : The loss or landward movement of beach sediment caused by waves, currents, storms, or human activity. Reflected waves and restricted sediment movement can worsen erosion in front of a wall.
Coastal erosion : The wearing away and movement of coastal land by waves, currents, wind, or other processes. Seawalls aim to protect land from erosion but can shift erosion elsewhere.
Living shoreline : A coastal edge stabilized with natural materials and vegetation, sometimes combined with structures. Living shorelines use ecological processes rather than relying solely on a hard barrier.
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