The Beach Management Plan for Maui seeks to promote beach preservation and sustainable development of the coastal zone. The report makes recommendations on how Maui County can better address beach management issues. It is intended to be a guiding policy document, rather than be adopted in its entirety as formal law, although specific recommendations may best be implemented through revisions of existing rules and regulations.
We have identified thirteen areas for implementing more effective beach management practices. Each area has a short introduction followed by a statement of objectives and specific recommendations. Although the sections are numbered, they are not ordered chronologically nor in order of priority or importance. In fact, many of the recommendations will need to be implemented concurrently in order to be most effective.
1. Identification of Erosion Hotspots and Erosion Watchspots
Erosion hotspots are areas where coastal erosion has threatened shoreline development or infrastructure. They are existing management challenges. In most cases, the shoreline has been armored to protect property and development, and there has been a noticeable environmental impact and/or a decrease in recreational use. Erosion hotspots can be restored, but restoration will require substantial economic resources. Erosion watchspots are areas where the coastal environment will soon be threatened if shoreline erosion trends continue. A potential conflict between the desire to protect property and the desire to maintain the beach resource exists at erosion watchspots. Lost beaches are a subset of erosion hotspots. Lost beaches lack a recreational beach, and lateral shoreline access is very difficult-if not impossible.
It is essential to recognize these existing and potential erosion problem areas when planning developments or redevelopments, regulating structures, and considering prospective areas for coastal protection or beach nourishment projects. A list of preliminary hotspot and watchspot erosion areas appears in Table 2. These areas were identified by an analysis of a coastal erosion rate study (MAKAI OCEAN ENGINEERING, INC. AND SEA ENGINEERING, INC., 1991), reports of long-time coastal residents, and site inspections.
Table 2. Preliminary Erosion Hotspots, Watchspots, and Lost Beaches for Maui.
Objective
1.1) To identify existing and potential erosion problem areas along Maui's shoreline
Recommendations
1.1a) Sponsor a study to better identify Maui's erosion hotspots and watchspots and to analyze the possible causes of erosion1.1b) Acknowledge the special nature of erosion hotspots and watchspots when planning shoreline developments, infrastructure, and restoration projects
1.1c) Require data on shoreline erosion/accretion trends for any proposed coastal development
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