Sediment Budget Approach to Addressing Coastal Erosion Problems in St. Ouen's Bay, Jersey, Channel Islands

The reasons for the erosion problems being experienced on a popular tourist beach in Jersey, Channel Islands, have been determined using a thorough geomorphological assessment. This assessment has been founded upon sound geomorphological principles and a sediment budget approach. It has been found that the beach lowering and sediment losses being experienced are primarily related to the cessation of sediment input from the finite offshore sources, the construction of a seawall which has exacerbated the erosion and the mining of beach sand. The geomorphological assessment provides a fundamental baseline upon which coastal management options can be proposed which offer a sustainable solution to the problems being experienced.