Project Veracruz: An assessment for the eroding beach south of Veracruz

Due to frequently occurring storms, like hurricanes and cold fronts, the coasts around the Mexican port city Veracruz suffer from erosion. This is most severe at the beaches of Boca del Rio just south of the city of Veracruz. Here, small beaches can be found between large groynes. These groynes block the southward littoral drift significantly but proved not to provide protection against episodic storm erosion. The cause of the erosional problem is in cross-shore direction, therefore solutions should be considered which act in this direction as well. Eventually a nourishment, a dune, an offshore submerged breakwater and a beach toe were designed as possible solutions. Firstly the impact on the current situation is simulated which is referred to as the do-nothing situation. Afterwards, runs were done with an XBeach model to check the storm impact on the beach profile for several combinations of the solutions mentioned above. To evaluate the simulations above six criteria were taken into account with different importance. The extent to which the erosion is counteracted and the costs are the most important criteria, besides values for the sustainability, durability, recreational value and hindrance contribute as well to the total score of a considered solution. Finally two combinations showed interesting results. On the one hand a nourishment and on the other hand an uninterrupted submerged breakwater in combination with a nourishment. Both can additionally be combined with a dune resulting in a slightly higher value due to better performance and higher recreational value. \u95 A nourishment is initially a cheap solution, but has to be maintained every few years by additional nourishments, resulting in increasing costs and hindrance for beach recreation. A large benefit of only performing beach nourishment is that abundance of sand will be available due to extension works at the port of Veracruz. \u95 The combination of a breakwater and a nourishment requires a high initial investment. The result however is a very durable solution which will protect the coastal system for many years without maintenance. Besides the costs a disadvantage is that large amounts of rock have to be imported to construct the breakwater, which does not contribute to a sustainable solution. Eventually it depends on the national and local governments which of the solutions above will be performed. They can choose between a very durable solution with high initial investments or an initially cheaper solution which is sustainable but demands frequent maintenance.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience