Ecobeach

Ecobeach is a relatively simple, innovative beach drainage system that has been developed with the basic intention to stabilize the sand volume of beaches that are sensitive to erosion. Besides stabilizing the beach, Ecobeach can also lead to sand accretion. 

A stable beach and/or accretion of beach has a positive effect on the development of the beach ecosystem. Besides, Ecobeach in combination with a sand nourishment at the foreshore can be more cost-effective compared to a relatively expensive beach nourishment. The CO₂ emission will be reduced to zero after installation (operational phase). The drainage tubes are also sustainable, because they can potentially be re-used.

The Ecobeach system causes a transport of sand from the foreshore to higher parts of the beach and prevents the sand from being removed from the beach. The application of Ecobeach in combination with a foreshore nourishment results in a more effective nourishment with a longer lifetime of the nourishment. The combination of Ecobeach and a relatively cheap foreshore nourishment results in an accretion of the beach.

The sand that is deposited on the beach due to Ecobeach can be moved by the wind to the base of the dune. This results in an increase of potential recreational area’s and a strengthening of the dunes and the coast as a whole.