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Environmental Foundation of Jamaica Project No. 05/06/010-PL480

Beach Erosion and Other Coastal Hazards: Ensuring Safety at the Community and Management Levels

BEACHES

Beach Erosion And Coastal Hazards: Ensuring Safety

PHASE TWO FINAL REPORT April, 2008

Prepared for the

Environmental Foundation of Jamaica

By:

The Marine Geology Unit

Department of Geography and Geology The University of the West Indies

Mona Campus Kingston 7 Jamaica

This report was prepared by Edward Robinson, Shakira A. Khan and Richard A. Coutou

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................. 1

1.1 Project Objectives ................................................................................... 1

1.2 Project location and personnel ............................................................... 2

2 Implementation .............................................................................................. 3

3 Analysis of historical data .............................................................................. 5

4 Near-Shore Bathymetry ................................................................................. 5

5 Data Storage.................................................................................................. 1

6 COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAMME ................................................ 1

6.1 St. Margaret’s Bay .................................................................................. 3

6.1.1 Physiography and Geology ............................................................. 3

6.1.1.1 Coastline morphology ............................................................... 3

6.1.2 Nearshore descriptions .................................................................... 7

6.1.3 Hazards ........................................................................................... 9

6.1.4 Community awareness programme ............................................... 11

6.2 Homers Cove ........................................................................................ 12

6.2.1 Physiography and Geology ........................................................... 12

6.2.1.1 Coastline morphology ............................................................. 13

6.2.2 Nearshore Description ................................................................... 16

6.2.3 Hazards ......................................................................................... 17


6.3 Farquhar’s Beach ................................................................................. 20



6.3.2 Nearshore description ................................................................... 27

6.3.3 Hazards ......................................................................................... 27


6.4 Galina ................................................................................................... 29


6.4.2 Nearshore area description ........................................................... 31

6.4.3 Hazards ......................................................................................... 33

6.4.4 Community awareness program .................................................... 34

6.5 Copacabana and Wickie Wackie .......................................................... 35



6.5.2 Nearshore area description ........................................................... 40

6.5.3 Hazards ......................................................................................... 41


7 BEACHES Workshop .................................................................................. 45

8 OTHER ACTIVITIES .................................................................................... 47

9 PUBLIC RELATIONS .................................................................................. 52

10 Problems and Distractions in Project Execution ....................................... 54

REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 55

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APPENDIX A.2 Table of Advisory committee members and meeting held for the period July 2006 to April 2007............................................................................. 57

APPENDIX B - Minutes & progress reports for the project; July 2006 to April 2007 .................................................................................................................... 58

11 ........................................................................................................................ 64 APPENDIX C ...................................................................................................... 68

Facsimile of materials produced for the community of St. Margaret’s Bay, Portland .............................................................................................................. 68

Appendix D ........................................................................................................ 70

Facsimile of materials produced for the community of Farquhar’s Beach, Clarendon ........................................................................................................... 70 Appendix E ........................................................................................................ 72

Facsimile of educational materials produced for the community of Galina, St. ... 72

Mary .................................................................................................................... 72

Appendix E.2 Brochure provided to community members, with the hazard map and guidelines for safe building practices suitable in this setting and tips on hurricane preparedness. ..................................................................................... 73 Appendix F ........................................................................................................ 74

Facsimile of materials produced for the community of Homers Cove and Little Bay, Westmoreland ............................................................................................. 74

Appendix G ........................................................................................................ 76

Appendix H .......................................................................................................... 1

Programme of Talks Pre4sneted at the workshop organised for the presentation of the findings of the BEACHES project and the hurricane dean impact assessment conducted island wide by various agencies. ..................................... 1

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Locations of nearshore bathymetric surveys conducted by the MGU ..... 1

Figure 2 Marine Geology Unit coastal hazard data base index (modified from the Shell Road Map 2007 edition) ............................................................................... 1

Figure 3 Coastal Communities assessed in Phase 2 of the B.E.A.C.H.E.S. project ................................................................................................................... 2

Figure 4 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 3, established by the Ken Jones Aero Drome, comparing the 12 month period, December 2006 to December 2007. ................................................................................................... 4

Figure 5 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 5, established east of the groynes in the center of the Bay and shows a comparison of the 12 month period, January 2006 and December 2006. .......................................................... 5

Figure 6 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 5, established December 2007. ..................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 7 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 9, established west of the mouth of the Rio Grande along the eastern side of the bay and showing a comparison of the 12 month period, December 2006 and December 2007. ......... 7

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Figure 8. Hazard map for St. Margaret’s Bay, Portland identifying critical facilities, areas below the 7 m contour which are susceptible to flooding and storm surge and near shore bathymetry of the bay. ................................................................. 8

Figure 9. Rear of a house, located along the eastern section of the bay which has been experiencing long term coastline retreat. Damage to this structure was caused by waves which now reach these buildings. ........................................... 10

Figure 10 Hazard Map prepared for the community of St. Margaret’s Bay. This map shows the style of map currently being produced, although the final map will use the same sheet lines defined in the IKONOS imagery index. ....................... 10

Figure 11. Residents attending the presentation made to the community of St. Margaret’s Bay during which the hazard map was presented and the various processes taking place in the bay and affecting the coast was explained. ......... 11

Figure 12. Limestone platform on which the community of Homers Cove, is situated ............................................................................................................... 13

Figure 13 Graph of the two profiles measured at the eastern end of Little Bay in May 2006 and December 2006 ........................................................................... 14

Figure 14 Graph of the two profiles measured in the center of Brighton Beach in May 2006 and December 2006 ........................................................................... 15

Figure 15. Graph of profile established on the Platform at Homers Cove showing the position of the debris ridge and elevation of the platform above sea level. WHERE IS THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM? .................................................. 16

Figure 16. Nearshore bathymetric map of Homers Cove and Little Bay ............. 17

Figure 17 Map of Homers Cove and Little Bay, showing distribution of mapped storm/tsunami deposits (Red dots) and nearshore bathymetry. .......................... 18

Figure 18 Several boulders placed onshore by hurricane Ivan, one of them blocked the path from the house behind to the sea. HOW FAR FROM THE SEA? HOW BIG ARE THEY (MASS)?.......................................................................... 18

Figure 19 Site of a house destroyed by the boulder strew deposited by Hurricane Ivan. .................................................................................................................... 19

Figure 20. Hazard Map of Homers Cove and Little Bay ...................................... 20

Figure 21. Community meeting held to discuss the hazards affecting Homers Cove ................................................................................................................... 20

Figure 22 Farquhar’s Beach following the passage of Hurricane Ivan, September 2004. Photo: J. Tyndale-Biscoe Co. Ltd. ............................................................ 21

Figure 23 Position of mangrove stand and beach sediments between the Milk River and Farquhar’s Beach over the period 1941-2004. ................................... 22

Figure 24 Dead mangrove tree in the swash zone (left). Long shore drift (right) has resulted in progradation of the beach at the same location. ......................... 23

Figure 25 Changes in the seaward edge of the mangrove (dashed lines) and the position of the beach (solid lines) between 2002 & 2007 .................................... 24

Figure 26 Graph of beach monitoring station established at the western end of the beach and shows a comparison of the 10 month period, June 2006 and April 2007. ................................................................................................................... 25

Figure 27 Rapid recovery of the beach in front of the fishing village at Farquhars Beach over a two month period, note the position of the tree once in the foreshore (January) now in the newly formed berm (March). .............................. 26

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Figure 28 Graph showing rapid changes in beach width over a two week period between March 7th 2007 and March 22nd 2007 at Farquhars Beach. .................. 27

Figure 29 Hazard Map prepared for the community of Farquhar’s Beach .......... 28

Figure 30. Members of the community attending the presentation made by the Unit on hazards affecting Farquhar’s Beach and Milk River area. ...................... 29

Figure 31 Example of a boulder on platform at Galina ....................................... 30

Figure 32 Physiographic map of the Galina area, showing distribution of mapped storm/tsunami deposits and nearshore bathymetry. ........................................... 31

Figure 33 Topographic map of the Galina area, showing depth soundings recorded to complete the nearshore bathymetry in this area. ............................. 32

Figure 34 Completed bathymetry of the north coast shelf between Galina Point and Crab Woods. Isobaths at five meter intervals............................................... 32

Figure 35 Galina Hazard Map prepared for the Community ............................... 34

Figure 36 Residents from Galina and surrounding areas listening to Prof. E. Robinson explain the processes involved in boulder emplacement on the platform. .............................................................................................................. 35

Figure 37 Copacabana post hurricane Ivan, September, 2004. Photo: J. Tyndale-Biscoe Co. Ltd..................................................................................................... 36

Figure 38 Material is supplied to the beaches through a westerly long shore drift transporting sediment brought to the coast by the Chalky and Cane Rivers. ...... 37

Figure 39. Locations of Profiles established along the south east coast to monitor changes in beach shape and impact of storms on this section of the coastline. . 38

Figure 40. Summary graph of beach profiles measured at Copacabana illustrating changes occurring over the 9 month period between June 2006 and March 2007. ........................................................................................................ 39

Figure 41 Summary Graph of the transect at Wickie Wackie monitored in Phase Two of the Project illustrating changes over the 10 month period between November 2006 and August 2007. ..................................................................... 40

Figure 42 Bathymetric map of the shelf south of Caribbean Terrace east to Wickie Wackie..................................................................................................... 41

Figure 43 Bathymetric map of the area east of the Palisadoes ........................... 41

Figure 44. Pond overflowed flooding adjacent street after heavy rain blocking access to these homes, Wickie Wackie, October 2005. ..................................... 42

Figure 45 Example of the damage caused by storm surge generated by Hurricane Ivan striped sediment from beach exposing beach rock (right) and undermining foundations of homes (Photo taken at Copacabana, September 2004) ................................................................................................................... 43

Figure 46 Hazard map of the Caribbean terrace to Wickie Wackie area identifying areas that are prone to coastal flooding and erosion. ......................................... 44

Figure 47. A resident of the community viewing the poster with the hazard map of the area with explanations and illustrations of the impact that these hazards have on the community. ............................................................................................... 45

Figure 48 Buried tsunami layer identified behind the beach at Iter Boreal, St. Mary .................................................................................................................... 47

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Figure 49 Coring for buried tsunami and/ or storm deposits in the swamps behind the beach at Iter Boreale (left). Core showing sediment layers within the swamp (right) .................................................................................................................. 48

Figure 50 Core showing sand layers between two peat layers from mangroves in St. Elizabeth ........................................................................................................ 49

Figure 51 Member of the USGS team examining a cross section of the debris ridge on the limestone platform at Galina St. Mary ............................................. 50

Figure 52 Storm ridge and boulder deposits at Homers Cove, Westmoreland ... 51

Figure 53 Map showing Boulder locations, Debris ridge and area prone to storm surge at Galina St. Mary ..................................................................................... 52

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1 BACKGROUND

This report covers the activities conducted under the EFJ project 05/06/010-

PL480, Beach Erosion And Other Coastal Hazards: Ensuring safety at the

Community and Management Levels up to the close of the project in January

2008.. This was an extension of a two year project 03/09/431-PL480 Evaluation

of Coastline Changes and Hazards in Jamaica to Improve Hazard Reduction

Strategies for Coastal Communities funded by the Environmental Foundation of

Jamaica (Rowe & Robinson, 2005; Robinson et al. 2006a). The acronym

B.E.A.C.H.E.S. (Beach Erosion And Coastal Hazards: Ensuring Safety) was

adopted for the first phase of the project and has been extended for this phase.

The wextended project incorporated investigations into the hazards affecting

coastal communities that are not only situated on beaches but also included

communities on cliffs that are at risk from severe storms and/or tsunamis. The

objectives of the project are outlined below. The impacts of Hurricanes Ivan

(September 2004), Dennis and Emily (July 2005) and the passage of hurricanes

Dean and Felix in August and September 2007 necessitated additional, EFJ-

funded field work to examine the after-effects of these storms, delaying some

aspects of the community awareness and hazard map completion parts of the

programme.

1.1 Project Objectives

The BEACHES project was designed to address and provide improved measures

of hazard susceptibility related to coastal erosion and the effects of storm

induced hazards which increasingly affect Jamaica’s coastline at both the

community and management levels. Through this project a comprehensive

database, housing current and historical data mainly in the form of aerial survey

photographs, maps and reports for the Jamaican coastline was developed. This

data was used to provide quantitative data on the rates of erosion along selected

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stretches of the coast as well as the extent to which storm waves impact the

coastline.

The main objectives of the second phase of the project were:

1) To identify hazards affecting communities located on cliffed coastlines.

2) To analyze and review all the data processed over the three year

programme to provide information on past and projected erosion rates on

specific stretches of the coastline.

3) To extend mapping of coastal hazards to those affecting cliffed coastlines

4) To analyse existing high resolution coastal bathymetric survey data and

initiate bathymetric profiling for areas where such information is lacking,

primarily along coastlines adjacent to the communities.

5) To complete the community programmes initiated in phase one of the

project and extend the community based programme to include 2

communities located on cliffed coast lines.

1.2 Project location and personnel

The project has been managed and implemented by the Marine Geology Unit

(MGU) of the Department of Geography & Geology (DOGG), UWI Mona

Campus. Project staffing is as follows:

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Project Coordinator: Mr. Rafi Ahmad, Director of the Unit for Disaster

Studies (UDS), Department of Geography & Geology, UWI, responsible

for overall coordination of the project’s activities. Mr. Ahmad also chaired

the Project Advisory Committee.

Project Manager: Professor Emeritus Edward Robinson, Head of the

Unit, managed the project.

Project Officer: Miss Deborah-Ann C. Rowe, Research Associate, Marine

Geology Unit was Project Officer from May 2006 until September 2006.

This position was subsequently filled by Miss Shakira A. Khan Research

Associate, Marine Geology Unit, (September 2006 - Current). The Project

Officer was responsible for carrying out the day-to-day activities of the

project, comprising the coastline change study and the community

awareness programme.

Part-time Assistance: Additional, part-time assistance has been

provided, at different times through the project, by Mr. Richard Coutou,

Miss Kadean Mitchell and Mr. Kareem John.

The Project Advisory Committee (Appendix A) met quarterly and reviewed the

project’s progress (Appendix B) and provided guidance and recommendations,

where necessary, to improve procedures in identifying and analyzing the hazards

affecting the coast.

2 Methodologies

Phase two of the B.E.A.C.H.E.S. project followed on the methodologies

established in the first two years of activities (Robinson et al., 2006). The

following activities were carried out to establish the nature of the seafloor

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topography, and the source, distribution and movement of onshore and offshore

sediments in the neighbourhood of the affected beaches:

Beach profiling: This was carried out to establish the nature of the beaches in

different parts of the study localities and to determine the changes in topography

over the one-year study period. Most of the profiles were at locations previously

erected. The surveys were carried out using two levels, a Hilger Watts SL10-1

and a Topcon AT-FZ automatic level, and metric survey staffs. In each case the

level was set up at a position which enabled leveling to be effected for the whole

profile without the level station having to be moved. Readings of angle and

distance to the staff were taken at slope changes along each profile, and a note

of sediment characteristics was made at each staff position, frequently supported

by photography. Profiles were measured from the reference point into the sea up

to a maximum depth of about one metre. On most occasions it was not possible

to extend the line into deeper water, or even to a one metre depth, because of

the frequently rough sea conditions.

The plots of all the profiles are contained in Appendix B2, together with the

tabular survey data. Initially the reference point for each profile was marked by a

metal peg buried in the sand. However, difficulties arose in relocating the pegs,

and in some instances the pegs had been removed. These factors are described

for each profile as necessary. Alternative permanent objects were substituted for

the pegs.

Beach Inspection: Beach inspections were carried out to observe and record

changes in the beach profile and sediment composition.

Bathymetry: The surveys were carried out at additional localities as described

below in order to determine the geometry of the island shelf and uppermost

slope.

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3 Implementation

The communities that participated in the programme were, in chronological order,

St. Margaret’s Bay, Portland; Homers Cove, Westmoreland; Farquhars Beach,

Clarendon; Galina, St. Mary and Copacabana/ Wickie Wackie, St. Andrew. The

results of the community interactions were summarised at a workshop to which

interested stakeholders from government and non-profit organisations were

invited.

The community work was supported by the acquisition and analysis of various

types of data on the coastline and immediate offshore region. These included

continuing analysis of historical information, the mapping of coastal features, the

acquisition and compilation of near-shore bathymetry up to the edge of the island

shelf and the up-dating of the MGU’s database.

4 Analysis of historical data

A list of aerial photographs and satellite imagery available to the MGU was

contained in the Final Report on Phase one of the BEACHES project (Robinson,

Rowe & Khan, 2006). These along with reports of storm and hurricane damage

were used to assess the impacts of storm waves and tsunami on sections of our

coastline. Some gaps in the imagery were filled during the present programme.

5 Near-Shore Bathymetry

Bathymetric profiling by the MGU was conducted to gather data on the

morphology of the submarine shelf at five of the locations associated with the

communities studied, three on the north coast and two on the south coast (Figure

1). This exercise was carried out by members of the Unit with assistance of local

fishermen in these communities who are familiar with the off shore area. Their

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expertise provided information on reef locations and extent as well as description

of sediment cover in the areas. The width and gradient of the shelf was

determined and bathymetric maps produced. This information is discussed below

in relation to each community.

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Figure 1 Locations of nearshore bathymetric surveys conducted by the MGU

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6 Data Storage

The database developed in Phase one, allowing for immediate retrieval of data

related to a particular area, has continued to grow as new maps, field data,

satellite and aerial imagery have been added to the system. A new cataloguing

system has been designed and the original index has also been improved upon,

utilizing a more up to date map of the island allowing for easier identification of

sites (Figure 2). However, the goal of creating an interactive “clickable” interface

has not yet been achieved, partly due to budgetary constrains in obtaining a

computer program to execute this. Until such a programme becomes available a

database catalogue using Microsoft Access, together with a nested folder and file

system has been developed for identification and retrieval of files.

Figure 2 Marine Geology Unit coastal hazard data base index (modified from the Shell Road Map 2007

edition)

7 COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAMME

The community hazard awareness programme carried out in Phase Two was

designed to be site specific in addressing hazards affecting the coastline. The

aim was to improve the communities understanding of the hazards that impact

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them and provide options for hazard mitigation at the community level. This

aspect of the project focused on five sites (Figure 3)5), two are cliffed

communities located on elevated limestone terraces and three are communities

associated with beaches in low lying areas.

Meetings were organised with the assistance of local community leaders and

invitations made verbally and with the assistance of printed announcements

distributed to the residents, parish representatives of NEPA and parish disaster

co-ordinators. Meetings were held in the communities, typically at schools which

normally also serve as the ODPEM emergency shelters or community centres.

Visual presentations were made with the use of Power point slide shows via

multimedia projectors as well as through posters and pamphlets distributed to

residents and deposited in schools and libraries in the area. The site-specific

brochures were handed out with the hazard maps and explanations of the terms

used. Large posters (36”x36”) were also provided to community groups, schools,

government agencies (e.g. ODPEM parish representatives and disaster

coordinators and NEPA parish representatives).

Figure 3 Coastal Communities assessed in Phase 2 of the B.E.A.C.H.E.S. project

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7.1 St. Margaret’s Bay

The community of St. Margaret’s Bay is situated along a low-lying, embayed

coastline immediately west of the mouth of the Rio Grande in Portland Parish.

Housing is strung out on both sides of the main north coast road. The Unit has

been conducting beach monitoring and coastal hazard identification in the

community of St. Margaret’s Bay since 2004. The community was included in this

study as a follow-up to a preliminary appraisal of beach erosion affecting

housing, which was carried out by the MGU for NEPA and USAID (Robinson et

al. 2003; Rowe et al. 2003).

7.1.1 Physiography and Geology

The western end of St. Margaret’s Bay, in front of the Ken Jones Aerodrome,

consists of a sand and gravel beach backed by dunes, which varies annually

between 30-50 meters wide. The beach becomes narrower in the central and

eastern sections of the bay. The central section of the coastline is fronted by a

narrow low-lying beach, consisting largely unconsolidated sands and gravels,

backed by steeply sloping hills. At the eastern end of the bay adjacent to the

mouth of the Rio Grande the beach is of variable width (8-20 metres), and this

area is backed by the estuary of the Rio Grande.

7.1.1.1 Coastline morphology

In Phase Two of the project three profiles were maintained to continue monitoring

and assessment of beach changes and coastline position at St. Margaret’s Bay.

These profiles were to be monitored at six month intervals from June 2006 to

December 2007 however two attempts to survey the profiles in June 2007 were

hampered by bad weather and had to be abandoned. The ID numbers of the

profiles have been retained from the previous surveys.

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A review of the annual changes occurring along the western side of St.

Margaret’s Bay along Profile 3 (Figure 4) established by the Ken Jones

Aerodrome (including reference to profiles done previously in Phase 1; Robinson

et al. 2006a) indicates that the beach is somewhat wider, up to 70 m, during the

summer months and narrower, approximately 60 m, during the winter months.

However a longer term analysis, over 12 months, shows that the width of the

beach is similar to that measured 12 months prior. This suggests that this

variation, although slight, is seasonal and that this section of the beach will

accrete during the summer and retreat during winter when storms and swells are

common. Over the longer term this section of the coastline appears to be

relatively stable (Robinson et al. 2006a)..

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Figure 4 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 3, established by the Ken Jones Aero Drome, comparing the 12 month period, December 2006 to December 2007.

Monitoring carried out in the central section of the bay, Profile 5, established at

the fishing beach across from the St. Margaret’s Bay All-Age School (Figure 5),

shows an increase in beach width over the 12 month period January 2006 to

December 2006 of approximately 4 m. Efforts to continue monitoring throughout

2007 were hampered by bad weather and the beach at this station was again

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measured in December 2007. At this time a new transect was established

(Figure 6), 5 m east of the previous station and the starting point tied to a more

permanent maker, a cemented NEPA sign post, for future reference. Although

this transect cannot be directly compared to those previously measured, its

proximity still provides data on processes occurring in this section of the bay. A

comparison of beach width obtained from these two transects shows that there

has been a further increase in beach width of approximately 8 m over the

observation period implying that accretion occurs within the area during the

winter months as has been previously identified by us (Robinson et al., 2006a).

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Figure 5 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 5, established east of the groynes in the center of the Bay and shows a comparison of the 12 month period, January 2006 and December 2006.

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Figure 6 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 5, established December 2007.

The third transect monitored (Profile 9) is located at the eastern side of the bay,

just west of the mouth of the Rio Grande River. Monitoring of this section of the

bay has shown that it has experienced long term erosion. Initial measurements in

July 2005 show that the beach extended approximately 35 m from the top of the

beach face to the base of the foreshore. Over the last two years the beach has

decreased in width by almost 10 m with almost no seasonal variation observed.

In the last year alone the beach has retreated by 2 m (Figure 7) threatening

property located along this stretch.

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Figure 7 Graph of beach monitoring station, Profile 9, established west of the mouth of the Rio Grande along the eastern side of the bay and showing a comparison of the 12 month period, December 2006 and December 2007.

7.1.2 Nearshore descriptions

The island shelf is relatively narrow in this region, less than 1 km wide in places

and slopes gently offshore to about 13 m depth then steepens sharply defining

the shelf edge at a depth of approximately 10-20 m. To seaward the sea floor

steepens sharply to depths in excess of 1000 m.

Sediment both onshore and on the sea floor is terriginous in origin and forms

clastic beaches consisting of coarse sand mixed with cobble and/or pebble sized

clasts. Evidence from carbonate producing organisms on the beach suggests

that they exist in the offshore area however they do not produce sufficient

material to be considered important sediment producers at this site.

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Figure 8. Hazard map for St. Margaret’s Bay, Portland identifying critical facilities, areas below the 7 m contour which are susceptible to flooding and storm surge and near shore bathymetry of the bay (slightly modified from the original map illustrated in the Phase 1 report (Robinson et al. 2006)..

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7.1.3 Hazards

The study focused on the 4 km stretch of coastline extending from Downer’s Bluff

west to Welsh Woman’s Point (Figure 10). The section of the beach from the

centre of the town east towards the Rio Grande is of the most concern. The

beach erosion, flooding and storm surge documented in these areas affects the

road and houses behind the beach which are sited on a thin strip of land between

the beach and a small morass. The land itself is made up of semi-consolidated

sand and gravel, evidently an old bar formed from sediments provided by the Rio

Grande, which would initially have enclosed a lagoon, now in-filled as the

morass.

Of critical concern is the threat to structures seaward of the main road, west of

the Rio Grande, some of which have already had to be abandoned due to

damage by waves (Figure 9).

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Figure 9. Rear of a house, located along the eastern section of the bay which has been experiencing long term coastline retreat. Damage to this structure was caused by waves which now reach these buildings.

A hazard map (Figure 10) was produced for the area indicating the areas which

are affected by storm surge, flooding and beach erosion.

Figure 10 Hazard Map prepared for the community of St. Margaret’s Bay. This map shows the style of map currently being produced, although the final map will use the same sheet lines defined in the IKONOS imagery index.

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7.1.4 Community awareness programme

Presentations were made to the community through organised meetings to

gather information from residents on the impacts of hazards in the community as

well as to disseminate findings of the project during the first phase. A meeting to

disseminate educational material, coordinated with the assistance of community

leaders and the NEPA Portland parish office, was held on 8th November 2006

(Figure 11) at Olive’s School. The community was presented with hazard maps

and brochures outlining the types of coastal hazards to which the community is

vulnerable. These meetings were used to discuss the impacts of the various

hazards identified that affect the community and inform residents of the physical

processes taking place and what measures can be taken to reduce their

vulnerability. The interaction with the community has led to increased awareness

and improved understanding of the hazards in the area (Appendix C).

Figure 11. Residents attending the presentation made to the community of St. Margaret’s Bay during which the hazard map was presented and the various processes taking place in the bay and affecting the coast was explained.

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7.2 Homers Cove

This is one of two cliffed communities included in phase two of the project that

have been damaged by past storms and/or hurricanes. Reports of the extensive

damage to housing in the area were made in the media. The community of

Homers Cove is a small fishing village which has developed around a small

embayment within the limestone terraces which extends from the Negril Light

House in the west to Salmon Point in the east. The quiet, rustic setting of the

community also appeals to tourists looking to escape and there are several small

hotels/boarding houses in the area.


The community is situated on a wide, raised Late Pleistocene limestone platform,

terminated seawards by a cliff that varies in height from sea level up to 5 metres

in some places (Figure 12). The community is spread over the limestone terrace

which is relatively flat at the seaward edge of the platform and backed in several

places by vegetated ridges, averaging some 50 m from the shore.

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Figure 12. Limestone platform on which the community of Homers Cove, is situated


Two bays, Brighton Beach and Little Bay, have been formed within the limestone

platform along this stretch of coast between Hoggs Haven and Salmon Point.

These are the only two sites at which significant beaches have been developed.

The rest of the coast is defined by elevated near-vertical rock faces or low lying

rocky coastlines. The two beaches in the area consist of narrow, gently sloping

fine- to medium-grained carbonate sand. Both beaches were surveyed during

two site visits, May 2006 and December 2006, to monitor changes in beach width

and/or elevation.

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Little Bay Profile 1

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Figure 13 Graph of the two profiles measured at the eastern end of Little Bay in May 2006 and December 2006

At Little Bay the beach, measured from the limestone hill at the back of the

beach, is approximately 25 m in width and slopes up to approximately 2 m ASL

(Figure 13). Very little change was observed across the profile with beach width

remaining constant and a reduction in the elevation of the foreshore of only 1 cm.

Apparent differences in elevation of approximately 20 cm (Figure 13) within the

first 5 m of this transect, are due to variation in the position of the measuring staff

on the dirt road behind the beach. Although residents report erosion of this beach

this was not observed over the six month period of observation and may have

been due to a past event or it occurs over a longer period.

15

Brighton Beach Profile 2

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Figure 14 Graph of the two profiles measured in the centre of Brighton Beach in May 2006 and December 2006

Brighton Beach, measured from the base of the limestone hill at the back

of the beach, has an average width of 34 m and is approximately 1.9 m ASL

(Figure 14). A reduction in beach width of 2 m and a general reduction in the

elevation of the foreshore by approximately 20 cm were observed between May

and December 2006 (Figure 14). Generally the beach showed very little change

and appears to be stable.

16

0

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Figure 15. Graph of profile established on the Platform at Homers Cove measured from the edge of the platform (right) showing the position of the debris ridge and elevation of the platform above sea level.

A transect was also established over the platform west of Brighton Beach (N

18.22318° W 78.28563°) to determine elevation and position of the debris ridge

(Figure 15). It shows that the debris ridge at this point has developed

approximately 40 m from the platform edge which is 4 m ASL.

7.2.2 Nearshore Description

Bathymetric surveys were carried out by the Unit in May 2006 with the assistance

of (Mr. Ceylon Clayton) a fisherman from the community. The island shelf at this

site is relatively shallow; the depth at the shelf edge is about 20m and the shelf is

approximately 300 – 400 m wide and covered by carbonate sediments. Although

reefs are developed along this shelf the reef crest seldom breaks the sea surface

(Figure 16).

17

Figure 16. Nearshore bathymetric map of Homers Cove and Little Bay. (Contours 300 m and deeper added from Admiralty surveys).

7.2.3 Hazards

Emplacement and movement of boulders on the platform by waves is the main

threat to the area. Approximately 250 of the boulders located on the platform

were measured and the positions recorded, the largest at Little Bay was

estimated at 58 tonnes, and at Homer’s Cove nearly 100 tonnes (Figure 17).

Discussions with residents of the area provided valuable data about the impact of

storm waves and boulder transport on the community. Hurricane Ivan in 2004

deposited several large boulders on the platform (Figure 18) some of which

completely destroyed houses located there (Figure 19). Reports are that a total

of 15 home were destroyed during that event. Boulder emplacement and

movement was also recorded following Hurricane Dean in August 2007.

18

Figure 17 Map of Homers Cove and Little Bay, showing distribution of mapped storm/tsunami deposits (Red dots) and near-shore bathymetry.

Figure 18 Several boulders placed onshore by hurricane Ivan, one of them blocked the path from the house behind to the sea.

19

Figure 19 Site of a house destroyed by the boulder strew deposited by Hurricane Ivan.


The hazard map produced using data acquired through this project (Figure 20)

identifies areas affected by storm surge and boulder transport and was

incorporated in the educational material provided to the community (Appendix F).

The processes and impacts of storm waves and boulder transport were the key

areas focused on at the community meeting. This was held on 13th February

2007, and was organised with the assistance of the principal of the Little Bay All-

age school and with participants from the community, as well as neighbouring

areas, including representation from the Negril Coral Reef Preservation

Association (Figure 21).

20

Figure 20. Hazard Map of Homers Cove and Little Bay

Figure 21. Community meeting held to discuss the hazards affecting Homers Cove

7.3 Farquhar’s Beach

Farquhars Beach is a small fishing community at the western end of the

Clarendon Parish coastline, under Round Hill and readily accessible only from

Milk River. As with other south coast communities Farquhar’s Beach suffered

21

extensively from the passage of Hurricane Ivan (Figure 22). Storm surge height

was estimated at 2.5 m and inundation distances of as much as 100 m in places

(Robinson et al., 2006a; Rowe et al. 2005).

Figure 22 Farquhar’s Beach following the passage of Hurricane Ivan, September 2004. Photo: J. Tyndale-

Biscoe Co. Ltd.


Farquhar’s Beach lies on a narrow strip of more or less level land sandwiched

between the coastline and the foot of the steep, southern slope of Round Hill, the

main access is by a dirt road leading from Milk River Bath. The limestone slopes

of Round Hill are precipitous in places and the eastern part of the area contains a

number of large boulders scattered amongst the houses, clearly generated by

ancient rock-falls. West of the village, Round Hill slopes directly into the sea,

forming a cliffed coast. East of the village the level land widens to include a belt

of mangrove swamp associated with the mouth of the Milk River.

22


Farquhar’s Beach is unusual in that the village is fronted by a beach that

changes its features more or less continuously in response to the westward

movement of sediment from the Rio Minho system, propelled by westward-

moving shoreline currents and the outflow of the Milk River (Figure 23).

Figure 23 Position of mangrove stand and beach sediments between the Milk River and Farquhar’s Beach over the period 1941-2004.

The mangrove-covered stretch of coast between Farquhar’s Beach and the

mouth of the Milk River is low-lying and swampy with extensive pools behind the

beach itself. Storm surge generated by hurricane Ivan in 2004 caused

considerable damage to mangroves behind the beach stripping sand from the

beach and depositing some of this material in the mangrove stands. At this time

the beach in front of the mangrove was only 1-2m wide. Considerable recovery of

the beach fronting the mangroves has been observed over the past year (Figure

23

24) with the beach in front of the mangroves reaching a width of 40m. Analysis of

historical data and mapping of the coastline and strand line show that there has

been a noticeable change in the position of these two features over time (Figure

23). Charcoal-burning takes place within the mangrove area.

Figure 24 Dead mangrove tree in the swash zone (left). Long shore drift (right) has resulted in progradation of the beach at the same location.

Changes in coastline geometry at the fishing beach

The beach in front of the settlement is the main fishing beach. It consists almost

entirely of siliciclastic and black magnetite sand, but with a generous sprinkling of

mollusc shells.

This section of the beach is an example of what is probably the most rapid and

extreme change in beach morphology anywhere on the Jamaican coastline. The

sediment supplied to the beach is sourced by long-shore drift from the sediment

discharge of the Rio Minho. The changes, which range from decadal (Figure 23)

to monthly (Figure 27), include large variations in beach width. A detailed

account of older changes was given in Robinson et al., 2006.

24

Figure 25 Estimated changes in the seaward edge of the mangrove (dashed lines) and the position of the beach (solid lines) between 2002 & 2007

A transect was established at the western end of the bay to monitor short term

changes in beach width and elevation. These profiles show that the beach

undergoes rapid transformation which illustrates the very dynamic nature of the

beach system in this area. Figure 26 illustrates the changes in the beach profile

over the sixteen month period between June 2006 and October 2007. A road

crosses the transect line and so the area between the peg and the 10 m is

usually cleared if covered by sand during storms. This was the case after

hurricane Ivan and so the sand was piled seaward of the road and is reflected on

the profile as by a steep incline about 1.5 m high about 10 m from the start of the

profile (Figure 26). The Beach at that time was just over 1.5 m above sea level

and between 27 and 28m wide with a steeply dipping foreshore. When compared

to the profile of October 2007, a decrease in elevation and increase in beach

25

width is observed. Along this profile the width of the beach has increased by

approximately 14m, resulting in a wider berm/backshore area and a gently

sloping foreshore.

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Figure 26 Graph of beach monitoring station established at the western end of the beach and shows a comparison of the 10 month period, June 2006 and April 2007.

A look closer at the changes which occurred during the 18 months that this

beach was monitored shows that the supply and removal of sediment to this

beach can occur on a weekly rather than monthly basis. During a visit to

Farquhars Beach in January 2007, the beach profile was measured and it was

clear that beach erosion was a process affecting the area evident by the

presence of semi-upright trees, now partially in the sea and swash zone (Figure

27) and the relocation of temporary structures to a more landward position.

Subsequent visits to the area in March 2007 revealed that the beach had

recovered and increased in width. In fact this recovery occurred within days.

Figure 27 illustrate the changes that have occured in the beach within months.

The erosive scarp formed in January 2007, was still evident in March 2007

(Figure 27, right photo) and the trees previously in the swash zone were now in

the berm.

26

Figure 27 Rapid recovery of the beach in front of the fishing village at Farquhars Beach over a two month period, note the position of the tree once in the foreshore (January) now in the newly formed berm (March).

The beach profile was measured twice in on the 7th and 22nd of March 2007 and

a comparison of these two profiles (Figure 28) helps to quantify the rapid

changes in beach width at this site. The backshore area remained unchanged

during this period. However there appeared to be a large supply of sediment to

the beach as the foreshore advanced by approximately 70 m. This influx of

sediment formed a new berm at the same elevation as the one identified on

March 7th. However the erosional scarp formed previously was still evident,

identifying the position of the foreshore two weeks before (Figure 28).

January 2007 March 22, 2007

27

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March 7th 2007

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Figure 28 Graph showing rapid changes in beach width over a two week period between March 7

th 2007 and March 22

nd 2007 at Farquhars Beach.

7.3.2 Nearshore description

No bathymetric work was conducted in this area by the Marine Geology Unit

however the dynamic nature of the sediment transport along this section of the

coast from the mouth of the Rio Minho west through Canoe Valley suggests that

such a survey is necessary to fully understand the impact of storm waves

onshore.

7.3.3 Hazards

Beach erosion, riverine flooding, storm surge and rock falls are the major

hazards identified in the area. The rock falls, in particular are of unknown age,

but have probably been generated b one or more earthquakes. These have been

identified on the hazard map (Figure 29). Beach accretion can also bring

problems to the community, by making access to the foreshore and fishing boats

difficult (see also the discussion in Robinson et al. 2006).

28

Figure 29 Hazard Map prepared for the community of Farquhar’s Beach


A meeting with the community of Farquhar’s Beach and its environs was

organised with the assistance of leaders in the community and took place on

18th March 2007 (Figure 30). The meeting provided a forum for those present to

discuss the data collected in phase one of the project as well as new data

acquired which showed rapid changes occurring at the fishing beach in front of

the village. These changes were already well-recognised by the fishermen.

Educational material (Appendix D) was prepared for the community explaining

the hazard map (Figure 29) and the geomorphological map showing changing

positions of the beach (Figure 23). The hazard map identified areas which are

affected by rock falls, storm surge, flooding and beach erosion.

29

Figure 30. Members of the community attending the presentation made by the Unit on hazards affecting Farquhar’s Beach and Milk River area.

7.4 Galina

Galina was the second cliffed community investigated in Phase Two of the

BEACHES project. Galina is situated on an elevated limestone platform, forming

cliffs at the water’s edge, and lacking beaches of any kind. The community is

situated in a position where it is exposed to severe weather and has suffered

damage to housing and loss of lives from passing hurricanes. The existence of

storm debris on the cliffs, including very large boulders (Figure 31), is indicative

of a history of severe weather events and possible tsunami onslaughts. A

description of the platform and distribution of the boulders was published in

Robinson et al. (2006b).

30

Figure 31 Example of a boulder on platform at Galina


The community of Galina and neighbouring areas consists of a village core

around which small hotels, guest houses, homes and light industry buildings

have been constructed. The community sits on a limestone platform of late

Pleistocene age (120,000 years old) raised above sea level to heights of up to 15

m. The coastline itself forms a cliff. Behind the platform an ancient sea cliff with

caves towers up to some 90 m high. As previously reported bathymetric profiling

by the MGU (Figure 32) indicates a relatively uneven island shelf with abundant

coral growth, but no reef crest breaking the surface. To the northeast the shelf is

about 500 m wide but narrows sharply along the north facing coastline to as little

as 200 m.

31

Figure 32 Physiographic map of the Galina area, showing distribution of mapped storm/tsunami deposits

and nearshore bathymetry.

7.4.2 Nearshore area description

Bathymetric data acquired during the first phase of the project provided details of

the shelf at the eastern end of Galina and western sections of the study area in

the vicinity of Crab Woods. As a result the central sections of the study area

lacked bathymetric details. This was collected in May 2007 (Figure 33) and

added to the data previously acquired to complete the bathymetric map for this

section of the coastline (Figure 34).

32

Figure 33 Topographic map of the Galina area, showing depth soundings recorded to complete the nearshore bathymetry in this area.

Figure 34 Completed bathymetry of the north coast shelf between Galina Point and Crab Woods. Isobaths at five meter intervals

33

Although no permanent beaches exist the sediment on the sea floor consists of

carbonate sand and pebbles derived from the reefs, together with blocks of talus

derived as rock fall from the cliffed shoreline.

7.4.3 Hazards

The main hazards result from passing storms and hurricanes. The heavy swells

and storm surges generated by these flood the platform and reach as far as

dwellings 200 m from the shoreline. These storm waves can deposit boulders on

shore, as well as move boulders that already exist on the platform. The possibility

of tsunami hazard has been discussed by Robinson et al. 2006b. The Hazard

map generated through this project identifies the debris ridge, position of the

boulders on the platform and the areas affected by storm surge (Figure 35).

34

Figure 35 Galina Hazard Map prepared for the Community

7.4.4 Community awareness program

Community surveys in the form of questionnaires were carried out in the

community to gather information from residents on the impacts of hazards in the

community. Visual presentations, with the aid of power point slide show and

multimedia projectors, were also made to the community at a meeting held on

2nd May 2007 (Figure 36) coordinated with the assistance of community leaders

and the NEPA St. Mary parish office. At this meeting the community was

presented with hazard maps and brochures outlining the types of coastal hazards

to which the community is vulnerable and measures to be taken to reduce this

vulnerability (Appendix E). The interaction with the community has led to

35

increased awareness and improved understanding of the hazards in the area.

Residents are keen to implement mitigation measures to protect their community

and raised questions about creating an artificial reef offshore as this was one

way to dampen the effects of the waves before they reach the coast. Although

we felt that this was a great idea, we acknowledged that it would be very

expensive and would require engineers and a greater technical study.

Figure 36 Residents from Galina and surrounding areas listening to an explanation of the processes involved in boulder emplacement on the platform.

The community was advised that they should start with a community organization

with a strategic plan and mission. With this they can approach local government

and non-government agencies about funding and further possible research into

protecting and saving the town of Galina from further harm.

7.5 Copacabana and Wickie Wackie

Monitoring of the beaches and analysis of near shore bathymetry has continued

in Phase two of the project. The communities of Copacabana and Wickie Wackie

36

lie to the east of Kingston, between Harbour View and Bull Bay, St. Andrew

Parish. They differ from the other communities studied in that they are essentially

dormitory suburbs for Kingston. Housing on sections of this coastline was

severely damaged during the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 (Figure 37).

Figure 37 Copacabana post hurricane Ivan, September, 2004. Photo: J. Tyndale-Biscoe Co. Ltd.

The main hazards are storm surge, beach erosion and flooding from blocked

drains and the pond at Wickie Wackie. The beaches at these two localities

underwent erosion and subsequent changes in profile as a result of Ivan’s storm

surge, but have been slowly recovering and were not severely impacted by

hurricanes Dennis and Emily in 2005. However Hurricane Dean in August 2007

also generated storm waves and surge levels which impacted homes along the

beach in Wickie Wackie.


At Copacabana and Wickie Wackie the narrow coastal plain is constructed of

fluvially derived sediments supplied by the Chalky and Cane Rivers (Figure 38).

37

This stretch of coast is bounded to the east by the Chalky River and to the west

by the Cane River. At Copacabana the higher elevations in the community

consist of impure limestones and conglomerates of the August Town Formation.

At Wickie Wackie the community is only a meter or two above sea level and is

bounded along the seaward margins by coastal dunes. Much of the inland area

had been filled artificially and a large pond exists by the eastern section of the

community.

Figure 38 Material is supplied to the beaches through a westerly long shore drift transporting sediment brought to the coast by the Chalky and Cane Rivers.


Long term coastline changes were investigated using air photographs and

satellite imagery for the area, spanning 40 years. This analysis showed that the

coastline in this area is relatively stable with the greatest changes occurring at

the mouths of the rivers, as is also the case at St. Margaret’s Bay.

Short term changes were investigated through beach profile monitoring on a

quarterly basis from January 2005 to August 2007. Three profiles were

38

established in Phase one of this project, one at Copacabana and two at Wickie

Wackie (Figure 39). Monitoring of these sites continued in Phase Two and show

seasonal changes and the effect that Hurricanes Emily and Dennis had on the

coast. In June 2006, Profile 1 had to be abandoned as efforts by a resident of

Wickie Wackie to establish additional protection for his property from storm surge

place construction material along the transect. The remaining profiles were

monitored through to August 2007.

Figure 39. Locations of Profiles established along the south east coast to monitor changes in beach shape and impact of storms on this section of the coastline.

A summary of the changes to beach morphology at Copacabana is shown in

Figure 40. Over the 9 month period between June 2006 and August 2007 the

beach shows an overall increase in width of approximately 2.5 m. There are also

some changes in elevation of the berm however these appears to be a result of

the redistribution of sediment over time.

39

-1.5

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Figure 40. Summary graph of beach profiles measured at Copacabana illustrating changes occurring over the 9 month period between June 2006 and March 2007.

The transect at Wickie Wackie which was monitored in Phase two of the project

showed that the first 20 m of the profile, from the seaward face of the dunes to

the middle of the berm appears to be stable. However, a net reduction in beach

width of approximately 21m was measured over the 10 month period between

November 2006 and August 2007 (Figure 41).

40

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Figure 41 Summary Graph of the transect at Wickie Wackie monitored in Phase Two of the Project illustrating changes over the 10 month period between November 2006 and August 2007.

7.5.2 Nearshore area description

The nearshore bathymetry (Figure 42 & Figure 43) of the western part of this

area was surveyed by the British Admiralty in the 1950s. The survey extended as

far east as the promontory immediately west of Wickie Wackie beach. In June

2006 the Marine Geology Unit extended the nearshore survey as far east as Bull

Bay. Where overlap with the Admiralty survey occurs there are depth

discrepancies that we attribute to changes in topography (submarine slides?)

over the past 50 years, as a result of storms etc. Noteworthy is the fact that the

edge of the island shelf lies only 200 m offshore from the housing development of

Caribbean Terrace at Harbour View. At Copacabana the shelf widens from about

300 m to 500 m, while opposite Wickie Wackie the shelf is 500 to 600 m wide.

41

Figure 42 Bathymetric map of the shelf south of Caribbean Terrace east to Wickie Wackie

Figure 43 Bathymetric map of the area east of the Palisadoes

7.5.3 Hazards

The main hazards identified in the area are beach erosion, flooding of low lying

areas in close proximity to two ponds in the area. During times of heavy rainfall

these ponds flood the surrounding areas blocking access to homes (Figure

42

44Error! Reference source not found.). Other hazards include damage from

winds and storm surge generated by hurricanes.

Figure 44. Pond overflowed flooding adjacent street after heavy rain blocking access to these homes, Wickie Wackie, October 2005.

Storm surge generated by Hurricane Ivan (2004) damaged homes exposing

foundations of sea walls and some homes (Figure 45). Sediment from the beach

was also removed lowering its elevation and exposing beach rock.

43

Figure 45 Example of the damage caused by storm surge generated by Hurricane Ivan striped sediment from beach exposing beach rock (right) and undermining foundations of homes (Photo taken at Copacabana, September 2004)

The Hazard map (Figure 46) generated for the coastal communities from

Caribbean Terrace to Wickie Wackie identifies the emergency shelters as well as

low lying areas that may be affected by storm surge as well as areas prone to

coastal flooding and the sections of the coastline experiencing coastline retreat. It

should be noted that no clearly established emergency shelters exist at

Copacabana and Wickie Wackie.

44

Figure 46 Hazard map of the Caribbean terrace to Wickie Wackie area identifying areas that are prone to coastal flooding and erosion.


Interviews with residents from both the Copacabana and Wickie Wackie

communities were used to determine the extent of damage caused by storm

surge generated by recent hurricanes along this stretch of the coast. A meeting

was organized with the assistance of community leaders from both communities

and at the Little Copa club on Sunday July 1st 2007. Visual presentations, with

the aid of power point slide show and multimedia projectors, presenting the

information on hazards affecting the area and mechanisms which contribute to

the impact of these hazards were discussed. At this meeting the community was

also presented with hazard maps and brochures outlining the types of coastal

hazards to which the community is vulnerable and measures to be taken to

reduce this vulnerability (Figure 47). The interaction with the community has led

to the preparation of a hazard map of the area which identifies the vulnerable

areas.

45

Figure 47. A resident of the community viewing the poster with the hazard map of the area with explanations and illustrations of the impact that these hazards have on the community.

8 BEACHES Workshop

As a final component to the project a workshop was held on November 6th

2007 to present findings of the BEACHES project. The workshop had sixty six

registered participants and was organized into five presentations from members

of the Marine Geology Unit. These sessions included methodology used in the

project, both in the field and in preparing the hazard maps; the actual hazards

identified in each community and the mechanisms driving them. Feed-back from

the communities and suggestions for the way forward and next steps required for

mitigation and improvement of the safety of the residents in the areas

investigated were also discussed at the workshop. A sixth presentation was

made by Mr. Rafi Ahmad who provided details on Hurricanes Ivan and Dean the

two most recent hurricanes to have severely impacted sections of the coast.

46

The 5 Hazard maps prepared for each community were also presented at

the workshop (APPENDIX G). Discussions and feed-back from the workshop will

be included in the proceedings and these will be used to improve the final large

scale hazard maps being prepared.

The BEACHES workshop was combined with another workshop, also

supported by funding from the Environmental foundation of Jamaica, which

focused on the impacts of Hurricane Dean on coastal areas. This workshop

brought together several agencies involved in hazard assessment in Jamaica

and included 9 presentations from 8 organizations (APPENDIX H).

COASTAL HAZARD MAPS

In addition to the coastal hazard maps of sections of the coastline which included

the five communities focused on during the project 3 other maps were prepared

with the 1:12500 base maps and includes storm surge inundation distance,

critical facilities, emergency shelters and bathymetry data needed to understand

off-shore processes (Appendix**). Some 40 maps are in various stages of

preparation and were scheduled for completion at the end of the project.

However the completion of these maps has been delayed, partly due to the

interference by hurricanes Dean and Felix and the subsequent 2 months of bad

weather, and the emphasis placed by the Unit on preparing a report on the

impact of hurricane Dean on the Jamaican coastline, funded by the

Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) as an off-shoot of the BEACHES

project.

IMPACT OF HURRICANE DEAN ON THE COASTLINE

Following the passage of hurricane Dean in late-August, the Marine Geology Unit

was asked to prepare a report on the physical impact of the hurricane on the

Jamaican coastline. This report has been completed and a draft report has been

submitted in electronic form to the EFJ..

.

47

9 OTHER ACTIVITIES

In order to improve the Unit’s understanding of and expertise in the mapping of

evidence indicative of past giant wave events (hurricane and/or tsunami) the

opportunity was taken to invite a specialist team of tsunami experts from the US

Geological Survey to visit the island and look at such evidence identified by

members of the MGU. This took place in January 2007 and several sites were

examined over the five-day visit. The sites included the two BEACHES project

cliffed communities of Galina and Homers Cove, as well as other sites at Iter

Boreale St. Mary, Discovery Bay St. Ann, Mahoe Bay, St. James, West End

Negril, and Black River and Parottee St. Elizabeth. An extensive and

comprehensive report was received from the USGS following the visit. A

probable tsunami layer was identified at Iter Boreale from which a fragment of

glass was taken to be dated by the USGS team to determine the date of

deposition (Figure 48).

Figure 48 Buried tsunami layer identified behind the beach at Iter Boreal, St. Mary

48

Exploratory coring for buried wave deposits was also undertaking during the field

excursion. Sites sampled include Iter Boreale, Negril, and Black River, St.

Elizabeth. Samples of buried sand deposits were collected from Iter Boreale

(Figure 49) and Black River (Figure 50).

Figure 49 Coring for buried tsunami and/ or storm deposits in the swamps behind the beach at Iter Boreale (left). Core showing sediment layers within the swamp (right)

49

Figure 50 Core showing sand layers between two peat layers from mangroves in St. Elizabeth

The trip also included examination of boulders, debris ridges and storm deposits

at Galina (Figure 51) and Discovery Bay, St. Ann and Homers Cove,

Westmoreland (Figure 52). The debris ridge and boulders located on the platform

at Galina, are well defined features and have been mapped (Figure 53) to identify

vulnerable areas.

50

Figure 51 Member of the USGS team examining a cross section of the debris ridge on the limestone platform at Galina St. Mary

51

Figure 52 Storm ridge and boulder deposits at Homers Cove, Westmoreland

52

Figure 53 Map showing Boulder locations, Debris ridge and area prone to storm surge at Galina St. Mary

10 PUBLIC RELATIONS

Community involvement in phase two of the project was a key factor in

developing hazard awareness training sessions. The data collected are being

made available to the public through a series of oral and visual presentations.

Whether through conversations with individual community members, small focus

groups or through presentations to larger groups the project has gained feedback

from the general public and support from the scientific community. The activities

included:

Led a Geological Society field trip to Galina to look at the coastal debris

deposits there.

53

Presented two papers at the Geography conference in July, one on

community relations and one on physical hazards of the coastline. The

MGU also helped lead a conference field trip along Palisadoes to Port

Royal.

Contributed two articles to the Gleaner on the Palisadoes access to the

airport.

Led field trip, organized for visiting tsunami scientists from the United

States Geological Survey (USGS), to areas identified in this project

showing evidence of giant waves deposits (see details above).

Members of the Unit, representing the UWI, participated in the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Experts

meeting on Adaptation for small island developing states in February

2007, and prepared a poster on selected coastal hazards for the event.

Conducted a coastal hazard field trip to project localities on the eastern

coast for student members of the Geological Society of Trinidad &

Tobago.

Gave a presentation to fellow environmentalists at the Jamaica Institute of

Environmental Professionals (JIEP) annual conference (May 2007) on

physical hazards of the coastline

Presented posters and gave a presentation at the Institute of Jamaica’s

public forum for International Biodiversity and climate change.

Contributed to a Red Cross documentary on coastal hazards and

Vulnerability.

Delivered a presentation on coastal hazards at the UWI Climate Change

Conference (June 2007).

Initiated production of a newsletter “Shorelines”.

Saw publication in a professional journal of our article on giant wave

deposits investigated through this project (Robinson et al.2006b, see

references)

The Unit has also had two articles published in The Gleaner; August 2006

and September 2006, ongoing in the Unit’s Gleaner series on “Hazards of

54

the Jamaican Coastline”, and a further Gleaner article on access to the

Norman Manley airport in September 2007.

A meeting with government agencies and the public was held in

November 2007 and took the form of an interactive workshop to discuss

the various hazards identified and measures that can be taken to address

them (8 BEACHES Workshop).

A presentation to the Geological Society of Jamaica’s workshop on

hazaeds and the insurance industry in November 2007.

11 Problems and Distractions in Project Execution

During December and January of 2007 the MGU became involved, at the request

of the Ministry of Local Government and the Environment, through its National

Works Agency, to assist in the technical evaluation of the Palisadoes access

road to the airport, a project carried out by a team of Cuban specialists.

Execution of the stated objectives of the project as outlined above were varied in

response to the unusually wet weather in March 2007 which hampered offshore

investigation and delayed the final phase of the community awareness

component of the project. Further interruptions from Dean etc. have been

mentioned above.

One of the Unit’s computers crashed earlier in 2007. This unit was networked

with the UWI’s system to use the ArcGIS software. A temporary replacement was

put in use but with very limited capabilities. A replacement computer was ordered

and delivered in August 2007, funded internally by the Unit..

55

REFERENCES

Robinson, E., Rowe, D-A. C. & Khan, S. A. 2006a. BEACHES, Evaluation of Coastline Changes and Hazards in Jamaica to Improve Hazard Reduction Strategies for Coastal Communities: Phase One Final Report to the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica on the first year of activities, Project No. 03/09/431-PL480, 82 pages. Robinson, E,. Rowe, D-A.C. & Khan, S.A. 2006b. Wave-emplaced boulders on Jamaica’s rocky shores. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, Supplement Volume 146, 39-57.

Rowe, D-A.C. & Robinson, E. 2005. Evaluation of Coastline Changes and Hazards in Jamaica to improve Hazard Reduction Strategies for Coastl Communities (BEACHES). End of First Year Report to the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, Aprol 18, 2005. 113 pages.

Robinson, E., Khan, S. A. & Rowe, D-A. C. 2003. Preliminary Assessment of Beach Erosion at St. Margaret's Bay, Portland, Jamaica. Prepared for the Government of Jamaica's National Environment and Planning Agency and the United States Agency for International Development, Implemented by Associates in Rural Development Inc. through the Ridge to Reef Project. 70 pages.

56

APPENDIX A List of projects Advisory Committee members:

Prof David Barker (Chair) Head Dept of Geography & Geology UWI Mona

Mr. Rafi Ahmad (Deputy Chair) Unit for Disaster Studies, Department of Geography and Geology UWI Mona

Michelle Edwards, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management,

Mr. Derrick Gayle, Field Officer, Environmental Foundation of Jamaica.

Mr. Ainsley Henry, National Environment and Planning Agency, Ministry of Lands and the Environment.

Mr. Franklyn McDonald, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

Mrs. Hermione McKenzie, Department of Sociology and Social Work, UWI.

Mr. Patrick Rose, National Works Agency

Dr. Dale Webber, Director, Centre for Marine Sciences, UWI.

Ex officio:

Professor Edward Robinson, Project Manager

Miss Shakira Khan, Project Officer

57

Name

Meetings (Total = 5 Meetings) Number of

Meetings Attended

July 11

th

2006

October 3

rd

2006

December 5

th

2006

February 6

th

2007

April 17

th

2007

Prof. David Barker (Chair) Head of Department Department of Geography and Geology, UWI

Present

1

Mr. Rafi Ahmad (Deputy Chair) Unit for Disaster Studies Department of Geography and Geology, UWI

Present

Present

Present

3

Michelle Edwards Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management

Present

Present

2

Mr. Derrick Gayle Field Officer Environmental Foundation of Jamaica

0

Mr. Ainsley Henry National Environment and Planning Agency

Present

Present

Present

3

Mr. Franklyn McDonald United Nations Environmental Program

Present

1

Mrs. Herminoe McKenzie Department of Sociology and Social Work, UWI

Present

Present

2

Mr. Patrick Rose National Works Agency

0

Dr. Dale Webber Director Centre for Marine Sciences, UWI

0

Prof. Edward Robinson Project Manager Marine Geology Unit Department of Geography and Geology, UWI

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

5

Ms. Shakira Khan Project Officer Marine Geology Unit Department of Geography and Geology, UWI

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

5

Ms. Debbie Ann-Rowe Project Officer Marine Geology Unit Department of Geography and Geology, UWI

Present

1

Mr. Richard Coutou Marine Geology Unit Department of Geography and Geology, UWI

Present

1

APPENDIX A.2 Table of Advisory committee members and meeting held for the period July 2006 to April

2007

58

APPENDIX B - Minutes & progress reports for the project; July 2006 to April

2007

Minutes of the Advisory Committee for the project

Evaluation of Coastline Changes and Hazards in Jamaica to Improve Hazard Reduction

Strategies for Coastal Communities

Held July 11th, 2006

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

Persons present

Mr. Franklyn McDonald, Mr. Ainesly Henry – NEPA, Prof. Edward Robinson – Marine Geology Unit (UWI) and Ms. Deborah-Ann Rowe – Marine Geology Unit (UWI), Ms.

Shakira Khan - Marine Geology Unit (UWI).

2. Apologies & Absences

Apologies were tendered for Mr. Rafi Ahmad and Professor David Barker

3. Correction and Confirmation of Minutes

Motions for adoption and seconding of the minutes were as follows: confirmation by Mr. Franklyn McDonald, seconded by Mr. Ainesly Henry.

4. Matters Arising from minutes of the meeting of April 11th

2006

- Geography Conference Presentations- the Unit will be making 2 presentations at the meeting and will be leading the Palisadoes segment of the Portmore to

Palisaodes conference field trip, part of the Global Change and Caribbean

Vulnerability: environment, economy and society at risk? To be held on July

24th- 28

th 2006.

- Tide Gauges – nothing new Chinese were approached to change the location of

the new gauges.

5. Progress Report

-

This was presented by Prof. Robinson via a power point presentation to the members

of the committee. The report included:-

A summary of the five communities, St. Margaret’s Bay, Farquhars Beach,

Copacabana/ Wickie Wackie, Annotto Bay and Galina. The Impact of Hurricanes at Homers Cove and Little Bay, south western Jamaica has also

been looked at. Prof. reiterated that one of the main objectives of the project

59

was to address and provide improved measures of hazard susceptibility for

the problem of coastal erosion. The Unit has selected sites for continuous monitoring and assessment of storm surge limits.

The Project extension will focus on community involvement. Two

communities are far advanced, St. Margaret’s Bay and Annotto Bay

A list of sites where bathymetric surveying has been done, these are

necessary to provide baseline data for continued studies.

Presentation on the database and index created for the historical records

acquired to date. This includes over 1600 digitized aerial photographs, satellite images and maps.

- Current Activities

- BEACHES Final Report to EFJ for the project 03/09/431-PL480 is currently being written for submission at the end of July 2006.

- The Unit Applied to EFJ for a one year extension was granted a one year extension to

be completed April 2007.

- We have been able to date two samples from collected from boulders, courtesy of the

National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).

6. Any Other Business

a. Ms. Deborah – Ann Rowe has been awarded a scholarship to attend the

University of Chester to pursue a PhD in paleotsunami deposits in Southwestern

Jamaica. She will be leaving the unit and her duties as Project Officer on October 4

th 2006. we wish her all the best in her studies.

b. Mr. Franklyn McDonald Noted that sand Mining has taken place in Little Bay in the past. Documentation exists of this activity as the sand was mined for use on

the Negril Beach

c. Mr. McDonald told the committee that the wag water river was pushed further west in the 1930’s as par of the Flood Mitigation Program implemented at that

time. This was done in an effort to protect the town by preventing the river from

spreading. Reports of this should exist at the Public Works department, now the National Works Agency (NWA).

d. Mr. McDonald advised the committee that the “Adaptation to climate change” document will be revised and asked the unit if they could contribute to this

endeavour.

e. Mr. Ainsley Henry enquired about the progress of the Palisadoes project, however Prof has had no further word on this.

7. Continuing the Advisory Committee

60

The members of the committee were asked if they would continue to serve for the one

year extension of the project, all agreed to do so. Suggestions were made to invite representatives from the National Works Agency and

the Mines and Geology Division to join the committee.

8. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3rd 2006.

Action Column

The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.



Strategies for Coastal Communities held October 3rd , 2006

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 5:50 p.m. by Mr. Ahmad. The proceedings were

conducted by Prof. Robinson.

Persons present Ainsley Henry – NEPA, Hermione McKenzie – Social Sciences, UWI, Michelle Edwards

– ODPEM, Rafi Ahmad – UDS, Patrick Rose – NWA, Edward Robinson – MGU and

Shakira Khan – MGU.

2. Apologies & Absences Apologies were tendered for Prof. David Barker


1. Mr. Ainsley Henry’s name has been misspelt through out the minutes

Motions for adoption and seconding of the minutes were as follows: confirmation by Mr.

Ainsley Henry, seconded by Prof. Edward Robinson.

4. Welcome new committee members

Prof Robinson welcomed Mr. Patrick Rose from the National Works Agency (NWA)

who is the newest member of the BEACHES advisory committee.

5. Matters Arising from minutes of the meeting of July 11th

2006

Prof. Robinson to extend invitations to representatives from NWA and Mines and Geology

Division

61

a. BEACHES project extension - We are at the end of the first six months of the

extension period and the focus will now be on the community awareness component of the project. However the monitoring of profiles will be continued.

b. Publications – We have had two articles published in The Gleaner (August 31st

2006 and September 7th 2006).

The unit produced the first issue of its Newsletter “Shorelines” which presents a

review of the activities of the Marine Geology Unit. The committee was asked for feed back on way to improve this publication.

6. Progress Report

A review of the activities of the last 6 months was presented by Prof. Robinson via a

power point presentation to the members of the committee.

The report included:-

A summary of the field activities undertaken at Discovery Bay, Peartree

Bottom and Galina investigating boulder deposits.

Review of the buried deposits identified along the north coast at Mahoe Bay,

Iterboreal and Palmetto Point.

Report on the meeting with the Annotto Bay community and an out line of

the work plan for the community awareness component of the project.

The status of the bathymetric surveying along the North east (Annotto Bay

and Galina) and south west coast (Savannah la mar and Homers cove).

Participation in the “Global Change and Caribbean Vulnerability:

Environment, Economy and Society at risk?” conference. The Unit

presented a paper and organized the Caribbean Terrace/ Palisadoes leg of the

conference field trip.

Presentation on the database and index created for the historical records

acquired to date. This includes over 1600 digitized aerial photographs, satellite images and maps.

7. Unit Staff c. Ms. Deborah – Ann Rowe, BEACHES Project Officer has left the Unit to take up

a scholarship at the University of Chester to pursue a PhD in paleotsunami

deposits in Southwestern Jamaica. Ms. Shakira Khan has been offered this position and will be assisted by two part time assistants, which have not yet been

identified.


f. Mr. Ahmad informed the committee that a delegation of Norwegian scientists

from the Norwegian geotechnical institute will be visiting the Island at the end of

62

October to prepare a hazard and risk assessment study to be conducted jointly

with the Unit for Disaster Studies and other stake holders.

g. Professor Robinson informed the committee that a team of scientists from the

United States Geological Survey (USGS) is interested in including Jamaica in

their present study on tsunami deposits in the Caribbean.


The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5th 2006.

Action Column




Strategies for Coastal Communities Held December 5th, 2006

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 5:59 p.m. by Prof. David Barker and handed over to

Prof. Robinson.

Persons present

Ainsley Henry – NEPA, Prof. David Barker – Dept Geography & Geology, UWI,

Edward Robinson – MGU and Shakira Khan – MGU.

2. Apologies & Absences Apologies were tendered for Mr. Patrick Rose, Dr. Dale Webber and Mr. Rafi Ahmad


2. Minutes of the Advisory Committee for the project ……. held October 3rd

2005

should read Minutes of the Advisory Committee for the project ……. held October

3rd

2006

Motions for adoption and seconding of the minutes were as follows: confirmation by

Prof. Edward Robinson, seconded by Mr. Ainsley Henry.

4. Matters Arising from minutes of the meeting of October 3rd

2006

d. Unit staff

63

The unit has employed Miss Kadean Mitchell a final year geology undergraduate

student on a part-time basis and we anticipate the return of Mr. Richard Coutou in January 2007.

e. Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Delegation

We have met with the team from NGI and they have selected one project based in Jamaica which will focus on landslide assessment on the northern slopes of the

Blue Mountains.

f. USGS Visiting Tsunami research team

The USGS team will be Visiting Jamaica on the 22nd

of January 2007 for 1 week.

A joint field programme will be developed to visit several boulder and potential buried deposit sites around the island. The unit will be using a corer on loan

from The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) to look for buried deposits.

5. Progress Report

A printed summary report for the period October 3rd

to December 5th

2006 was

reviewed for the committee by Prof. Robinson.


A review of the Units involvement with the NWA/Cuban consultant project

to rehabilitate the Palisadoes.

Review of the St. Margaret’s Bay community meeting and the feed back

from eth community members.

The schedule for upcoming community meetings as part of the community

awareness component of the project. Galina, St. Mary is planned for the 3rd

week of January 2007 and Homers Cove, Westmoreland will be the 2nd

week

of February 2007.

During field work carried out along the north coast, particularly at Iter

Boreale, St. Mary, Prof. Robinson noted that drains being used in eth

highway construction were partially filled with silts and this indicates that

they will not be effective in providing adequate drainage for the area in the future. Mr. Henry noted that NEPA can review such construction issues and

request improvements.

Prof Reported that the corer would also be used in Negril and Canoe Valley

along the south coast.


h. Both David Barker and Ainsley Henry reported on the dangers of conducting field work in the Canoe Valley area. Suggestions were made to request protection

from the ICF.

64

i. Ainsley has made a request to access the data in the Unit to identify base data for

several of our monitoring sites; Prof. Robinson has agreed to this.


The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6

th 2007 at 5:00pm.

Action Column





Held February 6th, 2007

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m. by Mr. Rafi Ahmad and handed over to

Prof. Robinson.

Persons present

Mr. Rafi Ahmad – Dept Geography & Geology, UWI, Ms. Michelle Edwards – ODPEM,

Prof. Edward Robinson – MGU and Shakira Khan – MGU.

2. Apologies & Absences Apologies were tendered for Mr. Derrick Gayle, Dr. Dale Webber, Mr. Ainsley Henry

and Prof. David Barker.


12

5. During field work …..noted that eth drains should read During field work

…..noted that the drains

Motions for adoption and seconding of the minutes were as follows: confirmation by Prof. Edward Robinson, seconded by Ms. Shakira Khan.

4. Matters Arising from minutes of the meeting of December 5th

2006

g. Unit staff

The Unit is to provided Mr. Henry with copies of the Photos of the drains at Iter

Boreale

65

Mr. Richard Coutou has returned and is once again with the Unit on a part-time

basis, Ms. Kadean Mitchell will also continue with us on a part-time basis.

h. Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Delegation

Mr. Ahmad reported that discussions with the team have led to the development

of a tsunami hazard map of SW Barbados.

i. USGS Visiting Tsunami research team

The USGS team spent 7 days in Jamaica in January and was involved in a joint field exercise with the MGU investigating potential tsunami deposits around the

island. Mr. Ahmad recommended that a field trip be organized to share

information garnered on that trip with interested parties.

5. Progress Report

A printed summary report for the period December 5th 2006 to February 6

th 2007was



A review of the Units involvement with the USGS Tsunami team and the

joint fieldwork carried out in January.


awareness component of the project. Homers Cove, Westmoreland will be the 2

nd week of February 2007.

The MGU also visited the Woods Hole research vessel Corwith

Cramer as part of a UWI delegation.

Our most recent publication Robinson, E.; Rowe D.-A. C.; Khan, S. A.

2006. Wave- Emplaced Boulders on Jamaica’s Rocky Shores. Z.

Geomorph. N.F. Vol. 146, 39-57


j. Mr. Ahmad suggested that the Unit should present its work to a wider audience.


The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17

th 2007 at 5:30pm.

Action Column

66





Held April 17th, 2007

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:55 p.m. by Mr. Rafi Ahmad and handed over to

Prof. Robinson.

Persons present

Mr. Rafi Ahmad – Dept Geography & Geology, UWI, Hermione McKenzie – Social Sciences, UWI, Prof. Edward Robinson – MGU and Shakira Khan – MGU, Richard

Coutou - MGU.

2. Apologies & Absences Apologies were tendered for Prof. David Barker.


Motions for adoption and seconding of the minutes were as follows: confirmation by Mr.

Rafi Ahmad, seconded by Prof. Edward Robinson.

4. Matters Arising from minutes of the meeting of December 5th

2006

a. Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Delegation Mr. Ahmad reported that there will be a meeting to review progress being done.

Rafi will recommend that they invite a member of the MGU, which was Prof

Edward Robinson.

Climate Change

Mrs McKenzie is working on a project looking at the policy related to climate change.

5. Progress Report

A printed summary report for the period February 6

th 2006 to April 16

th 2007 was



Community meetings were conductance for Homers Cove and Little Bay,

Westmoreland in February and at Faquhars Beach, Clarendon on 18th March.

67

Joint MGU and UDS field leader on GSTT coastal hazards field trip on 10th

February.

MS Deborah-Ann Rowe returned to Jamaica to conducted field work on

buried tsunami deposits and she also assisted the unit on B.E.A.C.H.E.S.

hazard map preparation.


awareness component of the project. Homers Cove, Westmoreland will be the 2

nd week of February 2007.

Continued beach monitoring and profiling.

Mapping of coastline at Farquhars Beach and the mouth of the milk ricer due

to rapid sedimentation.


a. Ask MS Hermaine to assist with presenting the policy section at the NGO meeting.


The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Junr 26th 2007 at 5:30pm.

Action Column


68

APPENDIX C

Facsimile of materials produced for the community of St. Margaret’s Bay, Portland

Appendix C. 1 St. Margaret’s Bay coastal hazard poster

69

Appendix C.2 St. Margaret’s Bay coastal hazard brochure

70

Appendix D Facsimile of materials produced for the community of Farquhar’s Beach, Clarendon

Appendix D.1 Farquhar’s Beach coastal hazard poster

71

Appendix D.2 Farquhar’s Beach coastal hazard brochure

72

Appendix E Facsimile of educational materials produced for the community of Galina, St. Mary

Appendix E.1 Poster provided to schools and government agencies in St. Mary for use in future hazard awareness programs conducted in the community.

73

Appendix E.2 Brochure provided to community members, with the hazard map and guidelines for safe building practices suitable in this setting and tips on hurricane preparedness.

74

Appendix F

Facsimile of materials produced for the community of Homers Cove and Little Bay, Westmoreland

76

Appendix G

Hazard Maps prepared for the five communities investigated

Appendix G

2

Appendix G

3

Appendix G

4

Appendix G

1

Appendix H Programme of Talks presented at the workshop organised for the presentation of the findings of the BEACHES project and the hurricane dean impact assessment conducted island wide by various agencies.

`

Funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica

8:30-9:00 am WORKSHOP REGISTRATION

9:00 – 9:20 am

Opening Remarks Mrs. Eleanor Jones

Session 1 Mr. Rafi Ahmad –

chairman

9:20 – 9:35 am

BEACHES –Project objective and methods used

Prof. Edward Robinson –Marine Geology Unit (MGU) UWI

9:35 – 9:50 am

Coastal Hazard Maps - design and applications

Mr. Richard Coutou (MGU-UWI)

9:50 – 10:05 am Coastline assessment, documenting physical features

Prof. Edward Robinson (MGU-UWI)

10:05 – 10:30 am

COFFEE BREAK & POSTER VIEWING

Session 2 Prof. Ronald Young

– chairman

10:30 – 10:45 am

Hazards of our Coastline – Impacts on coastal communities

Shakira Khan (MGU-UWI)

10:45 – 11:00 am

Characteristics of Hurricane Dean

Mr. Rafi Ahmad Unit for Disaster Studies (UWI)

11:00 – 11:15 am

Offshore sand deposits – South coast shelf: A preliminary

appraisal Prof. Edward Robinson (MGU-UWI)

11:15 – 12:00 pm

PARTICIPANTS REVIEW

END OF MORNING WORKSHOP

Impact of Hurricanes on Jamaica's Coastline

Beach Erosion And Coastal Hazards: Ensuring Safety (B.E.A.C.H.E.S.)

Mona Visitor’s Lodge & Conference Center UWI, Mona Campus

November 6th, 2007

2

Funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica

1:30 – 1:45 pm REGISTRATION – Hurricane Dean Impact assessment

1:45 – 2:00 pm Opening Remarks

Session 1 -Prof. David Barker-

chairman

2:00 – 2:15 pm

Impact of storm surge: implications for future development Mr. Norman Harris and Ms. Georgette D’Aguilar

Mines & Geology Division

2:15 – 2:30

Impact of Hurricanes Dean and Felix on Manatee Bay, St. Catherine

Dr. David Miller1 and Dr. Andrew Pearson

1Department of Geography & Geology (UWI)

2:30 – 2:45 pm

Sectoral Damage Analyses of Hurricane Dean - Financial Sector and the Main Road Infrastructure

Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee and Ms. Karen McIntyre Mona Geoinformatix Ltd

2:45 – 3:00 pm

Coastal Impact of Hurricane Dean Mr. Ainsley Henry and Miss. Stacy Moses

Integrated Planning & Environment Division, NEPA

3:00 – 3:15 pm

Damage assessment: A critical Pre and Post disaster impact decision making tool, the case of Hurricane Dean

Mrs. Karema Akins-Mitchell Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management

(ODPEM)

3:15 – 3:45 pm

COFFEE BREAK & POSTER VIEWING

Session 2

3:45 - 4:00 pm Ms. Claire Bernard

Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)

4:00 – 4:15 pm Policy Implications of Hurricane Dean

Ms. Kim-Marie Spence Caribbean Policy Research Institute

4:15 – 4:30 pm

Hurricane Dean- Impacts and Issues in relation to coastal communities: Case of Portland Cottage and its environs

Dr. Balfour Spence and Miss Natainia Lummen Department of Geography & Geology (UWI)

4:30 – 4:45 pm

Comparative review of Hurricanes Ivan and Dean Professor Edward Robinson and Ms. Monique Johnson (MGU-

UWI)

4:45 – 5:00 pm

PARTICIPANTS REVIEW

Impact of Hurricanes on Jamaica's Coastline

Hurricane Dean Impact Assessment

Mona Visitor’s Lodge & Conference Center UWI, Mona Campus

November 6th, 2007

3

Appendix I

Provisional Coastal Hazard Maps generated for sections of the coastline not covered by the communities investigated

Appendix I a. Coastal hazard map of the Mosquito Cove to Sandy Bay section of the north coast base map sheet 21D of the 1:12,500 map series

4

Appendix I b. Coastal hazard map of the Boscobel, St. Mary area. Base map sheet 92A of the 1:12,500 map series.

5

Appendix I c. Coastal hazard map of the Browns Bay to Innes Bay section of the east coast base map sheet 135 C of the 1:12,500 map series

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