Beaches, Lakes, And Rivers
Assessing risks and managing water-based recreation areas
By Harold J. Nolan
While much has been written over the years about parks, playgrounds, pools, and athletic fields, very little has been written that addresses the operation of beach and waterfront facilities. These types of facilities not only pose special management considerations, but also involve unique safety and liability issues.
A variety of research through the years has shown that outdoor recreation activities generate the largest number of leisure-based participation rates, and that waterfront resources remain the most desired types of recreation activities. However, with such consumer demand, there are a number of concerns:
General beach design
Beach-erosion mitigation methods
Water clarity and quality
Control of medical and other types of wastes and pollutants
Designation of use zones for different types of recreation activities
Protection of waterfront wildlife
Addressing of risk-management and liability issues.
Design
While many waterfront resources operate within the confines of natural design, other areas—due to storm surge and natural erosion problems—lead to a more managed design. In more developed areas, beaches are often shaped so the general gradient includes a 2- to 10-percent slope from the sand to the water; typically, the upper levels of beaches have more sand in place to help reduce erosion, while certain areas are preserved for natural wildlife protection, such as the coastal Piping Plover birds, a near-threatened species. Design considerations often include the control of noxious plants, sharp rocks, and locations of potential rip tides. Beach-design concerns also include the identification and control of potentially troublesome drop zones from low to deep areas, often caused by sand bars.
Erosion
One major management concern in waterfront operations—especially in ocean-based environments—is the issue of beach erosion. Erosion is prevalent in many ocean and lake areas, so decisions must be made as to how this problem should be controlled. Many people suggest erosion is a natural process, and that sand ebbs and flows in different directions year after year. On the other hand, major coastal attractions, with nice, wide beaches, demand that governmental agencies at all levels maintain optimum beach size via such methods as sand bypass or replacing beach sand from the ocean bottom, trucking sand in from other locations, or constructing a series of rock formations, such as groins or jetties to control erosion.
Use Zones
The management of waterfront operations is highly dependent upon the types of aquatic activities offered. Specifically designed areas for swimming, fishing, surfing, and boating are each independent in their own way, and specific-use area designations are often necessary so none of these uses interferes with the others. For example, swimmers do not want to be in the same location as fishermen casting lines, or surfers riding their boards. Good beach design is created in such a way that locations are designated for marinas, swimming, and surfing, for optimal safe use.
In addition to primary-use areas, proper waterfront management includes considerations of support, such as parking lots, entry trails, and bathrooms. Most parking stalls average about 300 square feet, and trails leading from a parking area to various water-based areas are generally paved with asphalt, crushed stone, or crushed concrete. General bathroom size averages are one urinal per 75 males, and one toilet per 50 women. Other waterfront-support services might include bath houses and cabanas.
Liability And Risk Management
Liability and risk-management issues are usually more critical in waterfront areas than in other types of outdoor, recreation-based resources. According to the National Safety Council, drowning is the fourth-leading cause of death by unintentional injury. Only motor-vehicle accidents, falls, and poisonings exceed drownings. Risk comes in two forms—management errors and natural resource-based risks. In a waterfront environment, failure to provide specifically trained lifeguards and beach-patrol staff members, along with poorly designed and constructed facilities, lead the way.
To reduce the risk of accidents, some waterfront operations require swimmers and surfers to pass a swimming test to use the facilities, while some marinas require boaters to pass a state boating course. Depending on the level of safety and security desired, the standard of care will vary from reasonable or ordinary to professional-level. Such standard levels increase, especially where entry or user fees are in place. Specific rules and regulations dealing with wading, diving, food, flotation devices, and unsupervised children should be in place and promoted with good signage in selective waterfront areas.
Specific Risks
When segmenting the different types of waterfronts—coastal beaches, lakes, and rivers—each type has unique qualities.
For instance, coastal beach operations must be prepared to deal with large wave problems and rip tides, as well as employing lifeguards who possess specialized knowledge and proficiency in long-distance surf swimming. Coastal beaches also deal with their own special wildlife threats, from sharks to a variety of stingrays.
Both large and small lakes may be used for recreation purposes; however, they are limited by access, topography, and pollutants from both human and natural contributors. The use of lakes, specifically for boating, wind surfing, and water skiing, is based in part on width, length, and depth.
Regardless of size, rivers offer special recreation opportunities. Such use has increased over the past 50 years since the passage of the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Public Act Law 90-542 in 1968, which led to the preservation of more than 75 rivers. Much of the activity includes white-water rivers, which serve canoes, kayaks, inflatable rafts, and dory boats. Safety issues on rivers can include many dangers and hazards, such as fast-running water, rocks, fallen trees, and mud slides. A major strategy in managing rivers often involves implementing carrying-capacity standards and limiting the number of boats at any one time.
The list of specialized management and safety issues involving waterfront environments is incredibly large. Topics, strategies, and safety issues will vary depending upon the body of water. With an increasing usage of such natural resources, there remains the need for water-based professionals, now and into the future.
Dr. Harold J. Nolan, Jr. is Director of the Institute for Tourism & Recreation Management, Navesink, N.J. He holds a B.A., M.A., and M.BA., as well as a Ph.D. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism from the University of Utah. In addition to serving many years as a professor, he also spent 35 years as director of Recreation, Parks & Tourism in Colts Neck, N.J. and Long Branch, N.J. Reach him at nolanharold@yahoo.com.