The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) is a private, nonprofit organization formed in 1926. It was founded to address

coastal erosion Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts of storms. The landward ...

and the loss of sand on America's

beaches A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shells ...

. Today, ASBPA is an association of beach and coastal practitioners, including beach towns and managers, coastal engineers, coastal geologists, dredging and

ecological restoration Restoration ecology is the scientific study supporting the practice of ecological restoration, which is the practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human interrupt ...

companies, coastal academics and students. ASBPA advances coastal science and

coastal engineering Coastal engineering is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the specific demands posed by constructing at or near the coast, as well as the development of the coast itself. The hydrodynamic impact of especially waves, tides, storm surges ...

through its peer-reviewed journal, ''Shore & Beach'', and an annual technical conference. It also hosts an annual coastal summit in Washington, DC to advocate for coastal policies.

History

ASBPA was founded in 1926, and was initially instrumental in persuading the Congress to enact legislation authorizing federal funding of erosion studies and project works for shore protection. In 1930, ASBPA helped form the

Beach Erosion Board The Beach Erosion Board (BEB) was a federal board organized under the US Government's War Department (later, the Department of Defense), U.S. Army, and was a part of the civil works program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Board ...

. ASBPA was politically engaged on coastal erosion and

beach nourishment Beach nourishment (also referred to as beach renourishment, beach replenishment, or sand replenishment) describes a process by which sediment, usually sand, lost through longshore drift or erosion is replaced from other sources. A wider beach ca ...

for most of the 20th century and has had number of prominent coastal advocates and members of the Army Corps of Engineers on its board, including Morrough Parker O'Brien, who served as President from 1972-1983. After a long partnership, ASBPA merged with the American Coastal Coalition (ACC) in 2003. In 2015, ASBPA formed memorandum of understanding with the Coastal Zone Foundation (CZF) to collaborate on a certification program for coastal practitioners.

Advocacy

ASBPA (and the ACC, which it merged with in 2003) has been the leading advocate for the

United States Army Corps of Engineers , colors = , anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day) , battles = , battles_label = Wars , website = , commander1 = ...

shore protection program which builds and provides federal funding for beach and dunes systems as coastal flood protection for vulnerable communities. The focus on sand and sediment has led the organization to advocate for the beneficial use of dredged material and natural coastal infrastructure. In February 2017, ASBPA President Anthony P. Pratt was invited to testify before

United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for legislation and oversight of the natural and built environment and for studying matters concerning environmental protection and nature conservation, resource co ...

on the value of beaches, dunes, wetlands and other natural coastal infrastructure to the nation. In 2019, ASBPA Executive Director, Derek Brockbank, testified before the

United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. History The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was formerly known as the Committee on Public Works a ...

and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on issues related to beach and coastal restoration in the

Water Resources Development Act Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), is a reference to public laws enacted by Congress to deal with various aspects of water resources: environmental, structural, navigational, flood protection, hydrology, etc. Typically, the United States Arm ...

Publications

''Shore & Beach'' is a peer-reviewed journal, published by ASBPA four times per year. It includes scientific articles and general interest features. Typically, one issue per year is a special issue devoted to single subject. ''Shore & Beach'' has been published since 1933. "Coastal Voice" is a member newsletter distributed by ASBPA eleven times per year. It includes coastal policy updates, science and technology updates, information on conferences and workshops, and changes to the board and staff of ASBPA.

Best Restored Beach and Shore

ASBPA presents annual awards for Best Restored Beach to communities that have recently undergone nourishment or full restoration. And starting in 2019, ASBPA presents awards for Best Restored Shore to non-beach shorelines. Inaugural 2019 Best Restored Shore winners were: * Virginia Point Wetland Protection Project, Texas * Mississippi River Long Distance Sediment Pipeline, Louisiana * Money Point Shoreline Restoration, Virginia * Mispillion Living Shoreline Project, Delaware Recent Best Restored Beach winners have included: 2019 Winners * Caminada Headland, Louisiana *

South Padre Island South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. The remote landform is located in Cameron County, Willacy County, and accessible by the Queen Isabella Causeway. South Padre Island was formed when the creation of the Port Mans ...

, Texas * Waypoint Park Beach, Bellingham, WA * Duval County, Florida 2018 Winners *

Dare County, North Carolina Dare County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,915. Its county seat is Manteo. Dare County is named after Virginia Dare, the first child born in the Americas to English p ...

Beaches, NC * Galveston Seawall Beach, TX * Cardiff Beach, Encinitas, CA * Sagaponack-Bridgehampton Beaches, NY * Thompsons Beach, NJ 2017 Winners * Dauphin Island, AL * Phipps Ocean Park, Palm Beach, FL * Popponesset Spit, MA * Prime Hook Beach, DE * Sandbridge Beach, Virginia Beach, VA 2016 winners: * Babe’s Beach, Galveston, TX * Rosewood Beach, Highland Park, IL * Seabrook Island, SC * Topsail Beach, NC * Redondo Beach, CA. 2015 winners: *Galveston Island, TX *Santa Monica, CA *Western Destin Beach, FL *Folly Beach, SC *South Hutchinson Island/St Lucie, FLGill, E. "Hutchinson Island renourishment project named one of America's best," ''Vero Beach Press Journal'', June 4, 2015 http://www.tcpalm.com/yournews/st-lucie-county/hutchinson-island-renourishment-project-named-one-of-americas-best-ep-1121613073-340648501.html

Chapters

*California Shore & Beach Preservation Association
www.csbpa.org
*Central-East Coast chapter of ASBPA *Central Gulf Coast chapter of ASBPA *Hawaii Shore & Beach Preservation Association
www.hawaiishoreandbeach.org
*Great Lakes Shore & Beach Preservation Association *Northeast Shore & Beach Preservation Association
www.nsbpa.org
*Student Chapter of ASBPA at Stevens Institute of Technology
http://gradlife.stevens.edu/org/stevensasbpa
*Texas chapter of ASBPA
www.texasasbpa.org

External links

ASBPA Web Site

References

{{reflist Environmental organizations based in the United States Coastal engineering