This study considered structural management measures including revetments, seawalls, beach nourishment and breakwaters. Nonstructural management measures were also considered, including no-action, coastal construction control line, moratorium on construction, establishment of a no-growth program, relocation of structures, flood proofing of structures, improvement of evacuation plans, condemnation of structures and land acquisition. Several alternatives have resulted from combinations of management measures applied among the planning reaches in each focus area. These alternatives were evaluated and compared according to USACE planning principles.
The planning strategy is to identify the National Economic Development (NED) plan for each planning reach (Condado Pocket Beach, Punta Piedrita Headland, Ocean Park Pocket Beach, west side of Punta Las Marias, and Rincon B), and recommend and overarching Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) comprised of each reach's TSP. The TSP reasonably maximizes net benefits to contribute to national economic development and is consistent with protecting the nation's environment, pursuant to national environmental statutes, applicable executive orders, and other Federal planning requirements. At this point of the study, NED identification is still ongoing, so the team designated a TSP based on the potential for economic justification of the alternatives, as well as engineering feasibility and environmental acceptability.
The TSP consists of a combination of structural features in specific locations designed to reduce the risk of damages as a result of wave attack, coastal flooding, and erosion in the Condado Pocket Beach, Punta Piedrita Headland, Ocean Park Pocket Beach, west side of Punta Las Marias, and Rincon B planning reaches as shown in the Figure below. At this point in the study, the TSP will include the following features. These may be adjusted as public comments are considered and finaly analysis are complete:
- Beach renourishment (1.910 ft.) along Condado Pocket Beach shoreline;
- Stone revetment on Punta Piedrita headland (2,450 ft.);
- A breakwater field in combination with beach nourishment protecting 6,810 ft. along the Ocean Park Pocket Beach shoreline;
- Stone revetment on west side of Punta Las Marias headland (1,400 ft.); and
- Stone revetment (5,650 ft.) along the Rincon shoreline
Although, this is not part of the Federal project recommendation, this study recognizes that Puerto Rico island wide will benefit from the non-Federal sponsor, the Commonwealth and local communities pursuing nonstructural measures, such as implementation of a Coastal Construction Control Line, and improved evacuation plans and notification systems.