Which of the following is a potential drawback of using jetties to prevent beach erosion?
1. Jetties are not effective until plant life has time to grow.
2. Beach erosion may increase on the downdrift side of the jetties.
3. Jetties block boats from being able to enter harbors.
4. Building jetties is more expensive than soft beach management strategies.
2. Beach erosion may increase on the downdrift side of the jetties is a potential drawback of using jetties to prevent beach erosion. This is because jetties may alter the way sand is transported along the beach, causing increased erosion on the downdrift side of the jetties.
The potential drawback of using jetties to prevent beach erosion is option 2: Beach erosion may increase on the downdrift side of the jetties.
To determine the potential drawback of using jetties to prevent beach erosion, let's analyze the options provided:
1. Jetties are not effective until plant life has time to grow.
This statement suggests that jetties may not provide immediate benefits in preventing beach erosion until plant life has time to establish. This can be seen as a potential drawback, as immediate protection may not be achieved.
2. Beach erosion may increase on the downdrift side of the jetties.
This statement indicates that beach erosion might intensify on the side of the jetties where sediment is deposited as it flows past the structures. This can be viewed as a potential drawback, as it can lead to increased erosion in certain areas.
3. Jetties block boats from being able to enter harbors.
This statement states that jetties can hinder boats from accessing harbors due to the obstruction they create. While this may be a disadvantage for boats, it is not directly related to beach erosion, which is the primary focus of the question.
4. Building jetties is more expensive than soft beach management strategies.
This statement suggests that the cost of constructing jetties is higher compared to alternative methods of managing beaches, such as implementing soft approaches. This can be considered as a potential drawback, as it may influence decision-making based on budgetary considerations.
Based on the options provided, the potential drawback of using jetties to prevent beach erosion appears to be:
2. Beach erosion may increase on the downdrift side of the jetties.
4. Building jetties is more expensive than soft beach management strategies.