Graduate student Saurav Shrestha was recently awarded the 2024-2025 Graduate Student Coastal and Ocean Research Fellowship by Florida Sea Grant (FSG). This Fellowship Program focusses on advancing Sea Grant’s mission by fostering educational development and supporting ongoing research in coastal and ocean resource management. It offers graduate students a significant opportunity to deepen their research on the assessment and sustainable utilization of these essential resources in one of the four focus areas: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, Resilient Communities and Economies, or Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development.

Saurav’s Research

Dunes act as natural defenses along coastlines, shielding communities and infrastructure from storms, waves, and flooding. However, beaches in Florida have experienced significant dune erosion, not only from storms but also under moderate weather conditions (Fig. 1). Dune toe erosion has occurred even without storms, with heights varying from several centimeters to about a meter. This erosion often leads to rapid dune degradation and increased coastal vulnerability, making it a critical issue. Saurav’s research aims to identify the causes of dune toe collapses with a focus on soil mechanics and metocean conditions. By the end of the one-year study, Saurav expects to have pinpointed the critical parameters for dune toe collapse and erosion, developed a risk assessment framework, and explored potential mitigation strategies. The study’s findings will offer insights into the causes of dune toe collapse and providing a tested risk assessment model that could be applied to other locations across Florida, along with possible mitigation strategies.

Figure 1. Dune toe collapse and erosion (marked by red box) (left) and a dune scarp after dune collapse (right) as seen in Flagler beach, Florida. The photographs were taken on March 12, 2024 by the student.

Project Partners

The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners is a key partner on this project. Dr. Ansley Wren-Key, Coastal Engineering Administrator, has confirmed the project’s value to Flagler County and will collaborate directly, providing local historical knowledge of the coastal dune system and offering quarterly feedback on our progress. She will also guide the development of the probabilistic risk assessment framework to ensure its relevance for end users like herself. The proposed project is expected to significantly support Flagler County’s beach management, protection efforts, and outreach initiatives.