Coastal Zone Management Unit

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Home > Projects > Coastal Infrastructure Programme > Holetown Beach Improvement Project > Environmental Impacts

Terrestrial Vegetation

Generally, terrestrial vegetation at the site is sparse. Much of the existing vegetation, both natural and cultivated, shows signs of being negatively affected by beach erosion.

The construction of the proposed coastal structures (headlands, revetments, walkways) is anticipated to require the modication of the existing vegetation. There is the potential for damage to, or loss of, vegetation during the laying of the walkway which will be in close proximity to the exisitng vegetation. However, there will be a thorough landscaping programme involving the replacement of removed vegetation and the establishment of new plants.

Marine Water Quality

The main anticipated concern with regard to construction activities at this site is that coastal engineering works for beach nourishment will generate plumes of suspended sediment that can potentially smother reef organisms.

An extensive programme for monitoring turbidity and sedimentation has been planned and will be implemented. In the event that limits are exceeded the Contractor will be required to stop construction and implement sediment control measures.

Marine Communities

The nearshore areas of both patch reefs appeared to be in a degraded condition with high percentages of turf algae/ fleshy green algae cover, low coral abundance and diversity, and practically no encrusting calcareous algae cover. Portions of the nearshore patch reefs with algae/ rubble assemblages may be lost under the footprint of the revetment, but this is expected to be moderate. This loss may be compensated by the increased three-dimensional complexity of the nearshore area that will be created by the planned headlands.

Every effort will be made to avoid indirect impacts to the reef from construction activities. Measures to be implemented will include:

Selection and deployment of turbidity barriers
Removal of excessive debris from the boulders to be used for the construction of the coastal structures

Turtle Nesting

There is evidence from the Barbados Sea Turtle Project of the University of the West Indies that there are thirty (30) to fifty (50) hawksbill turtle nests made per year to the immediate north of the works, specifically concentrated between the Holetown Police Station and Discovery Bay.

There will be monitoring for turtle nesting throughout construction and any observations of nests or hatchlings will be reported to the Barbados Sea Turtle Project immediately.