ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

CHAGVILLE, TRINIDAD &

MARINE SPATIAL ZONING
November 2014

Johnson & Goberdhan

Introduction

Location

Introduction

The Project
Re-nourishment

of Chagville Beach
Rehabilitate Beach facilities
Placement of Breakwaters and Groynes

Introduction

Project Rationale
Chagville

Beach is eroding
No natural supply of
sediments to the Beach
Requires annual
Maintenance Nourishment
Landside facilities in poor
condition
Unattractive to Tourists (L&I)

Introduction

Project Rationale
Achieve

Development Objectives

Legislation and Regulatory Framework

National Environmental Policies

The National Environmental Policy (NEP)

The National Physical Development Plan
The National Wetlands Policy
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

National Laws and Regulations

Environmental Management Act 2000

The Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) Rules, 2001

The Certificate of Environmental Clearance (Designated Activities) Order,
2001
The Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2001
The Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) Rules, 2001
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Rules, 2001
Water Pollution Rules, 2001 as amended in Water Pollution (Amendment)
Rules, 2006

Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act

Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2004 and Amendment Act, 2006

Project Description Conceptual Design

Beach
Nourishment
Install
Breakwaters

Rehabilitate
backshore
facilities

Project Description Conceptual Design

Beach Nourishment

D50 - 0.45
2

Existing profile

1.5

Berm width -9m

Design profile
1
0.5

Berm Elev 1.3m

Elevation (m)

Entire beach approx.

760m long

0
0

20

40

60

-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5

Volume: 23,700m3

Source: Guyana quartz

sand

-3

Distance Offshore (m)

80

100

Project Description Conceptual Design

Crest set to msl

Breakwaters and
Groynes

BW are on
average 80 90m
offshore

Crest Elevation at
0.0m

Placed in 4m water
Depth on overage

Boulders sized to resist

waves from cat 2 Hurricane

Project Description Conceptual Design

Breakwaters and
Groynes
Structure

Length (m)

Volume (m)

BW1

125

5500

BW2

133

5852

BW3

100

4400

BW4

100

4400

BW5

122

5368

G1

41

902

G2

74

1628

Total

695

28050

Project Description Conceptual Design

Rehabilitate Beach facilities

Washrooms/Areas
Lifeguard

House

Restaurants
Solid

waste Disposal

Wastewater
Storm

Drains

Disposal system

Project Description Construction

Construction Method Nourishment

Deep

draft/Large Capacity Barge from Guyana with

clamshell offloading to small barge
Small Barge and long reach excavator and small
draft (0.9m)
Bulldozer onshore

Project Description Construction

Construction Method Breakwaters and Groynes

Remove

biophysical features in footprint of structures

Placement of turbidity barriers
Deliver boulders to site via barge from stockpile area
Place boulders on sea floor and build up to crest

Project Description Construction

Construction Method Breakwaters and groynes

Trucks

along highway during off peak hours to wharf

Barge from Wharf to Site

Project Description Construction

Construction Phasing
Phase

Rehabilitation

works (buildings, drainage, sewerage,

landscaping)
Placement of Groynes and Western Breakwaters
Phase

Nourishment

of entire beach
Placement of Eastern Breakwaters

Project Description Monitoring

Environmental Monitoring (Construction)

Water

Quality

Dust
Noise

Long term monitoring (Post Construction)

Currents
Shoreline

location
Water Quality

Description of the Environment

Physical
Biological
Social

Description of the Environment

Physical
Topography
Steep

hills
to the north
Site is
gently
sloping to
south

Description of the Environment

Physical
Hydrology
Rivers

on

either
boundaries
Site drains
to sea

Description of the Environment

Physical
Bathymetry
Slopes

3%
out to 100m
offshore

Rapid

fall
off after 4m

Description of the Environment

Physical
Sediments
DESCRIPTION

West

Central

East

SAMPLE
LOCATION

MEAN

MEDIAN

mm

mm

Upper Beach

0.31

0.31

Slightly Gravelly SAND

Mid Beach

1.16

0.86

Sandy GRAVEL

Lower Beach

0.25

0.26

Slightly Gravelly SAND

Upper Beach

0.22

0.22

Slightly Gravelly SAND

Mid Beach

0.61

0.40

Slightly Gravelly SAND

Lower Beach

0.15

0.15

Gravelly SAND

Upper Beach

0.39

0.39

Slightly Gravelly SAND

Mid Beach

0.73

0.71

Slightly Gravelly SAND

Lower Beach

0.67

0.53

Gravelly SAND

CLASSIFICATION
(FOLK & WARD)

Description of the Environment

Physical
Wind

Waves and Currents

Description of the Environment

Physical
Wind

Waves and Currents

Range
Location

Hs (m)

Tp (s)

Dp ()

West

0.1 - 0.3

3.0 - 7.3

140 - 160

Central

0.01 - 0.2

2.5 - 5.7

140 - 165

East

Description of the Environment

Physical
Wind

Waves and Currents

Circulation

in gulf of Paria
due to Guina current
Carenage bay circulation is
characterized by slow
currents (15cm/s)
with westerly currents during
falling tides and easterly
currents during rising tides.
Alongshore currents due to
waves easterly 0.1cm/min

Description of the Environment

Physical
Shoreline

Morphology

Shoreline

use changed from swamp to beach

Description of the Environment

Physical
Shoreline

Morphology
Shoreline

use
changed from
swamp to beach
Shoreline is
developed
Shoreline is
receding at
approximately
0.3m per year

Description of the Environment

Physical
3

Shoreline

Morphology

Shoreline

use
changed from
swamp to beach
Shoreline is
developed
Shoreline is
receding at
approximately
0.3m per year

Elevation (m)

0
-1
-2
-3
0

20

40

60

80

100

Distance (m)
20000120

20000822

20070518

20070926

20090421

20090727

20100121

20100729

120

Description of the Environment

Biological
Sea
Fish

grass

Impact Matrix - Physical

Potential Impact

Timing
Nature
Duration
Magnitude
Significance
During Construction Post Construction Positive Negative Short-term Long-term Low Moderate High Low Moderate High
Physical

Increased Noise Pollution (Use of Heavy

Machinery)

Increased Air Pollution (Dust and Fumes)

Increased Water Pollution (Oils,

Gasoline, Solid Waste etc)

Spillage of Boulders and other materials

Increased Sedimentation of the Marine

Environment

x
x
x

Increased Soild Waste Generated

Increased Traffic (Marine/Road)
Increased Wear and Tear of the Road
Reduced Wave Energy
Reduced Current Speeds
Reduced Beach Erosion
Reduced Flushing Time
Increased Beach Berm
Visual Asthetics

x
x
x

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

x
x
x
x
x
x

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

x
x
x

x
x
x

x
x

x
x
x
x

x
x
x
x

Impact Matrix Biological

Potential Impact

Timing

Nature

Duration

Magnitude

Significance

During Construction Post Construction Positive Negative Short-term Long-term Low Moderate High Low Moderate High
Biological

Compression of Beach Sediment

(Burrowing Fauna)

Introduction of Benthic Ecology

Sedimentation (Wetlands, Seagrass and

other marine life)
Release of Toxins from Sediment
(Wetlands, Seagrass and other marine
life)
Decreased Water Quality (Wetlands,
Seagrass and other marine life)
Fish or Invertebrate Displacement
Habitat Fragmentation

x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

Impact Matrix - Social

Potential Impact

Timing

Nature

Duration

Magnitude

Significance

During Construction Post Construction Positive Negative Short-term Long-term Low Moderate High Low Moderate High
Social

Traffic Congestion

x
x

No Use of Beach (Recreational Users,

Spritual Baptist, Lifeguards)

Increased Employment Opportunities

x
x

x
x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x

Increased Bussiness (Retail)

Increased Financial Cost to Users (Paying

to Use Facilities)

x
x

Heavier Beach Use

Increased Tourism
Increased Recreation Activities
(Swimming, Watersports etc)
Increased Recreational Safety (Reduced
Wave Energy for Swimming and other
Watersports)

Increased Security for Users

Visual Asethics

x
x

x
x

x
x

x
x
x

x
x

x
x

Mitigation Measures
Potential Impact of Negative
Nature

Mitigation Measures
Physical

Increased Noise Pollution (Use of Heavy

Machinery)

Monitoring of decibel levels

Construction will stop before nightfall
Appropriate PPE for all persons on site

Increased Air Pollution (Dust and Fumes)

Air Quality Monitoring. If threshold exceeded, work will be stopped.

Occasssional 'wetting'
Water Quality Monitoring

Increased Water Pollution (Oils,

Gasoline, Solid Waste etc)

Proper inspection and maintenance of all vessels

Proper storage of solid waste until disposal
Spill Plan : Alert CDA. Personel trained to respond approriately

Spillage of Boulders and other materials

Trained personel
Spill cleanup

Increased Sedimentation of the Marine

Environment

Water Quality Monitoring

Wash Boulders at Source
Sediment traps/silt screens

Increased Soild Waste Generated

Adequate bathroom and garbage facilites

Proper storage of solid waste until disposal

Increased Traffic (Marine/Road)

Reduce Road Traffic - Use of barge

Avoid peak traffic times

Increased Wear and Tear of the Road

Reduced Flushing Time

Use of barge instead of trucks

Opening in Breakwaters
Aim to improve water quality - flushing becomes less crucial

Mitigation Measures
Potential Impact of Negative
Nature

Mitigation Measures
Biological

Compression of Beach Sediment

(Burrowing Fauna)
Sedimentation (Wetlands, Seagrass and
other marine life)

Reduce useage of heavy equipment

Water Quality Monitoring
Wash Boulders at Source
Sediment traps/silt screens

Release of Toxins from Sediment

(Wetlands, Seagrass and other marine
life)

Water Quality Monitoring

Stop work and initiate cleanup if toxicity is too high
Water Quality Monitoring

Decreased Water Quality (Wetlands,

Seagrass and other marine life)

Proper inspection and maintenance of all vessels

Proper storage of solid waste until disposal
Spill Plan : Alert CDA. Personel trained to respond approriately

Fish or Invertebrate Displacement

No Mitigation

Habitat Fragmentation

No Mitigation

Loss of Habitat in footprint of Structures

No Mitigation

Loss of Flora in footprint of Structures

No mapped flora - possibly no impact

Mitigation Measures
Potential Impact of Negative
Nature

Mitigation Measures
Social

Traffic Congestion

Reduce Road Traffic - Use of barge

Avoid peak traffic times

No Use of Beach (Recreational Users,

Spritual Baptist, Lifeguards)

Avoid peak times (Mar, Jul, Aug, Dec)

Phased Construction - Minimal Closure Time

Increased Financial Cost to Users (Paying

to Use Facilities)

No Mitigation - Necessary for upkeep

Visual Asethics

Breakwater height at MSL - minimal disruption of view

Alternatives

No Action

Alternative Site for Development

No cost involved
Beach does not meet its full potential
Continued degradation
Unsafe beach
Encourages development at other locations
May not be feasible at other locations
More time involved Assessment of alternative sites
More cost involved

Protect Existing Beach

Less cost involved than Nourishment

Only some portions of the beach are currently useable
Narrow beach with unsightly structures
No improvement to visitors

Monitoring and Management

5 year Monitoring and Management Plan

Waves

and Currents
Beach Profiles
Integrity of Structures
Water Quality
Sediment Quality
Benthic Ecology
Mangrove Survey
Sea grass Survey

Recommendations would then be given to determine

if Monitoring and Management Plan should continue

GIS

Beach Profiles
Rivers
Roads
Coastline
Bathymetry
Existing Seawall
Study Area
Wetland
Trees
Buildings
Car Park
Proposed Groynes
Proposed Breakwaters

Public Consultations

Questionnaire
Description

of Interviewee
Housing, Health and Social Services
Specific Issues Regarding the Project
Employment and Income
Education

Range of persons interviewed

Lifeguards
CDA

employee
Vendor
Recreational Users

Public Consultations - Findings

Public Consultations - Findings

Major Concerns about Chagville

Crime
Pollution
No

sandy beach
Drainage

Suggested Improvements
Beach

Facilities
More Lifeguard Presence
Regular Clean-ups
No Smoking Zone

Zoning

Coastal Zoning?
Coastal

management tool
Based on a concept of separating and controlling
incompatible uses
Can be modified to suit varying social economic and
political environments

Zoning

Development Plan and CDA objectives

Recreation

(insert image)
Ecotourism (website)
Conservation (website)

Zoning

Mechanics of Zoning
Allowed, allowed with permission
Prohibited, allowed with permission

Zoning

Plan

Zoning

Plan
Area Category
Preservation
1
area

Activities Allowed

Snorkelling with permit

non motorized sports, canoeing,
Water Sports floating
Motorized sports with permit,
Channel
yachts, cargo vessels

motorized sports with permit;

Water sports motorized sports without permit

Preservation
area
Snorkelling with permit
Recreational
Bathing/Swim
ming
Snorkelling, swimming, floating

Notes
Area has seagrass beds which are
to be protected
provides a buffer for protected
areas
provides access to existing
boating facilities

Outfall for river, has degris from

time to time that needs to be
remived, sediment bars are also
present which can increase
turbidity if disturbed
shallow beach are suitable for
recreational swimming