BLUFF High, steep bank or cliff along the mainland of non-coastal origin. Steepened bluffs are caused by wave undercutting of the cliff toe.

BREAKWATER Structure built parallel to the shoreline and seaward of the beach designed to protect the beach and upland areas by causing waves to break and dissipate their energy before reaching the shore.

BUILDING SETBACK State or locally required seaward limit of beachfront construction, usually for a house.

BULKHEADS Rigid structures with vertical walls built parallel to the shoreline to serve as barriers to wave attack and prevent storm surge flooding of upland areas; constructed out of treated wood, corrugated steel, PVC, or other materials.

COASTAL COMPARTMENT Stretch of shore that is connected by a common longshore sediment transport system, such as the south shore of Long Island, New York.

CUSPS Crenulated beach surface, characterized by an evenly spaced series of rounded, small headlands (projections) and bays (or embayments). The along-shore spacing of cusps ranges from a few feet to 100’s of feet and their relief varies from a few inches to several feet.

DEFLATION Lowering of the beach profile.

DOWNDRIFT In the direction of net longshore sediment transport.

DUNE Mound or ridge of sand deposited by the wind, capable of movement when unvegetated. Dune building can be augmented by sand fencing or planting beach grass.

DUNE RESTORATION Technique of rebuilding an eroded or degraded dune through one or more methods (sand fill, fencing, revegetation, etc.).

DUNE WALKOVER Light construction that provides pedestrian access across a dune without trampling the vegetation.

EBB CURRENT Tidal current moving away from the coast during a falling (ebbing) tide, often with high velocity flows through tidal inlets.

EBB TIDAL DELTA Sandy shoals formed by ebbing currents found on the seaward side of tidal inlets.

EROSION Physical removal of sand from the beach which is transported offshore, alongshore, or into bays and lagoons via inlets. Erosion results in shoreline recession—landward retreat of a shoreline indicator such as the high water line, vegetation line or dune line. Opposite of accretion.