groins along shoreline showing accretion on updrift side of groin and erosion on downdrift side

Groins are shore-perpendicular coastal engineering structures. Groins are usually placed in groin "fields" (multiple groins) and are meant to inhibit the alongshore movement of sand and "catch" sand. This usually results in a wider, accretive beach on the updrift side of the groin, but a receding, erosive beach on the down-drift side of the groin.

Last updated on October 6, 2005