Baird completed a coastal protection feasibility study for the hamlet of Hall Beach, Nunavut. The project included development of design criteria, evaluation of protection alternatives, and conceptual design and costing for the three preferred coastal protection approaches.

Project Highlights

Several houses in Hall Beach, Nunavut were built too close to the shoreline and threatened by coastal erosion. Baird was hired by the Government of Nunavut to evaluate the coastal conditions and develop erosion mitigation options.

Baird concluded that the erosion “hotspot” in front of the houses is related to historical modifications to the shoreline and the angle of wave attack. Our recommended solution was to re-grade the shoreline to its original (pre-1950s) configuration, and to place additional beach fill to increase the setback distances between the houses and shoreline. This option was estimated to cost three times less than moving the houses, and four times less than the next coastal protection option. Additional considerations included: adaptability to climate change impacts, maintenance, precedent in the Arctic, material quality assurance, ease of construction, and community use of the shoreline.