The Beachsaver reef system works with sand nourishment and ocean forces to protect and extend the life of beaches. The reef reduces the volume of sand required for a nourishment project, retains replenished sand as it is pumped onto the beach, and keeps added sand on the beach longer by slowing the rate of erosion.

The reef works to enhance the long-term performance of beach fills in two ways. First, the reef forms a partial barrier, preventing suspended sand from moving out to sea in the return wave. This sand resettles instead in the nearshore zone or emergent beach. Second, the energy of incoming waves are reduced by 20 to 30 percent as they cross the reef and as they break farther offshore, taking less of a toll on the beach front (see illustration above).

An important patented design feature of the reef is the "backwash flume" (circled above). The flume consists of three slotted openings which are wider on the curved beachward face and become narrower as they arc upward to the top of the structure. As a storm wave recedes, the flume projects a high velocity curtain of water and suspended sand upward off the reef so that the next incoming wave cycles the sand back towards the beach. This inhibition of the off shore movement of sand is key in erosion control during storm events.