The coast of Emilia Romagna Region (IT) is protected by 65 km of defense structures, 40 km of which are emerged detached barriers. The degradation of the water and sediment quality behind old emerged structures has been such an hindrance to recreational activities, that Emilia Romagna Region, with the technical support of ARPA (Agenzia Regionale Prevenzione e Ambiente), started in 2003 an experimental program aiming at the environmental renaturalisation of Igea Marina beach, placed at the centre of a 20 km array of detached barriers. The project consisted in the reduction of the crest freeboard of 6 adjacent detached barriers, the building of two lateral partially submerged groins and a small nourishment; the design is described together with the main conclusions of a 2-year monitoring of water quality, sediment properties and beach morphology (3 aerial photographic surveys, 1 bathymetry before the works and 2 after the works). Aim of the note is to document the behaviour of the adopted scheme. The unexpected damages occurring to the groins induced by the storm of 7-8th Dec. 2003 are examined and the repairing works are briefly presented.