Document Type

Technical Report

Publication Date

8-2013

Abstract

This report documents the placement and monitoring of an active nearshore berm at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. From May to July 2009, mixed sand and finer sediment dredged from a nearby inlet were placed in the active littoral zone in the form of a bar-shaped nearshore berm. Six sets of beach-nearshore profile surveys and two periods of sediment sampling along profiles were collected. The Ft. Myers Beach nearshore berm migrated onshore roughly 300 ft during the first 2 years. The elevation of the berm crest increased up to 2 ft. Nearly half of the onshore migration occurred during the first 9 months post-construction. Greater distances of onshore migration were measured during the more energetic winter seasons than during calmer summer seasons. No offshore migration was measured during the entire 2-year study period. The shape of the nearshore berm evolved from a roughly symmetrical bell-shaped bar to a highly asymmetrical shape with a steep landward slope, typical of a landward migrating bar. At the end of the 2-year period, the berm migrated to roughly 150 to 200 ft from mean sea level shoreline. The dry beach landward of the berm and along the adjacent beaches remained stable over the 2-year period. A primary concern of this project was the dispersion of fine sediment following placement. Results of sediment sampling indicated that some of the fine material initially migrated in to the nearshore trough and was then dispersed further offshore after several months. Onshore-directed transport and deposition of coarser sand fractions and offshore-directed transport and deposition of fine fractions were observed. The nearshore berm had negligible influence on the characteristics of the dry beach sediment, which remained to be well-sorted, fine sand. The constructed berm showed considerable longshore variation in morphology, including several gaps/depressions. These gaps were maintained over the 2-year period, although longshore and cross-shore migrations were measured. Future studies should include continued monitoring to document potential attachment of the nearshore berm to the dry beach.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Performance Monitoring of a Nearshore Berm at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida: Final Report, The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), ERDC/CHL TR-13-11, 220 p.

https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p266001coll1/id/4504/

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