Littoral cells and harbor dredging along the California coast

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02588001· OSTI ID:5828177

Griggs, G B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Santa Cruz (United States)

Beach compartments or littoral cells from the framework for our understanding of the sources, transport, and sinks of sand in the nearshore zone. In general, along the California coast, beach sand is derived from rivers or cliff erosion, moves alongshore under the influence of the prevailing wave conditions, and ultimately is lost either to a submarine canyon or a dune field. Marinas or harbors built either between or at the upcoast ends of beach compartments have been relatively maintenance-free, because of a lack of significant littoral drift at these locations. On the other hand, those harbors built in the middle reaches or at the downcoast ends of littoral cells have had expensive annual dredging problems, because of the interruption of large volumes of littoral drift. Although engineers have labored for years on various breakwater, jetty, or entrance channel configurations, the actual design utilized is of secondary importance. The critical factors are harbor location within a littoral cell and annual littoral drift volume.

• OSTI ID: 5828177
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States), Vol. 10:1; ISSN 0177-5146
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALIFORNIA
COASTAL WATERS
HARBORS
DREDGING
SEDIMENTATION
COASTAL REGIONS
DREDGE SPOIL
EROSION
SAND
SEDIMENTS
SHORES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
NORTH AMERICA
SURFACE WATERS
USA
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
540350 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)