Inventory of coastal engineering projects in Olympic National Park

Dallas K, Berry M, Ruggiero P. 2013. Inventory of coastal engineering projects in Olympic National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRTR—2013/705. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado

This report includes information on coastal engineering projects identified in, or immediately adjacent to, Olympic National Park (OLYM). The report serves as a supplement to a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database (the GIS data are available online at http://irma.nps.gov). Fifteen coastal engineering projects were identified in and adjacent to OLYM. Within the park there are four coastal structures comprised of three driftwood bulkheads and one revetment that together extend 124 m (407 ft). Eleven projects were found adjacent to the park at the mouth of the Quillayute River in the town of La Push, Washington. Ten of these projects are coastal engineering structures that span 2,915 m (9,564 ft). Since 1963, one dredging project at the mouth of the Quillayute River has removed over 1,000,000 m3 (1,307,950 yd3) of sediment. The Quillayute River Navigation Project has likely altered riverine hydrodynamics, restricted natural sediment transport to ocean beaches, and adversely impacted terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Coastal structures along the Kalaloch shoreline are thought to have only a minor impact on local erosion rates. The Elwha River dam removal project has initiated a wide suite of impacts including alterations to local biologic habitat and nearshore zones due to sediment accumulation on a variable temporal and spatial scale.

Type
Published Report
Authors
Dallas, Kate; Berry, Michael; Ruggiero, Peter
Date of Issue
2013-03
Publisher
National Park Service
Units
GRD , NRSS , OLYM
Keywords
Beach, Beach Nourishment, Breakwater, Bulkhead, Coastal Engineering, Coastal Processes, coastal structures, dike, Dredging, Erosion, groin, headland control, jetty, Levee, National Park Service, NPS, pier, revetment, Seawall, Sill

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