Merrimack Estuary and Newburyport Harbor Sediment Management Studies
Abstract
This report documents a numerical modeling study investigating sediment transport and morphology change adjacent to Merrimack Inlet, Newburyport, and nearshore in the vicinity of Salisbury Beach and Plum Island, Massachusetts. Concerns at the site include beach erosion, shoreline retreat on Plum Island down drift of and within the inlet, and reduced navigability of the inlet. The numerical modeling evaluation consists of two phases. The Phase I study was conducted with the damaged and partially rehabilitated South Jetty between 2012 and 2014, and the Phase II study was conducted with the fully rehabilitated South Jetty between 2015 and 2016. Historical hydrodynamic and sediment data in the study area were assembled, and a field data collection program was carried out. The datasets were used to develop a coastal wave, hydrodynamic, and sediment transport model. Different alternatives were developed to evaluate sediment management strategy and structure modification, and the calculated bed sediment volume changes of each alternative were compared with the results under base (existing) condition. Alternative simulations demonstrated the Coastal Modeling System capability in evaluating beach erosion, structure performance, sediment transport, and morphology change in the inlet and estuarine system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1057044
Entities
People
- Ashley Frey
- Edward O'donnell
- Honghai Li
- Irene Watts
- John Winkelman
- Julie Dean Rosati
- Mark Habel
- Mitchell Brown
- Tanya Beck
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center