Use of Sediment Tracers to Evaluate Sediment Plume at Cape Fear River Inlet and Adjacent Beaches, North Carolina
Abstract
This report documents a numerical modeling investigation on the transport of sediment material placed on designated disposal sites adjacent to Cape Fear River Inlet, North Carolina. Historical and newly collected wave and hydrodynamic data around the inlet are assembled and analyzed. The data sets are used to calibrate and validate a coastal wave, hydrodynamic, and sediment transport model, the Coastal Modeling System. Model alternatives are developed corresponding to different material placement sites. Sediment transport and sediment plume distribution are evaluated within and around the immediate vicinity of Cape Fear River Inlet estuarine system for a representative summer and a winter month. Results of model simulations show that high flows occur along navigation channels and low flows occur outside the inlet in open ocean area. Sand materials placed in disposal sites tend to be trapped in and move along navigation channel and in these offshore placement sites sediment plume shows slow spreading and no significant sand migration from its release locations. Simulations for the summer and winter month present similar distribution patterns of sediments originating from placement sites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1225401
Entities
People
- Carter A. Rucker
- Honghai Li
- Kevin B. Connor
- Lihwa Lin
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center