Hydraulic Study of Multiple Inlet System: East Matagorda Bay, Texas
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 125, Issue 3
Abstract
The hydrodynamic feasibility of a proposed third inlet to East Matagorda Bay, Texas, was examined by application of a two-dimensional, depth-averaged hydrodynamic model. Wind-driven flows in this remote, shallow bay frequently dominate the weak astronomical tide. The bay presently has two connections to the Gulf of Mexico, one through a short flood-relief channel and the other through a long and circuitous navigation channel. The study had to consider whether installation of a third inlet would cause the relief channel to close or increase the already strong current velocity in the navigation channel that is a concern for boating safety. The model was calibrated with measurements of wind, water level, and current taken in this study. It is concluded that the new inlet will be ebb-dominated because of the wind-induced current, and that the relief channel will not close in the presence of the new inlet. In addition, the peak current at a critical maneuvering area in the navigation channel that presently poses a hazard to vessel traffic will be reduced by as much as 25% as a result of opening the new inlet.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bouma, A. H., and Bryant, W. R. ( 1969). “Rapid delta growth in Matagorda Bay, Texas.” Lagunas Costeras, Un Sinposio, 171–189.
2.
Brown, C. A., and Kraus, N. C. ( 1997). “Environmental monitoring of dredging and processes in the Lower Laguna Madre, Texas.” Tech. Rep. TAMU-CC-CBI-96-01. Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Tex.
3.
Brown and Root Inc. ( 1979a). “Improvements at Brown Cedar Cut, East Matagorda Bay, Texas. Report of preliminary engineering services, phase I: feasibility study, prepared for Messrs. Roy and Harry Cullen, Trustees.” Brown and Root Inc., Houston, Tex.
4.
Brown and Root Inc. ( 1979b). “Improvements at Brown Cedar Cut, East Matagorda Bay, Texas. Final report for phase IIa: Preliminary design and site selection.” Brown and Root Inc., Houston, Tex.
5.
Bruun, P. ( 1990). Port engineering, volume 2: Harbor transportation, fishing ports, sediment transport, geomorphology, inlets, and dredging, 4th Ed., Gulf, Houston, Tex.
6.
Carothers, H. P., and Innis, H. C. (1960). “Design of inlets for Texas coastal fisheries.”J. Wtrwy. and Harb. Div., ASCE, 86(3), 103–128.
7.
Chow, V. T. ( 1959). Open channel hydraulics. McGraw-Hll, New York.
8.
Escoffier, F. F. ( 1940). “The stability of tidal inlets.” Shore and Beach, 8(4), 114–115.
9.
Escoffier, F. F. ( 1977). “Hydraulics and stability of inlets.” GITI Rep. No. 13, U.S. Army Wtrwy. Experiment Station, Coastal Engineering Research Ctr., Vicksburg, Miss.
10.
Heilman, D. J. ( 1995). “The effects of the Colorado River project on longshore sediment transport at Matagorda Peninsula, Texas,” MS thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex.
11.
Hsu, S. A. ( 1988). Coastal meteorology. Academic, San Diego, Calif.
12.
Jarrett, J. T. ( 1976). “Tidal prism-inlet area relationships.” GITI Rep. No. 3, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coast. Engrg. Res. Ctr., Vicksburg, Miss.
13.
Kowalik, Z., and Murty, T. S. ( 1993). Numerical modeling of ocean dynamics . World Scientific, River Edge, N.J.
14.
Kraus, N. C., Lohrmann, A., and Cabrera, R. (1994). “New acoustic meter for measuring 3D laboratory flows.”J. Hydr. Engrg., 120(3), 406–412.
15.
Kraus, N. C., and Militello, A. ( 1996). “Hydraulic feasibility of proposed Southwest Corner Cut, East Matagorda Bay, Texas.” Tech. Rep. TAMU-CC-CBI-96-03, Conrad Blucher Inst. for Surv. and Sci., Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Tex.
16.
Lyles, S. D., Hickman, L. E., and Debaugh, H. A. Jr. ( 1988). “Sea level variations for the United States, 1855–1986.” U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin., National Ocean Service, Rockville, Md.
17.
Mason, C., and Sorenson, R. M. ( 1971). “Properties and stability of Texas barrier beach inlet.” TAMU-SG-71-217, COE Rep. No. 146, Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex.
18.
Militello, A. ( 1998). “Hydrodynamics of shallow, wind-dominated lagoons,” Doctoral dissertation, Div. of Marine and Environmental Systems, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Fla.
19.
Moore, B. D. ( 1993). “Channel reformation at Big Marco Pass, Collier County, Florida.” Proc., 1993 Nat. Conf. on Beach Preservation Technol., Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Assoc., Tallahassee, Fla., 161–174.
20.
Morton, R. A., Pieper, M. J., and McGowan, J. H. ( 1976). “Shoreline changes on Matagorda Peninsula (Brown Cedar Cut to Pass Cavallo), an analysis of historical changes of the Texas Gulf shoreline.” Geological Circular 76-6, Bureau of Economic Geol., The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex.
21.
Price, W. A. ( 1952). “Reduction of maintenance by proper orientation of ship channels through tidal inlets.” Proc., 2nd Conf. on Coast. Engrg., ASCE, Reston, Va., 243–255.
22.
Riedel, H. P., and Gourlay, M. R. ( 1980). “Inlets discharging into sheltered waters.” Proc., 17th Coast. Engrg. Conf., ASCE, Reston, Va., 2550–2564.
23.
Spaulding, M. L. ( 1984). “A vertically averaged circulation model using boundary fitted coordinates.” J. Phys. Oceanography, 14, 973–982.
24.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ( 1987). “Section 205 initial reconnaissance report on flood control improvements East Matagorda Bay.” U.S. Army Engineer District, Galveston, Tex.
25.
Van de Kreeke, J. ( 1985). “Stability of tidal inlets—Pass Cavallo, Texas.” Estuarine, Coast. and Shelf Sci., 21, 33–43.
26.
Van de Kreeke, J. ( 1990a). “Can multiple tidal inlets be stable?” Estuarine, Coast. and Shelf Sci., 30, 261–273.
27.
Van de Kreeke, J. ( 1990b). “Stability analysis of a two-inlet system.” Coast. Engrg., 14, 481–497.
28.
Ward, G. H. Jr. ( 1982). “Pass Cavallo, Texas: Case study of tidal prism capture.” J. Wtrwy., Port, Coast., and Oc. Div., 108(4), 513–525.
29.
Ward, G. H., and Armstrong, N. E. ( 1982). “Matagorda Bay: A management plan.” FWS/OBS-82-73, Div. of Biological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 125 • Issue 3 • March 1999
Pages: 224 - 232
History
Received: Dec 23, 1996
Published online: Mar 1, 1999
Published in print: Mar 1999
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.