Planning and Design of a Low-Weir Section Jetty

A berm and dune project for shore and hurricane protection was recently completed at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. A navigation project provides for a 14-ft-deep navigation channel through Masonboro Inlet. It is infeasible to maintain the channel by dredging alone. A jetty has been constructed on the north shore of Masonboro Inlet. The shoreward 1,700 ft is constructed of concrete sheet piling; the oceanward 1,900 ft is constructed of rubble. The sheet-piling section includes a 1,000-ft weir at an elevation of 2 ft above mean low water, which is about midtide. A deposition basin has been constructed between the jetty and navigation channel. The paper includes available data on erosion and shoaling. It discusses factors that led to selection of a low-weir structure. Some information on design and construction is included.