/7. SELECHON OF PIAN 



Four alternative barrier plans of protection were considered: 



a. Lower Bay barriers: A plan of barriers, with navigational 

 openings, across the three entrances to Narragansett Bay. 



b. ItLddle Ba^' barriers : a plan of barriers, with navigational 

 openings, across the Middle BaQr vising the islands as stepping stones, 



c. Fields Point barrier: A plan for a barrier, with a pumping 

 station and navigational opening, at Fields Point in Providence. 



d. Fox Point barrier; A plan for a barrier, with sluice gates 

 and a pumping station, at Fox Point in Providence. 



Selection of the most feasible and beneficial schene was re- 

 solved by means of detail study and analysis supplemented by in- 

 formation obtained from operation of a large scale model of Nar- 

 ragansett Bay upon which surge and tidal conditions were induced. 

 The model tests indicated that bviild-up would occur 

 below barriers located at the IvtLddle Bay or Fields Point sites 

 and would result in substantial increases in flooding in these 

 unprotected areas. The Fields Point site was fiurther handicapped 

 by the need of extremely large pumping equipment for discharging 

 the fresh water flows of the Blackstone River. For these reasons, 

 the r.iiddle Bay and Fields Point plans were discarded. 



The Lovrer Bay plan by itself can provide a large degree of 

 protection throu/;hout the entire bay. The protection is in the 

 form of reduced flood levels and will vary with the size of the 

 navigation opening constructed. Reduction of water levels pro- 

 vides a high degree of protection in the Lo?/er Bay area, but in 

 the upper bay, water level reduction would be less and residual 

 damages would still remain. The design and construction of Lower 

 Bay barriers is without precedent and many coiiplex problems are 

 involved. Barriers with openings small enough to provide complete 

 protection against hurricane flooding would restrict the movement 

 of commercial and naval vessels and possibly affect the bay fish- 

 eries, pollution conditions and recreation. Several years will 

 be required to resolve the navigation, pollution and fisheries 

 problems and borings must be obtained before sufficient informa- 

 tion on the foundation 7ri.ll be available to permit the final de- 

 sign of the structui-es. 



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