Table 19 



St. Lucie Inlet Jetties and Detached Breakwater 



St. Lucie Inlet, Florida, SAJ 



Date(s) 



1926- 

 1929 



Construction and Rehabilitation History 



1979- 

 1980 



1985 



Local interests constructed the north jetty out of coquina rock to a 

 length of 3,325 ft. The maximum dimension of the rock was 6 to 7 ft 

 with a density of about 120 pcf. The offshore 100- to 200-ft por- 

 tion of the jetty was partly covered with granite blocks. At the 

 same time, a channel 18 ft deep and 150 ft wide was dredged through 

 the inlet. St. Lucie Inlet was created in 1892 by local residents 

 desiring a connecting channel between the Indian River and the 

 Atlantic Ocean. 



This Federal project (Figure 32) consisted of extension of the north 

 jetty 650 ft (350 ft south-southeasterly and then 300 ft south- 

 easterly), construction of a 1,600-ft south jetty with fishing walk- 

 way and a connecting rock bulkhead, and construction of a 400-ft 

 detached breakwater directly south of the north jetty extension 

 (700 ft apart at their outer ends) . Capstone was to be 6 to 10 tons 

 (at least 75 percent to be 8 tons or more) , except on the outer ends 

 of the jetties and the detached breakwater, where the capstone would 

 weigh 10 to 12 tons. Estimated quantities for completion of the 

 improvements were 64,800 tons of capstone, 8,000 tons of core stone, 

 and 28,600 tons of foundation stone. The fishing walkway was built 

 using asphaltic concrete cap and grouting mixes. During construc- 

 tion there was a severe problem with scour, and large apron blankets 

 had to be added (no details on apron or jetty cross sections). 



Although structurally sound, it is functionally unsatisfactory (i.e. 

 maintaining the required channel depth), and a major rehabilitation 

 is in the planning states. 



Figure 32. St. Lucie Inlet, Florida 

 58 



