access to the main portion of the park. The proposed wider beach to be 
placed by artificial means was considered the most effective method of pre- 
venting wave action from throwing sand and water across the access road. 
In order to increase the volume of littoral drift, a feeder beach should 
be provided at the updrift end of the neck by additional widening. The 
past rate of erosion of this shore along the neck and the high cost of re- 
placing beach material in this locality indicated the justification of groins 
to retard loss of the fill. Experience with the experimental groins con- 
stmcted in 1943 indicated the ability of similar structures to minimize the 
loss of beach material. Their general accumulation and retention of trapped 
sand indicated that similar groins would stabilize the artificial beach. 
The Board believed that the seawall and bulkhead recommended by the District 
Engineer will provide insurance against breaching of the neck and interruption 
of traffic in case of a severe storm which might seriously erode the beach. 
They would also provide protection during the period after such a severe 
storm until replacement of the beach could be effected. The Board therefore 
concurred in the plan of protection for the neck recommended by the District 
and Division Engineers. 
The Board found that the placement of beach material artificially and 
its retention by a groin system, as recommended by the district engineer, 
would be a complete and effective method of protection and improvement of 
the shore of the peninsula north of the low area on the Water Works Reserva- 
tion. However, it noted that part of the area is in reasonably good con- 
dition, partially protection by a groin system. It believed that the shore 
north of the neck can be stabilized by supplying an adequate volume of 
littoral drift, provided the groin system in the area is filled initially. 
The Board considered that sand fill placed as a feeder beach at the low 
area of the Water Works Reservation and replenished as needed would provide 
adequate littoral drift to stabilize the shore north thereof. The Board 
believed that the feeder beach method would result in lower annual costs 
than the complete plan recommended by the District Engineer. Accordingly 
the Board considered that the proposed groins and bulkheads along this 
shore will not be essential, if the supply of material is restored, and 
as the consequences of temporary loss of beach fill would not be sufficiently 
serious to warrant the added expenditure. Therefore, the Board did not 
concur in recommending the groins and bulkheads in sections north of the neck. 
In accordance with existing statutory requirements, the Board stated 
its opinion as follows: 
a. it is advisable for the United States to adopt a project 
authorizing Federal participation in the cost of protecting the shore of 
Presque Isle Peninsula, Pennsylvania; 
b. the public interest involved in the proposed improvement and 
protective measures results from elimination of damage to public property, 
the elimination of maintenance costs of existing protective works, and 
the recreational benefits that will accrue to the general public; 
ce the share of the expense of the project which should be borne 
by the United States is one-third of the first cost of the work. 
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