ANALYSIS OF COASTAL SEDIMENT TRANSPORT PROCESSES FROM 

 WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH TO FORT FISHER, NORTH CAROLINA 



by 

 T.C. Winton, I.E. Chou, G.M. Powell, andJ.D. Crane 



I. INTRODUCTION 



This report presents a comprehensive engineering analysis of the 

 coastal sediment transport processes along a 42-kilometer segment of the 

 North Carolina shoreline from Wrightsville Beach to Fort Fisher. 

 Included in the analysis is an interpretation of all available data 

 describing the littoral processes, longshore transport, and the behavior 

 and success of beach nourishment projects at Wrightsville Beach and at 

 Carolina Beach, North Carolina. 



Several coastal engineering studies have been conducted within the 

 study area to assess the nearshore coastal processes and shoreline 

 erosion trends. Vallianos (1970) investigated the influence of the 

 manmade Carolina Beach Inlet on the volumetric erosion trends of the 

 Masonboro and Carolina beach shorelines. He presented a preliminary 

 assessment of the impact of Masonboro Inlet north jetty on the longshore 

 transport trends for Wrightsville and Masonboro beach shorelines, and an 

 evaluation on the performance of the 1965 Carolina Beach beach fill. 



Jarrett (1977) conducted a study for the 30-kilometer segment of 

 shoreline from Wrightsville Beach to Kure Beach in relation to an 

 environmental assessment of coastal erosion as affected by Carolina 

 Beach Inlet. He estimated the annual rate of littoral transport between 

 nine littoral cells by using a calibrated energy flux-wave refraction 

 sediment budget approach. Jarrett refined Vallianos' (1970) bypassing 

 rates for both Masonboro and Carolina Beach Inlet and reassessed the 

 magnitude of the impact on shore process of manmade changes occurring 

 during the study period. The results of this study are also available 

 in reports by the U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington (1976; 1977). 



The U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington (1974), presented 

 historic shoreline changes in the vicinity of Fort Fisher between 1865 

 and 1973. Several plans were recommended to protect the historic Fort 

 Fisher battlements from critical dune erosion. 



Large quantities of data, some of which are not available to previous 

 investigators, were evaluated during this study. Much of the field data 

 were collected from 1964 to 1975 for shoreline erosion studies conducted 

 by the U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington, and in part for the 

 Coastal Engineering Research Center's (CERC) Beach Evaluation Program 

 (BEP). Profile surveying and the collection of other data used in this 

 report were coordinated by CERC. Data evaluated include repetitive 

 beach profiles, sand data, bathymetry surveys, wave gage records, 

 dredging records, meteorological records, coastal structure design, 

 coastal geomorphological studies, shoreline erosion studies, aerial 

 photography, and beach photography. 



