The shoreline is susceptible to greater changes as a 

 result of a major storm or a series of severe winter 

 storms than would occur normally in a period of 15 to 

 20 years. Investigations have further disclosed that 

 in a number of instances where surveys have indicated 

 a considerable change in the high-water shoreline, the 

 volumetric change was almost negligible. Certain types 

 of storms tend to tear down the beach and move the 

 material slightly offshore, whereas subsequent fair 

 weather moves the sand back to the beach and generally 

 restores the original berm (1953, p. 12). 



Duplicate profiles taken along several transects in June 1933 and 

 September 1946 were cited as evidence that the most extensive erosion had 

 taken place in the vicinity of the south end of the seawall (Figure 1) 

 where the backshore had been eroded to a maximum depth of 4 feet and an 

 average depth of 2 feet, with a resultant flatter foreshore. This general 

 condition was found to hold northward some 4,800 feet to the first angle 

 point in the seawall. The comparative cross sections at 20th Street 

 (Figure 1) disclosed a very slight erosion of the backshore with a pro- 

 nounced flattening of the foreshore. Near the north end of the seawall, 

 both backshore and foreshore were found to have gained material. Near 

 Avenue B (Figure 1) erosion of approximately 3 feet of the foreshore was 

 found. 



The discussion of the profiles presented in the report concludes with 

 the statement, "It is readily apparent from these profiles that the south 

 end of the beach, above the elevation of mean low water, has been eroded 

 to a consideraby greater degree than other areas" (1953, p. 14). It 

 should be noted, however, that the magnitudes of the changes reported are 

 within the limits of expectable winter (Figure 2) and, in some cases, 

 summer changes in beach profiles found in the present study. More con- 

 vincing evidence of shoreline changes is presented (1953, p. 12) in a 

 table summarizing the changes in the position of the mean high water 

 shoreline from 1931-1932 to 1944, 1944 to 1946, and 1931-1932 to 1946. 

 Results of this last comparison are reproduced below. The shoreline 

 position measurements (1953, p. 12) show more convincingly than the pro- 

 files that the greatest erosion is at the south end of the Borough of 

 Virginia Beach (Figure 1), while at the northern end the tendency is for 

 progradation. 



High-water Shoreline Changes 

 Section of Beach 1931-32 to 1946 



Rudee Inlet to beginning of seawall -80.7 ft. 



South end of seawall to 20th Street -55.3 ft. 



20th Street to north end of seawall -23.4 ft. 



North end of seawall to old town limit + 9.0 ft. 

 Entire beach front, Rudee Inlet to 



north limit of old town -29.5 ft. 



