HYDRAULICS AND STABILITY OF FIVE TEXAS INLETS 



hy 

 Curtis Mason 



I. INTRODUCTION 



1. Objectives . 



The objectives of this study were to (a) define the hydraulic character- 

 istics of the upper Texas coast inlet-bay systems (Fig. 1), (b) quantitatively 

 analyze the observed and predicted stability of these inlets, and (c) assess 

 their effect on the longshore transport regime and adjacent beaches. The 

 results are intended to provide improved planning and design information for 

 the Galveston County Shoreline Erosion Study being conducted by the U.S. Army 

 Engineer District, Galveston. 



San Luis Pass 



-Freeporl Harbor Entrance 

 ).20 

 1,370 

 eoch 1975 



-* — 



- Direction of Net Cu 

 ond Tronsporl 



rent ond 



020 



— Net Longstiore Cur 



rent((l/s 



57,580 



— Net Longshore Sec 

 Tronsporl (yd'/yr 



imeni 



Cilclirlsl ;975,I977 - LEO Slolion ond Dolo Yeors 



Figure 1. Longshore current and sediment transport 

 rates, based on visual observations. 



The report reviews previous reports, provides a general discussion of 

 factors influencing the stability of Texas inlets, and analyzes the tidal 

 characteristics of the gulf and major bays in the study area. Discussions on 

 the hydraulics and stability of each specific inlet, beginning with the south- 

 westernmost (Freeport Harbor entrance) and progressing sequentially to the 

 easternmost (Sabine Pass), include a historical review, sediment volume 

 changes, tidal characteristics, tidal hydraulics, and inlet stability. 



2. Previous Reporting on Texas Coast Inlets . 



Most reporting on specific inlets along the upper Texas coast has been by 

 the Corps of Engineers. However, several Texas universities have published 

 results of field and in-house research on San Luis Pass (Herbich and Hales, 

 1970), Freeport Harbor entrance (Seelig and Sorensen, 1973), and Rollover Pass 



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