discharge from the Sabine and Neches Rivers, and from the fact that apparently 

 the jetties are quite porous, allowing relatively uniform inflow of flood- 

 tides but constraining the ebb discharge to the channel. A discharge imbal- 

 ance also prevails in the Port Arthur Canal, where floodflows predominate 

 (1.7:1, flood :ebb), which may produce increased depositiion in this part of 

 the system. Net ebb flows also predominate at the Sabine Lake entrance; the 

 excess flood discharge from the system into the canal must exit here. 



c. Stability. The necessity for continued dredging of Sabine Pass indi- 

 cates that the entrance is unstable. However, the stability is undoubtedly 

 enhanced by frequent strong ebb discharges which occur during the passage of 

 winter frontal systems. O'Brien and Dean's (1972) stability analysis revealed 

 that the 1962 channel dimensions were only slightly less than the critical 

 cross-sectional area required for stability. Therefore, maximum natural main- 

 tenance of the channel is probably being achieved. 



94 



