COMITE CENTRAL D'OCEANOGRAPHIE ET D'ETUDE DES COTES 



The Central Committee for Oceanography and Coastal Studies is a 

 French Governmental agency associated with the Naval Hydrographic 

 Service of the French Ministry of National Defense » The president of 

 the coiranittee is Vice Admiral Missoffe and the permanent secretariat 

 is under the direction of Chief Engineer Ao Gougenheirao 



The Naval Hydrographic Service have conducted studies of the 

 regime of various coasts over a long period o The results of these 

 studies are published in "Recherches hydro graphiques sur le regime 

 des cotes" o 



In January 194-9 the Central Committee for Oceanography and 

 Coastal Studies initiated the periodic issuance of an information 

 bulletino This bulletin contains articles of general information on 

 committee activities and interests, technical communications in con- 

 densed formj and bibliographic notes o Distribution of the bulletin is 

 limited to members of the Central Committee and associated local 

 committies, and a few French and foreign persons or agencies whose 

 principal interest is research in oceanography and coastal phenomena o 



Four issues of the Bulletin have appeared (January-April) and 

 have been received at the Beach Erosion Bsardo This opportunity is 

 taken to brief some of the information thus received in order to 

 acquaint American students with the extent and character of the coast- 

 al problems in France » 



NOTES ON POINTE de GRAVE. FRANCE 



The coast between Soulac and Pointe de Graves (see Figure 1) at 

 the mouth of the Gironde River ^ is retreating rapidly to an extent 

 endangering the port installations at Verdon and the existence of the 

 point itself o The eroded materials, which is chiefly fine dune sand, 

 is shoaling the Gironde River channel o 



The shore is constituted by dunes formed since the 17th century 

 of fine sand derived from the larger size beach sand, the dunes being 

 covered by pine forests.. At Pointe de Grave the shore is advancing 

 by accretion, whereas to the south, toward Soulac, erosion has been 

 vei^ rapid 5 destrojTing the dunes and the forest o 



The eroding areas have been protected by concrete revetments and 

 groins but have nevertheless receded as much as 200 feet since 1914-0 

 Several German pill toxes, built during the last war, have contributed 

 to dune- erosiono The revetments are of massive construction, it having 

 been found that light construction is easily destroyed by wave action,, 



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