the staff was also the Senior Member of the seven-man Board.* From its inception, 

 therefore, the BEB and its staff was composed of both mUitary and civilian personnel, with 

 a military officer in charge. 



Another early requirement for the new Board was the estabUshment of general poUcies in 

 regard to its assigned activities as stated in Public Law 520. As with many working groups 

 set up by way of a legislative act, it was the interpretation of duties which proved to be a 

 key factor. The "investigations and studies," conducted in cooperation with requesting 

 State agencies, were begun almost immediately.** Moreover, the BEB gave prompt 

 attention to the continuation of several of the experiments begun by the BSMBE, along 

 with a summation of the findings of those already completed. As was mentioned previously, 

 this work resulted in the BEB's first research publication, /raterim Report of Beach Erosion 

 Board, April 15, 1933. This report was 



"to place the information obtained ... up to the present time, in such form that 

 it may be conveniently referred to by those interested in the subjects of beach 

 erosion and shore protection; to summarize the investigations already made; and 

 to provide a guide for the future studies of the boards. 



The pubhcation of this first Interim Report was an important event for it helped 

 establish the BEB as an early leader in the field of coastal research. It was distributed both 

 in the United States as well as abroad.*** The report was additionally noteworthy for the 

 fact that it was written personally by the members of the Board who, at that time, were the 

 original seven appointees. 



BEB members also worked to broaden the search for basic data. Upon the 

 recommendation of Col. Dent, the Shore Protectiori Board, at its first meeting, authorized 

 expenditure of approximately $1,500 to construct a wave tank faciUty at Fort Humphreys 

 (now Fort Belvoir), Virginia, some 30 miles south of the Capital.^ ^ Wlien completed in 

 October 1932, this tank measured 24 feet long, 12 feet wide, and had an effective depth of 

 ISinches^^ (Figs. 11 and 12). A number of experiments were run using this facility. 

 However, as early as 1934, the Board reahzed the need for a larger wave tank and one more 

 conveniently, located to its Washington office. In 1937, permission was obtained to 

 construct on property at the Dalecarlia Reservation, a new concrete tank 85 feet long, 

 14 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. The tank was equipped with a wave generator and housed in a 

 metal building 112 by 24 feet^''' (Figs. 13, 14, and 15). 



*During the period when Maj. Gen. Glen Edgerton held the office (July 1948 to April 1949), the title of Senior 

 Member was changed to President of the Board.*2 

 **The various Corps of Engineers District offices assisted the BEB in these studies by providing data, but in these 

 early years, the Board's staff, with the assistance of Board members, prepared the actual reports. 



***What has been referred to in this paper as the "internationalism of coastal engineering" is discussed more fuUy at 

 a later point. However, it should be made clear that the BEB, even in the 1930's, was attuned to the worldwide 

 aspects of shore protection and was in contact with individuals abroad who had similar interests. Moreover, an 

 effort was made, during this early period, to have translated all recent papers on erosion subjects written in 

 languages other than English. 64 



27 



