Numerous analyses of coastal processes in the Brevard County have been conducted since 

 construction of Canaveral Harbor. These studies arrived at various estimates of longshore 

 sediment transport rates. In 1962, the USACE estimated that the southward (net) littoral drift 

 was 350,000 cy/year. The Canaveral Harbor General Design Memorandum (USACE 1987) 

 described a sand-bypassing system that would bypass 106,000 cy/year. That plan was revised in 

 the corresponding General Re-evaluation Report (USACE 1992) to sand tighten and bypass 

 636,000 cy every 6 years (i.e., 106,000 cy/year) on the beaches south of the Canaveral Harbor 

 south jetty. The feasibility report for the Brevard County shore-protection project (USACE 

 1996) recommended that the sand bypass work be supplemented by beach restoration of 2.5 Mcy 

 along 9.4 miles south of Canaveral Harbor. Following beach construction, the 9.4-mile-long 

 restored beach would be periodically nourished with 516,000 cy every 6 years. The Inlet 

 Management Plan (IMP) (Bodge 1994) recommended placement of 1.03 Mcy along the shore 

 extending 2.1 miles from the south jetty and placement of 9.6 Mcy (+2 Mcy) south of the first 

 2.1-mile increment to mitigate the Harbor's historical littoral impacts. 



Prior to construction of Canaveral Harbor, as well as today (see Figures D-3 and D-4), the 

 beaches and dunes along the Brevard County coast north and south of the Harbor were being 

 eroded by storms. Although prior to Harbor construction the beach along the coast was net 

 accretionary, some areas were eroding, such as at Patrick AFB. Erosion on this coast is evident 

 as early as February 1948, as illustrated in Figures 2-2 and 2-3, which show ground photographs 

 of the seawall and eroded beach at the Patrick AFB Officers Club (Monument R-57). 

 Photographs taken in 1996 at similar sites are given in Figures 2-4 and 2-5. The Officers Club in 

 the old photographs is fronted by a large seawall protecting the property and structure from wave 

 attack, inundation, and erosion by persistent northeast storms in the winter months and tropical 

 storms during the summer. The club was an early coastal structure along the study site and 

 serves as a fixed reference for demonstrating shoreline recession that occurred on this relatively 

 undeveloped coast prior to construction of Canaveral Harbor. 



The volumes of material are estimates that would be modified dependent on monitoring of the post-fill beach, because the 

 longshore transport rate and shoreline recession are not constant. 



Chapter 2 Background 2-5 



