1 Introduction 



Prototype 



Nome is located on the Seward peninsula in western Alaska (Figure 1). It is 

 known as the transportation and commercial center for northwest Alaska. Nome is 

 accessible only by air and water, and cannot be reached by road from any major city. 

 A local road system leads to three small neighboring villages. Mining, fishing, and 

 tourism are the major industries in Nome. 



Nome Harbor is located on the Norton Sound, Bering Sea, at the mouth of the 

 Snake River. The original Federal project, authorized in 1917, was among the first 

 Corps of Engineers navigation projects in Alaska. It provided for a 102-m-long 

 (335-ft-long)' east jetty, a 140-m-long (460-ft-long) west jetty, and a 2.44-m-deep 2 

 (8-ft-deep), 23-m-wide (75-ft-wide), 587-m-long (1,925-ft-long) entrance channel 

 extending from Norton Sound to a turning basin up the Snake River. The basin was 

 2.44 m deep (8 ft deep) and approximately 76 m by 183 m (250 ft by 600 ft) in 

 area. Dredging of the channel and basin were completed in 1922. Construction of 

 the jetties (originally concrete and timber structures) was completed in 1923. In 

 addition, approximately 1,163 linear m (3,815 linear ft) of steel sheet-pile wall was 

 constructed that lined the entrance channel and eastern side of the turning basin. 



Due to extensive ice and storm damage, the east and west jetties were recon- 

 structed (with concrete and steel) in 1940 to modified lengths of 73 m (240 ft) and 

 122 m (400 ft), respectively. The east jetty was repaired in 1954, and both were 

 again repaired in 1965. Emergency repairs to the steel sheet-pile wall were accom- 

 plished in 1985 and 1986 (U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska (USAEDA) 1996). 

 The existing federal project is shown in Figure 2. 



Units of measurement in the main text of this report are shown in SI (metric) units, followed 

 by non-SI (British) units in parentheses. In addition, a table of factors for converting non-SI 

 units of measurement used in figures, plates, and tables in this report to SI units is presented on 

 page vi. 



All depths and elevations cited herein are in meters (feet) referred to mean lower low water 

 (mllw) unless otherwise noted. 



Chapter 1 Introduction 



