Smaller breakwaters, such as low-crested structures with relatively small 

 stone weights, can be constructed through the use of land-based equipment 

 and techniques. This is generally accomplished by placing fill material to 

 create a sand access road out to the construction area, trucking in armor 

 stone, and placing stone with machinery such as a backhoe to construct the 

 breakwaters (Figure 61). After breakwater completion, the access roads 

 should be removed and the fill material redistributed within the project area, 

 to prevent tombolo effects. For some areas, such as the Chesapeake Bay 

 region, land-based operations can be substantially more cost-efficient for 

 breakwater construction (Coleman 1992). 



As a general rule, construction of a segmented project should begin with 

 the farthest downdrift breakwater and proceed updrift. This will promote a 

 more uniform accretion of the shoreline and reduce construction-induced 

 erosion. However, other construction schemes may prove more efficient 

 depending on the site and dredging operations. At Presque Isle, PA, 

 Breakwaters 17 to 19 were constructed first to provide a sheltered area for the 

 contractor, thus reducing equipment travel distance (Mohr and Ippolito 1991). 





Figure 61. Land-based construction at Eastern Neck, Chesapeake Bay, 

 Maryland 



Construction records 



Daily logs of construction activities should be maintained by a Corps of 

 Engineers inspector, especially denoting any problems or unique construction 

 techniques encountered during construction. A photographic history of 

 construction should be documented and as-built construction records 

 developed. 



108 



Chapter 5 Other Design Issues 



