Upon first inspection, classification of the shoaling behavior seems obvious. Vertical 

 Expansions: Cross Channel Flow (Figure 1 1) appears to match the geometry of this 

 channel perfectly. Both on ebb and on flood, currents cross the channel at approximately 

 right angles. The sediment creating the shoal could come from either Norriego Point or 

 the interior bay (i.e., the flood shoal or the Destin shoreline). 



Familiarity with the history of the channel, however, suggests an alternate 

 classification. Before jetty construction, Norriego Point was fully exposed to waves from 

 the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, the point is actually a spit formed through wave-induced 

 sediment transport. The jetties now shelter the spit from waves along certain directions. 

 However, waves approaching the coast from the south still strike the throat's eastern 

 shoreline. Figure 8 shows how much the spit has changed in size and location between 

 1995 and 1998. Given this information, the classification Enhanced Sediment Forcing: 

 Littoral Drift (Figure 12) may also apply. Identifying the mechanisms responsible for 

 shoaling requires application of a wave-refraction model to characterize the wave climate 

 within the throat and a hydrodynamic model to determine the direction and magnitude of 

 currents. Both models are available in the DMS-Analytical Toolbox. 



The above three examples illustrate application of the DMS-Manual in conjunction 

 with the DM S-Data Manager for diagnosing shoaling problems. The example pages 

 from the manual identified the possible shoaling mechanisms for the three shoaling hot 

 spots found in the maintained channels of East Pass. Identifying possible classifications 

 has prompted further investigation into shoaling mechanisms through its descriptions of 

 the physical processes responsible for the shoal's creation. Finally, the classification 

 process for Area 3 has underscored the importance of thorough examination of inlet 

 history before applying the DMS. 



Chapter 3 DMS-Manual 31 



