Fig. 7. Site map for Holly Beach, Louisiana, breakwater project 



and southeast quadrants 18 and 22 percent of the time, respectively. The 

 nearshore is morphodynamically dissipative with slopes ranging from 0.03 to 

 0.05 (Nakashima 1989). The gentle slope limits breaking wave angles. Small 

 wave angles and moderate wave heights result in a low longshore sand transport 

 rate, which has been estimated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1971) at 

 47,000 to 76,000 m 3 /year to the west. Sediments composing the beaches in the 

 Holly Beach area are fine sands with a mean of 0.20 mm and well sorted at 0.72 

 mm (standard deviation). 



Since 1969, various measures have been taken to protect State Highway 82, 

 which parallels the coast and serves as the hurricane evacuation route for 

 communities to the west of Holly Beach. In 1970, a 5 -km long revetment was 

 constructed to protect the highway, and in 1973 the highway was damaged by 

 Hurricane Delia. Various types of restoration materials, including concrete 

 blocks and small quantities of beach fill, have been placed along the shore in 

 attempts to protect the highway. The revetment and highway have been damaged 



51 



