National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Inventory of Coastal Engineering Projects in Coastal National Parks Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRTR—2010/373 ON THE COVER A wooden bulkhead and rock revetment at Cape Lookout National Seashore Park Headquarters, Harker’s Island, NC Photograph by: Andy Coburn, Western Carolina University Inventory of Coastal Engineering Projects in Coastal National Parks Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRTR—2010/373 Andrew S. Coburn Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines 294 Belk Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 28723 Adam D. Griffith Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines 294 Belk Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 28723 Robert S. Young Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines 294 Belk Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 28723 September 2010 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Technical Report Series is used to disseminate results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series provides contributors with a forum for displaying comprehensive data that are often deleted from journals because of page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Division (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM). Please cite this publication as: Coburn, A. S., A. D. Griffith, and R. S. Young, 2010. Inventory of coastal engineering projects in coastal national parks. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRTR— 2010/373. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 999/105621, September 2010 ii Contents Page Figures............................................................................................................................................ ix Tables ........................................................................................................................................... xiii Abstract or Executive Summary ................................................................................................... xv Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................... xvii Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Inventory .......................................................................................................... 1 Maintenance of Natural Processes ..................................................................................... 1 Restoration of Natural Processes ....................................................................................... 1 Construction of Facilities ................................................................................................... 1 Replacement of Facilities .................................................................................................... 2 Cooperative Conservation .................................................................................................. 2 Methods........................................................................................................................................... 3 Results ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Additional Findings ................................................................................................................. 7 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 8 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................... 9 Appendix A. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. ....................................................................... 17 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................................ 17 Raspberry Island .................................................................................................................... 18 Outer Island ........................................................................................................................... 22 Little Sand Bay Harbor .......................................................................................................... 22 Appendix B. Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. .................................................. 25 iii Summary of Findings ............................................................................................................ 25 Erosion Control Structures .................................................................................................... 27 Deer Island........................................................................................................................ 28 Gallops Island ................................................................................................................... 28 Georges Island .................................................................................................................. 29 Great Brewster Island ....................................................................................................... 29 Long Island ....................................................................................................................... 29 Lovell’s Island ................................................................................................................... 29 Moon Island ...................................................................................................................... 30 Rainsford Island ................................................................................................................ 30 Spectacle Island ................................................................................................................ 30 Thompson Island ............................................................................................................... 30 Worlds End........................................................................................................................ 30 Beach Nourishment (Sand Placement) .................................................................................. 31 Dredging ................................................................................................................................ 31 Appendix C. Cape Lookout National Seashore. ........................................................................... 37 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................................ 37 Erosion Control Structures .................................................................................................... 37 Jetty at Cape Lookout Bight (5) ........................................................................................ 39 Shackleford Banks (2, 3, 6) ............................................................................................... 40 Fort Macon State Park/Bogue Banks (4, 7, 8) .................................................................. 43 Harkers Island (1) ............................................................................................................. 43 Beach Nourishment ............................................................................................................... 45 Fort Macon/Bogue Banks (10).......................................................................................... 45 Cape Lookout (9) .............................................................................................................. 47 iv Dredging ................................................................................................................................ 49 Beaufort Inlet/Morehead City Harbor Federal Navigation Project (11) ........................