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Daily Blog: Carolina Project
Location: Carolina, Puerto Rico (pronounced Cah-ro-lee-na)
(most recent entries first, oldest entries last)
Comparison of the Initial Survey with the Second Survey
The surveys of the groyne field were taken from three reference points. RP1 encompassed groynes 44 through 55 at the east end of the project area. RP2 encompassed groynes 29 through 43. RP3 encompasses groynes 10 through 28. Groynes 1 through 9 will be installed after turtle nesting season.
The east end (RP1) had the best performance accumulating 1,364.27 cubic yards of dry beach, 3,039 cubic yards in total volume and an average change in beach width of 18.21 feet.
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Profile 50 is the mid-profile within RP1.
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The west end (RP3) had the second best performance accumulating 2,928.6 cubic yards of dry beach, 2,093.8 cubic yards of total beach volume and an average change in beach width of 27.96 feet.
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Profile 21 represents the mid-point of RP3.
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RP2, the middle of the groyne field, accumulated 1,720.5 cubic yards of dry beach, 1,161.2 cubic yards of total beach volume and increased beach width by 14.27 feet.
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Profile 37 represents the mid-point within RP2.
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Conclusions from the Initial Survey
In total the system has accumulated 7,733.88 cubic yards of dry beach and 7,455.4 cubic yards of total beach volume. The fact that these numbers are so close together demonstrates that the cross-shore component of the littoral drift is dominant and pushing sand onto the shore from the nearshore creating a steeper angle of repose. Having the east end and the west end out perform the middle further demonstrates that the longshore component of the littoral drift is not a dominant factor.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Before we left to go home, Mike and I pulled the wave gauge and downloaded the data from it. Our design called for the first six panels in each groyne to be wire panels and the remaining 9 panels to be grid panels. In comparing the initial survey with the second survey we observed accretion in the shallow water and a sand deficit in the deeper water. In an effort to effect the sand deficit we replaced the more porous grid panels in 7 through 15 with the less porous wire panels on groynes 40, 39 and 38. When we finish the third survey we will see if that made an impact on the deficit.
Monday June 26, 2006
We noticed a significant change in the grain size at the east end of the project. Typically the larger grain size was found at the west end of the project area.
Within a single groyne there was a significant change in grain size and the introduction of more shell material in the sand. This also was a characteristic of sand at the west end of the project area. We will investigate this phenomenon further upon our return to Puerto Rico the next trip.
Friday June 23rd, 2006
Wednesday June 21st, 2006
After redeploying the wave gauge and confirming our survey methodology Dr. Wang and Ms. Roberts flew back to Tampa Florida. Mike and I went back to surveying the rest of the project.
Monday, June 19th, 2006
Dr. Ping Wang, a geology professor from the University of South Florida along with Tiffany Roberts, an Honors Graduate Student studying with Dr. Wang, came to San Juan to help us deploy the Nortek Wave Gauge, review our surveying procedures and put together a plan to develop a model that will help portray the effects of the porous groyne system on beach processes given a set of specific wave conditions.
Tuesday, June 20th, 2006
We initialized the Nortek Wave gauge, put together a harness to attach it to an end stanchion and deployed the wave gauge at the end of groyne 44.
After reviewing the data retrieved from the wave gauge it was determined that the wave gauge was functioning properly. That late afternoon we went to Vega Baja to look at the tombolo formation that periodically opens in the winter months and fills with sand in the summer months.
Wednesday, June 14th, 2006
After the early morning turtle watch Mike and I set up the Nikon Total Station at Reference Point 1 and began sighting in the positions of each profile driving a PVC stake into the beach at each initial profile position. As we did in the initial survey, we sighted along the edge of the initial profile positions (parallel to the shoreline) and turned 90 degrees and drove a second stake into the beach at each profile. Mike would line up the two stakes when stepping off the positions in each profile to ensure a perpendicular profile that would match with the initial profile surveyed prior to installing the system.
Surveying continued through Sunday, June 18th.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Mike Lipcsey and I arrived back in San Juan and went straight to the Balneario to see the progress that had been made. We made preparations to start the second survey the next day. We had previously purchased a Nortek Wave Gauge and it was being shipped to San Juan for deployment at the Balneario later in the week.
Thursday May 25, 2006
After doing the early morning turtle watch, Jay Tiedeberg packed and left for the Airport to go home for a couple of weeks. Mike Lipcsey will join him in Puerto Rico on Tuesday June 13, 2006. They will perform the second survey of the project area and compare the results with the initial survey. The data for both surveys will be put on the website.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Jay Tiedeberg completed the early turtle watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. We completed the installation today!! Congratulations to everyone involved. We put up some orange fabric on the west end of the project to alert runners that the system was there. The Municipality is constructing signs that will be installed informing the public about the system and how to interact with it.
Notice how flat the terrain is at this end just after we installed the system. Looking further west you can see the flat look continue.
This terrain continues east through the newly installed groyne field up to the area that was installed for a week or more. That area shows signs of accumulation by forming small mounds between the groynes.
These mounds become more apparent the further east you go. The first groynes installed were at the east end and installed for the longest period.
Wednesday May 24, 2004 was a day for clean-up, fixing panels and adding panels that were not previously installed. That afternoon we had a celebratory lunch for all involved with the project.
The primary high tide was at 5:00 pm. We took a series of pictures for comparative purposes.
Monday, May 22, 2006
We have eight more groynes to install. The goal today is to install #15 thru #18. We completed that goal leaving #11 through #14 for Tuesday. Jay Tiedeberg completed the early and late afternoon turtle watches. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
We had a short crew today but were determined to finish the 5 groynes at the east end of the project area. To get the job done, we decided to install all the poles first and then insert the panels.
With the help of Edgardo Brignoni and myself, the crew of four completed all five groynes. This was a new single day, single crew record. Congratulations to all.
Jay Tiedeberg completed the early and late afternoon turtle watches. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted.
Friday May 19, 2006
Jay Tiedeberg completed the early and late turtle watches, and no turtles or turtle evidence was sighted. We continued installing groynes at the West end of the project. We completed 21, 19 and 18.
Thursday May 18, 2006
Jay Tiedeberg completed the early and late turtle watches, and no turtles or turtle evidence was sighted. We encountered some rocky areas that appear to be pieces of an old road bed. We are pressing on with the installation and will get back to this opportunity at a later date. We installed groynes # 25, 24, 23 and 22.
Wednesday May 17th
Jay Tiedeberg completed the early turtle watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. We completed groynes #28, #27 and #26. So far we have installed 24 groynes and have 20 more to install for the time being.
Tuesday May 16th
Mike Lipcsey conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. In the morning we completed #30 and #29. The Mayor of Carolina held a press conference at the Balneario de Carolina. All the major papers and television stations sent reporters. Mayor Aponte discussed the future of Carolina with the presentation showing Carolina when he was first elected through the present and into the future. He turned the conference over to Mr. Edgardo Brignoni, President of Beach Erosion Control Corp who presented the state of the beaches in Puerto Rico and the plans for the regeneration of the beach in Carolina with the NuShore System and the future installation of the Artificial Reef System. Jay Tiedeberg completed the late afternoon turtle watch, and no turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted.
Monday May 15th
Mike Lipscey completed the early and late turtle watches, and no turtles or turtle evidence was sighted. We completed #33, #32 and #31 with only one crew.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Mike Lipscey completed the early and late turtle watches, and no turtles or turtle evidence was sighted. Today we worked on the east end away from the public. The public was able to enjoy the beach where we had installed the groynes. We completed three groynes at the east end of the groyne field. #54, #53 and #52.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Mike Lipscey completed the early and late turtle watches, and no turtles or turtle evidence was sighted. We completed three more groynes today. #36 and #35 had 15 panels, 6 welded wire and 9 grid. #34 was partially complete with 9 panels, 6 welded wire and 3 grid.
Thursday May 11, 2006
Mike Lipscey completed the early and late turtle watches, and no turtles or turtle evidence was sighted. We completed three more groynes today. #39 had 15 panels, 6 welded wire and 9 grid. #38 and #37 had 15 panels each, 6 welded wire and 9 grid.
Wednesday May 10, 2006
Mike Lipcsey conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. We finished the partial groyne #42 and two more, #41 and #40. Mike Lipcsey conducted the late afternoon Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. During the day we saw two instances where a predator fish was chasing a school of bait fish beyond the groyne field. We also saw a pair of bottlenose dolphins swimming beyond the groyne field.
Tuesday May 9, 2006
Today we installed four groynes and later formed two teams with two complete sets of equipment.
Monday May 8, 2006
Mike Lipcsey conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. A second Groyne was installed after testing several pumps.
Saturday May 6, 2006
We notified the United States Army Corps of Engineers of our intent to start the construction of the project by a training session Saturday and an official start on Monday. Conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. We Installed the first row and a half as a training session. Conducted the late afternoon Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted.
Friday May 5, 2006
Conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. Jay attended a meeting at the Mayor’s office with Edgardo Brignoni to plan for the Press Conference to be held on Monday. Charlie and Mike began cutting PVC for the “Jet Rakes” and Mike put some caps on the single pipes we are going to use Saturday.
Thursday May 4, 2006
Conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. Worked on documenting the survey data. Mike and I took initial pictures of the Balneario as a record of the pre-installation.
Wednesday May 3, 2006
Conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. Determined where we were going to start the installation and modified the locations of groynes 45, 46, 47 and 48 to bring them more in line with 38 through 44.
Tuesday May 2, 2006
Conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. The survey was completed allowing us to make volume calculations using ESRI software.
Monday May 1, 2006
Conducted the early morning Turtle Watch. No turtles were sighted or evidence of the presence of turtles sighted. The profiles on the ends of each field of reference were reshot in the adjacent field of reference tying all four reference positions together and all the supplies were purchased to make two Jet Rakes to use in raising panels that may become excessively buried after storms.
Friday, April 28, 2006
The survey was extended to the west end of the beach beyond the final groyne position.
In the late afternoon we received word from the project manager, Mr. Cedeno, that the permit was ready for review and signatures at the Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters in San Juan.
Brignoni and I went over to receive it and pass it to the Mayor for his signature. After reviewing the permit that evening, the permit was given to the Vice Mayor of Carolina to take to the Mayor for his signature.
Thursday April 27, 2006
Based on the curvature of the lunar beach and the visibility of reference points, we determined we needed a fourth reference station for a complete survey.
Wednesday April 26th, 2006
We continued to survey profiles at reference station 3.
Tuesday April 25th, 2006
We continued to survey profiles at reference station 2 and reference station 3.
Monday April 24th, 2006
We surveyed the water’s edge from each station and determined the elevation at each reference station. Mike and I began the initial survey shooting profiles from the east end.
Friday April 21st, 2006
Mike and I continued to stake positions and record locations. We moved to Reference Station 2 and then Reference Station 3.
Thursday April 20, 2006
Mike and I began working on the survey again. We began staking out the groynes and profile positions and locating each from the initial reference point.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Mike and I arrived back in Puerto Rico and looked over the project area and the new facilities that were moved into the area.
Friday April 1, 2006
Mike and I completed the groyne layout and traveled back home. As of Friday morning 187 of 250 wire panels were assembled. After all the wire panels are assembled the crew is going to assemble the double stanchions.
Thursday March 30, 2006
Mike and I located all the buried profile markers. We surveyed some more markers and the angle changes for the groynes from #36 through #46. Tomorrow we will finish up and head home.
In the afternoon Mike and I went to Ponce to look at El Tuque beach. They have both a solid pier and several breakwaters and some storm water outlets onto the beach and not much wave activity, so it may present some challenges we don’t normally face. We will get Dr. Ping Wang (Geologist, University of South Florida) involved, to help us resolve any issues.
Tuesday March 28, 2006
The crew made more panels and stanchion pairs. So far there are 83 wire panels made. We laid out our profiles and hammered the PVC stakes all the way into the sand.
We had to stop short on the survey points and work on the artificial reef study proposal.
Monday March 27, 2006
Mike continued training and supervision of the assembly of the wire panels and assembly of the stanchions into doubles using brackets. I went with Edgardo and met the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of Carolina. Edgardo discussed the Artificial Reef with the Mayor and he wants a proposal. We also met with the Director of NOAA in Puerto Rico.
We met with the advisor to the Mayor. We discussed the Total Beach Management System and Artificial Reefs. We need to get some grid panels and set up a dune fence example at Carolina.
Mike and I went to Vega Baja, a very likely future project. The Tombolo was completely closed. There appeared to be some sand accumulating in the middle of the lunar beach.
Sunday March 26, 2006
Mike began training a work crew in the assembly of the pipes into the brackets. They built a table jig to lay the pipes on and clamp on the brackets. The plugs fit well into the bottom end of the pipes. The ends of the pipes had a significant bur from the cutting to length. The bur made it impossible to hammer in the cap. The solution was to grind down the bur and the caps would fit. Knocking off a small amount of material on the caps may be a solution for next time if this is a problem.
Saturday March 25, 2006
We used the survey equipment and gathered survey data.
Mike also began training on the assembly of the wire panels. That went very well.
Friday, March 24, 2005
In the morning we took an inventory of all the materials. All the materials were shipped and received as invoiced. We went to Home Depot and purchased supplies, primarily survey stakes and nylon string. We measured where to place 14 groynes starting at the East end. We also measured and staked out the mid points for the profiles. In the afternoon we set up the survey gear and took some reading but were not satisfied with the result.
Thursday, March 23, 2005
Mike and I arrived in San Juan. Edgardo took us to Campo Brignoni and looked the beach over.
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