Effects of Breakwater Construction of Tedious Creek Small Craft Harbor and Estuary, Maryland

Abstract : Tedious Creek is a small, funnel-shaped estuary located on the eastern shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay in Dorchester County, MD. Prior to the construction of the breakwater in 1997, the orientation of Tedious Creek allowed the transmission of storm waves that, at times, caused substantial damage to local vessels. The breakwater differed in geometry from the plans tested in 1994. Foundation problems encountered in the field resulted in a shortening of the breakwater, and a wider opening between the two breakwater sections resulted. Local watermen complained that the breakwater was not providing the authorized level of protection at the county boat dock and public piers on the south shore. It was suggested that the as-built 122-m (400-ft) gap opening should be reduced to the authorized 91-m (300-ft) gap opening. The objective of the Monitoring Completed Navigation Projects study was to determine if the harbor and its structures were performing (both functionally and structurally) as predicted by model studies used in the project design. Specific field data would be obtained and analyzed. These data were used in numerical simulation modeling to ascertain the level of wave protection provided by the as-built breakwater structure, and to compare this level of protection to that which would have been provided if the authorized structure had been built. A third hypothetical structure with a 61-m (200-ft) gap opening also was evaluated. No adverse environmental effects such as breakwater deterioration, shoreline erosion, or scour near the breakwater could be ascertained by analyses of these data.