On the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Port Bay, NY is an active residential community with recreation opportunities like boating and fishing, including ice-fishing for northern pike and yellow perch when safe ice forms. Working closely with New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Port Bay Improvement Association (PBIA), Healthy Port Futures aided in the design, implementation, and monitoring of a passive dredge management pilot project to create a bell-shaped sediment pile known as the Cobble Bell that feeds the eroded nearshore.
Development and the continued attempts at controlling the natural erosive/transport environment has contributed to reductions in sediment movement and breached in many of the protective barrier bars.
Development and the continued attempts at controlling the natural erosive/transport environment has contributed to reductions in sediment movement and breached in many of the protective barrier bars.
Over the past few decades, the upland placement of dredge sediment, construction of pier, and armoring of the west bar have contributed to a decrease in sediment transport. As a result, the natural, unprotected eastern barrier bar has shifted back, and become noticeably thinner (losing almost 70’ in shoreline width)
Over the past few decades, the upland placement of dredge sediment, construction of pier, and armoring of the west bar have contributed to a decrease in sediment transport. As a result, the natural, unprotected eastern barrier bar has shifted back, and become noticeably thinner (losing almost 70’ in shoreline width)
The feeder bluff, made of locally dredged cobbles will serve as a temporary icon of the local geology and the erosive processes that make the region unique.
The feeder bluff, made of locally dredged cobbles will serve as a temporary icon of the local geology and the erosive processes that make the region unique.
The intervention at Port Bay is the construction of a feeder bluff made from the annually dredged sediment. Analogous to what happens across the region, the bluff will erode through wave energy and transport material to the east, fortifying the weakened barrier bar
The intervention at Port Bay is the construction of a feeder bluff made from the annually dredged sediment. Analogous to what happens across the region, the bluff will erode through wave energy and transport material to the east, fortifying the weakened barrier bar
The actual sediment pile will be calibrated through responsive design once installed, which is made easier because Port Bay is dredged at a similar time each year by the same contractor.
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