Coastal engineering investigation at Jupiter Inlet, Florida

A fixed-bed hydraulic model of Jupiter Inlet, Florida, was constructed for the purpose of testing measures designed to remedy problems of sediment erosion and deposition in the inlet area. Both tide-induced flows as well as waves were simulated in the model which was built on an undistorted scale of 1:49. Model verification was based on prototype measurements of waves, tides and currents. Results have been interpreted in terms of the influence of various proposed remedial schemes on flow velocity magnitude, distribution and wave height at various locations within the study area. A stability parameter has been utilized for evaluating the degree of sediment erosion or deposition at a given location. Various structural solutions were examined in the model. It is proposed that, in the initial phase of solution implementation, sediment removal/nourishment methods be used primarily to mitigate the existing problems. New structures, as per model test results, should be installed under subsequent phases, only if sediment management procedures do not prove to be adequate. The currently followed procedure of periodic sand trap dredging may be extended to include the new dredging/nourishment requirements. (PDF contains 245 pages.)

The Ahupua'a concept: relearning coastal resource management from ancient Hawaiians

Isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii was one of the last areas to be reached by "western" explorers; as a consequence, some ancient traditions were preserved in Hawaii well into the 19th and 20th centuries, providing an opportunity to learn from a surviving indigenous culture. An account is given of the division of the islands into various units and their exploitation. The smallest major divisions were the "ahupua'as," which spread out at the base along the shore and were self-sufficient units. In this way the ancient Hawaiians recognized the relationship between the land and sea, rainfall and vegetation, nutrients and runoff and preserved the integrity of the delicately balanced ecosystem of which they were a part and upon which they relied for their every need. Modern parallels to this ancient system are broken and irregular; the reorganization of the "ahupua'a" system marked the beginning of the decline of Hawaiian ecosystems. Although steps are being taken to remedy the present situation, Hawaii now ranks among the highest in the nation for its levels of pollution, endangered species and disappearing habitats. More and more, the model for improved management is being sought in the revival of ancient traditions.