PIPER CHANNEL NAVIGATION CHANNEL STABILIZATION
Port Aransas, Texas

The Piper Channel Navigation Channel Project located in Port Aransas, Texas provides access from the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Ship Channel to 350+ lot subdivision, marina and shallow intertidal habitat for recreation. Two 800-foot long temporary geotextile tube structures were installed in 1996 in an attempt to reduce channel shoaling and shoreline erosion. In December 2001, a 200 foot section of both jetties breached allowing sediment to migrate into the channel resulting in closure of the channel. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) requested that Coast & Harbor Engineering (CHE) design a permanent solution to protect the channel entrance from erosion, sedimentation, and extreme hydrodynamic conditions that affect navigation safety. The project consists of removing portions of an existing straight geotextile tube and steel sheetpile jetties and replacing them with a new flared jetty alignment. The flared alignment will reduce channel sedimentation, reduce wave energy penetration and improve navigation safety. The new jetty structure is composed of coated steel sheet piling, waler system, batter and vertical steel piles and navigational aids. A new shore protection system consisting of a rock revetment and upland surface water runoff control system was also proposed to reduce shore erosion. The project construction was completed in September 2007 and the construction cost was estimated to be $2.3 million.

CHE performed the following project tasks:

	PHASE 1 – Feasibility Study
		Alternatives Analysis - Construction Cost, Maintenance Requirements, Protection Performance, and Sedimentation Reduction.
		Jetty Modification Evaluation – Sedimentation Reduction Analysis, Structure Type Analysis, Hydrodynamic Modeling.
		Shore Stabilization Evaluation – Stabilize Shore Erosion, Sedimentation Reduction.

	PHASE 2 – Preliminary, Final Engineering Analysis & Design
		Data Collection – Topography, Bathymetry, Geotechnical, Currents, Waves.
		Engineering Analysis – Hydrodynamics Slope Stability.
		Design Criteria Development – Geometry, Velocities, Scour, Wave height, Design Life, Water Elevation, Lateral Loading, Head Differential, Wave Loading.
		Designed Vertical Wall Jetty, Rubblemound Structure, and Navigation Aid.

	PHASE 3 – Construction Engineering Services
		Review contractor's submittals, invoices, and issue any necessary change orders.
		CHE engineer at construction site to assist with interpretation of plans and specifications and review construction methods for conformance with contract documents.
		Daily construction site reports summarizing construction activities and issues to be addressed.

Post-Construction, taken 10/4/07