Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Net Shore-Drift And Artificial Structures Within Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, And Mouth Of The Columbia River, Washington, B. Patrice (Berenthine Patrice) Thomas

WWU Graduate School Collection

Net shore-drift, the overall result of sediment transport in the littoral zone, was studied along the shore within Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and mouth of the Columbia River, Washington. The length and direction of drift cells, which are discrete sediment compartments, was delineated using geomorphologic and sedimentologic indicators. Eight drift cells were identified in Grays Harbor, seven within Willapa Bay, and three along the section of the Columbia River shore studied. Drift cell lengths range from 200 m to approximately 6 km with an average of 1.5 km. Net shore-drift directions vary considerably with maximum fetch identified as the most …

Net Shore-Drift Of San Juan County And Parts Of Jefferson, Island And Snohomish Counties, Washington, James W. Johannessen

WWU Graduate School Collection

Net shore-drift directions, representing the long-term, net result of littoral sediment transport on both the beachface and in nearshore waters, were determined in San Juan County, eastern Jefferson County, and southern Island and Snohomish Counties, Washington. Studies employing similar methods have been conducted in the state for the Washington State Department of Ecology, to update coastal drift information provided to area planners. This project completes net shore-drift mapping of the entire marine coast of Washington State. The Puget Lowland experiences prevailing and predominant southerly winds, but is also subjected to locally variable winds. The irregular coast of the islands and …

Quantification Of Net Shore-Drift Rates In Puget Sound And The Strait Of Juan De Fuca, Washington, R. Scott Wallace

WWU Graduate School Collection

Quantitative analysis of net shore-drift has been carried out at twenty-six sites in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington, U.S.A. Three methods were used to obtain net shore-drift rates: (1) field measurement of sediment accumulation at drift obstructions; (2) extrapolation of spit growth using aerial photographs and historical maps; and (3) evaluation of maintenance-dredging volumes at navigation channels.

The study area was divided into four regions based on physiography, and the effect of wind patterns on the area. The largest volumes of sediment were transported in the west-central region, along the southern coast of the Strait …

Net Shore-Drift Along The Strait Of Juan De Fuca Coast Of Clallam County, Washington, Steven C. (Steven Craig) Bubnick

WWU Graduate School Collection

Net shore-drift along the north coast of Clallam County, Washington, was determined by using geomorphic and sedimentologic indicators. These indicators include changes in bluff morphology, delta plan form, beach width and slope, sediment size gradation, direction of stream mouth diversion, spit growth, deposition and erosion at drift obstructions, identifiable sediment, relict beach ridges, and imbricated beach sediment.

Irregularities in the coastline have caused the shore drift to become divided into drift cells, each displaying zones of supply, transportation, and accumulation. Drift direction determinations were made through field observations of the indicators, supplemented by the study of photographs, topographic maps, and …

Net Shore-Drift Of Kitsap County, Washington, Bruce E. Taggart

WWU Graduate School Collection

Kitsap County is located entirely within the Puget Sound Lowland in northwestern Washington State. It has a crenulated coastline 352 km in length. The Puget Sound Lowland, and Kitsap County in particular, is characterized by glacial landforms and sediments. Glacial activity is responsible for the shape and depth of the various water-bodies comprising Puget Sound, which is subject to mixed, semi-diurnal tides.

Net shore-drift is the process by which sediment, supplied to the margin of a landmass by subaerial and wave-induced erosional processes, is transported parallel to the coast by longshore drift and beach drift over a period of many …

Net Shore-Drift Of Thurston County, Washington, David M. Hatfield Jr.

WWU Graduate School Collection

Geomorphic and sedimentologic variations in coastal landforms were used to determine the direction of net shore-drift and delineate the boundaries of drift cells along 178 kilometers of the southern Puget Sound coast fronting Thurston County, Washington. The net shore-drift indicators used along the Thurston County coast were, in descending order of observed frequency, gradation in mean sediment size, beach width, foreshore offsets at drift obstructions, spit development, bluff morphology, beach slope, diversion of stream mouth outlets, plan view of deltas or intertidal fans, oblique bars, beach pads, and identifiable sediment.

Wind from the south-southwest prevails over Thurston County. Fetch is …

Net Shore-Drift Of Mason County, Washington, Dana G. (Dana Genre) Blankenship

WWU Graduate School Collection

Winds from various directions cause waves which transport sediment along the shore. Over a relatively long time interval, sediment is moved in one predominant direction, which is the direction of net shore-drift. Variations in shoreline orientation cause shore drift to occur in discrete, essentially independent, drift cells.

By the specific identification of a number of established geomorphic and sedimentological shore drift indicators, drift cell boundaries can be delineated and the directions of net shore-drift determined. These indicators include changes in bluff morphology, beach width and slope, sediment-size gradation, identifiable sediment, deposition and/or erosion at shore drift obstructions, direction of spit …

Net Shore-Drift Of King County, Washington, Michael Chrzastowski

WWU Graduate School Collection

King County has a 182 km, crenulated coastline along the glacially formed channels of Puget Sound. This distance is nearly evenly divided between the mainland and two islands, Vashon and Maury. This field study determined the long-term net shore-drift along the King County coast, primarily using geomorphic and sedimentologic indicators of net shore-drift. The shore-drift sediment is mainly sand and gravel supplied from coastal bluffs by wave erosion, mass wasting, and fluvial processes. There are a total of 46 drift cells, with shore-drift operating along all of the King County coast except for 9 km of artificially modified, commercial and …