Dauphin Island is a cherished part of Alabama’s coastline, the 14-mile-long barrier island south of Mobile is home to beautiful beaches and a wide variety of species that inhabit the sky, sea and sand. However, erosion, hurricanes and the passage of time have threatened these critical environments.
To restore the beach and shoreline, millions of yards of sand had to be moved. Construction efforts entail the hydraulic placement of more than one million cubic yards of sand to the island’s east end designed by South Coast Engineers (SCE) with Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) overseeing construction, engineering, surveying, environmental and inspections.
The project began with the installation of a pipeline extending from the staging area to a borrow site in the Gulf of Mexico. Following pipeline placement, contractor Weeks Marine deployed a large dredge, E.W. Ellefsen to draw sand from the ocean floor. The powerful 30″ Cutter Suction dredge was also supported by a suite of marine equipment including the 320 Booster and various tugs and barges. Through this process the team successfully distributed over one million cubic yards of sand, adhering to the meticulously designed template.
Developing an intricate system of pipes and dredges to transport the sand to the shore proved to be an intricate and advanced task. In addition to that, the selection of vegetation planted along the shore was innovative as well. The team was dedicated to bringing in native seeds that would survive well in the environment. Using seed stock sourced directly from the same area in which they were planted was groundbreaking, particularly with sea oats.
The project’s impact to Dauphin Island is significant and lasting. The goal of the project was achieved and due to that the beach is thriving in a new way. The project accomplished the following: 400 feet wider beaches, 1,200,000 cubic yards of sand placement, 60 acres of beach habitat created, 20 acres of dune habitat created, 12,400 linear feet of sand fence and 691,000 native dune plants of multiple varieties planted. Environmental care was crucial throughout the project especially considering the delicate coastal ecosystem. The creation of habitats and dunes will allow the wildlife in the area to enjoy more of the beach and thrive sustainably for years to come.
GMC is one of the most comprehensive multi-disciplined architecture and engineering firms in the Southeast.
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