Baldwin County Wetland Conservation Plan - Alabama Department ...

Baldwin County Wetland Conservation Plan Final Summary Document
structures and the bulkheads appears to have scoured the shoreline on the extreme ends of the
structures. As a result of this erosion, BCWCP project staff planned and initiated development of
additional offshore breakwater structures to fill the gap between the structures and the bulkheads.
County staff built two new offshore structures in March and completed a pre-Christmas tree
installation survey to provide baseline beach profile information. Data collected from this survey is
illustrated in the graph below. The data show that there was an initial accumulation of sand after the
construction of the brush fences. However, the initial increase leveled off to a net gain of sand.
Seasonal wind patterns could affect the level of accretion and the success of the brush fence.
Rod Level (feet)
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
2
Brush Fence Beach Accretion Data
4
6
8
10 14
12
Distance (m)
16
18
Brush Fence
Survey data from the brush fence project
July (preconstruction)
Nov ember
February
June (2001)
During a minor tropical storm in October 2001, the newly built brush fence bins sustained
fairly serious damage due to excessive wave action. The damage was repaired and in June of 2002,
BCWCP staff purchased 500 needle rush plants (Juncus roemerianus) and planted them on the newly
accreted beach in order to stabilize the beach and create a wetland habitat. Also, needle rush was
planted adjacent to an eroding shoreline along a large tidal creek (Soldier’s Creek). In all likelihood,
the shoreline was eroding due to excessive boat wake activity. The survival rate was much higher in
the more protected fringe system. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the success rate for planting
marsh vegetation in areas of high wave energy (Perdido Beach) is not as high as in more protected
waters (Soldier Creek).
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