Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility: Hurricane Isabel Evaluation & Coastal Engineering Issues

Abstract

The Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility (DMCF) project is being constructed for the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) and will be, used for the placement of material dredged from Baltimore Harbor. Moffatt & Nichol (M&N) prepared a coastal engineering design for rehabilitation of the existing containment dikes to re-activate the facility. Design components included raising the height of the dikes, placing a stability berm to account for poor geotechnical conditions, and armor stone slope protection. The design process included evaluating various slopes and armor stone combinations to select an optimal configuration as regards initial construction versus long-term maintenance costs. M&N completed the design and prepared bid documents for construction that began in September 2002. M&N also performed the construction oversight for the project. The earthwork and armor stone for the dikes were completed at the end of August 2003. Beginning September 18; 2003 and ending September 20, 2003, the Mid-Atlantic region from North Carolina to Maryland was subject to high water levels and high wind speeds associated with Hurricane Isabel. The purpose of this paper is to present data obtained from recording stations around the Chesapeake Bay and evaluate the performance of the coastal engineering aspects of the Cox Creek DMCF project following this 100-year return period water level event.