Ponce de Leon channel shoaling and erosion studies Punta Gorda, Florida

Wang, Hsiang and Lee, Jung L. and Lin, Lihwa (1992) Ponce de Leon channel shoaling and erosion studies Punta Gorda, Florida. Gainesville, FL, University of Florida, Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Department, (UFL/COEL, 92/013)

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Abstract

The shoaling and bank erosion at Ponce de Leon channel, Punta Gorda, Florida, have caused concern of harming the mangrove community along the channel. Three factors were identified that could contribute to the bank erosion of Ponce channel. They are tidal induced current, wind waves penetrating from the Charlotte Harbor, and wakes caused by boat traffic. According to the field experiments and numerical modeling studies, it was determined that the combined wind wave and tidal current force is the major cause to the bank erosion. Wind wave appears to play a more important role because of its dynamic nature. For the present cross-sectional channel condition the tidal current alone is only a moderate erosional force. It was also found that reopening the barge canal would cut the tidal current strength in the Ponce channel by a half. This current reduction would reduce but not eliminate bank erosion in the lower reach as the wind-wave induced force will remain to be an important erosional factor. A number of remedial alternatives were given in the report. The most direct method is to provide bank protection. The extent of the protection depends upon the extent of wind wave penetration which could be as deep as 150 m into the channel under the present channel entrance condition. (This document has 49 pages. )

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