Impact of a dredged sandpit on tidal and wave hydrodynamics

Abstract

Due to the increasing sand demand for construction and beach nourishment, offshore extraction is being considered as an alternative source. Long term morphological changes caused by such an extraction must be predicted because they can affect the sediments budget and potentially promote coastal erosion. Numerical models are powerful tools that can help in the evaluation of environmental impacts induced by this activity. They should, however, be used with caution, the validation of a particular model being an important task. The objective of this study is to describe the hydrodynamics in the area surrounding a sandpit through the use of numerical models, namely ELCIRC for the tidal flow and SWAN for the waves. The sandpit under study is located offshore Vale do Lobo, an important beach and golf resort located on the Southern Portuguese coast. A wave climate analysis was done in order to assess mean wave conditions and to choose extreme events to propagate with SWAN. Four wave conditions were identified as representative. The numerical results obtained show that the tidal flow and the orbital wave velocities within the pit and neighbouring areas are modified by the presence of the pit. The excavation influences the tidal flow in an area of approximately 3000 * 3000 m2 around it. In this area the maximum velocity increase is of 2%, occurring in the nearby surroundings of the pit, and the maximum decrease is of 16%, in the pit deepest zone. The orbital velocities for the storm wave conditions show a decrease of 15% within the pit and its influence extends up to the 4 m contour, not reaching the shore.