Sand budget for Capitola Beach, California
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Authors
Anderson, Richard Glenn
Subjects
Advisors
Thompson, Warren C.
Date of Issue
1971-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The beach at Capitola, California has a history of short-term variations
about a nominally wide beach. This pattern was interrupted in
1965 when the beach was greatly depleted following the construction of
Santa Cruz Harbor. The beach remained small until the construction of a
groin and subsequent sand fill at Capitola in 1970.
The annual sand budget developed for Capitola Beach shows a net gain
of 1,300 cu. yds. The sand sources are littoral drift, 300,000 cu. yds.,
river discharge, 8,000 cu. yds., and seacliff erosion, 3,800 cu. yds.,
while sand loss is due to littoral drift, 310,500 cu. yds.
The observed short-term variations in the beach are reflected in the
monthly sand budget. The budget permits evaluation of the effect on the
beach of varying each source due to the construction of artificial
barriers. It is concluded that the harbor construction at Santa Cruz
was responsible for the sand depletion at Capitola Beach in 1965.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography