ultimately function as a continually evolving information center to maintain accuracy in
recognition that inlet characteristic change through time. The Federal Inlets Database
was organized with the goal of providing information on 42 hydraulic, geomorphic, and
geometric parameters for Federally maintained inlets within the continental United States
and Alaska. Much of this information is not readily available at this time, and the CIRP
is requesting assistance of those possessing additional information to complete the
database.
Presently the Federal Inlets Database is in Excel format. The CIRP is incorporating
this database into its web-based inlet-structure database. The on-line database includes
downloadable aerial photographs of many of the Federal and non-Federal inlets and is
LOCATION
One motivation for the establishment of the Federal Inlets Database was to obtain
information on many inlets over a diverse range of locations. Figure 1 is an example of
one region showing the large number of inlets to be treated. Inlets within the United
States have widely differing wave conditions, tidal prisms, magnitudes and net directions
of longshore sediment transport, structures, and physical geometries (as well as other
parameters). Figures 2-8 illustrate this variability. Inlets within the database are listed by
location beginning with the Corps of Engineers New England District and continuing
along the perimeter of the United States, and ending in the Detroit District along the
Great Lakes.
Louisiana
Barataria Pass Mobile Bay
Caminada Pass
St. Marys Entrance
Fontonelle Pass
Belle Pass
Mermantau River
Calcasieu
Pass
Sabine Pass
Galveston Entrance
Freeport Harbor
New Pass
Figure 1. Example of regional map for the Southeast coast of the United States
2