ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2416-152X

Year

2025

Season

Fall

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Computing, Engineering & Construction

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

Department

Engineering

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. School of Engineering

Committee Chairperson

Dr. Raphael Crowley

Second Advisor

Dr. Ryan Shamet

Third Advisor

Dr. James Gelsleichter

Department Chair

Dr. Alan Harris

College Dean

Dr. William Klostermeyer

Abstract

This study investigated wave climate conditions at the Timucuan Preserve in northeast Florida, addressing gaps in previous shoreline erosion research that largely attributed erosion to boat wakes without detailed wave data. Field data were collected using several do-it-yourself water wave gauges. Each data collection event was for approximately one week, with an emphasis on collecting data before, during, and after periods of expected peak wave activity (i.e., holiday weekends and large-scale storms). Data were analyzed in the frequency domain to establish the likely cause of waves. Results suggested that, counterintuitively, watercraft traffic may have produced higher dominant wave periods than the larger-scale storms likely at least partially due to the small fetch lengths at this location. Taken together, these results suggest that previous hypotheses that attributed dominant wave activity to watercraft traffic at this location may be correct. And, by extension, the data suggests that shoreline erosion at Kingsley Plantation may be dominated by boat wake action.

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