Simulating Effects of Highway Embankments on Estuarine Circulation

Abstract

A two‐dimensional, depth‐averaged, finite‐difference, numerical model was used to simulate tidal circulation and mass transport in the Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, estuarine system. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the utility of the Surface‐Water, Integrated, Flow and Transport model (SWIFT2D) for evaluating changes in circulation patterns and mass transport caused by highway‐crossing embankments. A model of a subregion of Port Royal Sound including the highway crossings and having a grid size of 61 m (200 ft) was derived from a 183‐m (600‐ft) model of the entire Port Royal Sound estuarine system. The 183‐m model was used to compute boundary‐value data for the 61‐m submodel, which was then used to simulate flow conditions with and without the highway embankments in place. The numerical simulations show that, with the highway embankments in place, mass transport between the Broad River and Battery Creek is reduced and mass transport between the Beaufort River and Battery Creek is increased. The net result is that mass transport into and out of upper Battery Creek is reduced. The presence of the embankments also alters circulation patterns within Battery Creek.