Wave Conditions for Pier 400 Dredging and Landfill Project, Los Angeles Outer Harbor, Los Angeles, California

Abstract : A physical model study, using a 1:100 scale (undistorted) hydraulic model of Los Angeles Outer Harbor, California, was conducted to investigate short-period storm wave conditions for proposed harbor development located near the Angel's Gate entrance. The model reproduced two stages of the proposed Pier 400 dredging and landfill project, Angel's Gate entrance, portions of the existing breakwaters, and sufficient bathymetry in San Pedro Bay to permit proper reproduction of the required test waves. An 80-ft-long electrohydraulic, unidirectional, spectral wave generator and an automated data acquisition and control system were used in model operation. The following conclusions can be derived from the results of these tests: (1) Both the -63- and -85-ft channel configurations resulted in large wave heights at the toe of the proposed Pier 400 landfill. Maximum wave heights of 21.8 and 22.3 ft will occur for the -63- and -81- ft channels, respectively, for extreme wave conditions with a +8.0-ft still-water level(swl). The -63-ft channel bathymetry focuses wave energy slightly more to the east inside the outer harbor than the -81 ft channel bathymetry; and (2) For operational wave conditions with the +5.5-ft swl, maximum wave heights of 4.4 and 4.6 ft will occur adjacent to Pier 300 for the -63- and -81-ft channel configurations, respectively, with no landfills installed