In December 2001 NCI and the Seadrift Association performed a visual inspection by boat of the entire 12,000 plus lineal feet of the Seadrift Lagoon existing timber bulkhead. A ranking system was developed and utilized to assess the existing bulkhead’s condition fronting each of the 203 lagoon properties. The original existing bulkhead is of timber construction, and was installed in about the year 1965; therefore its life of over 35 years at the time of inspection already had exceeded an expected lifespan for a structure of this type that is located in a saltwater environment.

Based on our visual survey assessment, the following findings were noted: severest signs of deterioration and failure located in second horizontal plank from top and in vertical posts near the mudline location for all lots with the original bulkhead in place; there were numerous areas throughout the lagoon that were losing landside sediments into the lagoon due to gaps between the horizontal planks, gaps between the bottom plank and mudline, sections of severely deteriorated and missing planks, and/or failed wall conditions; deterioration and rotting of timber bulkhead members had accelerated due to the saltwater environment, weather conditions, change in water level, and extended life of the bulkhead; and there were very few lots with the horizontal bulkhead planking extending below the mudline.

An approximately 1,300 foot long concrete breakwater was constructed by Santa Rosa County Parks and Recreation in the mid 1980’s to protect a recreational boat marina. The breakwater consists of precast concrete support and baffle panels, precast concrete plumb and batter piles, a cast-in-place concrete cap, an aluminum access bridge, steel guardrails to allow public access on top of the breakwater, and two timber fishing platforms. The purpose of the work performed by NCI was to visually inspect the structure for public safety and to visually inspect the structural integrity of the breakwater. The inspection of the in water portion of the breakwater was to be performed at a tide level no higher than 1-foot MLLW.

Inspections were performed between October 2006 and January 2007. A report was prepared and submitted that detailed the inspection process, results of the inspections, and provided repair recommendations. The report was documented with photographs and inspection reports. In general, there was no current public safety hazard or major structural deficiency with the breakwater. The inspections found that: the precast concrete components are in excellent condition; cracks are evident and should be repaired in the cast-in-place concrete cap; expansion joint material should be replaced; a few sections of the steel guardrail should be replaced; the steel guardrail should be painted in corroded areas; the timber platforms should be replaced or improved; and the aluminum gangway is in excellent condition.

In June 2008 NCI performed a detailed above water visual inspection and under water diver inspection of the Parcel 47 marina dock facilities in Marina del Rey, CA. The marina consists of 196 single berths and end tie slips configured over eight main headwalks with slip sizes ranging from 25 feet to 55 feet in length. These docks are of concrete Unifloat construction with expanded polystyrene foam cores encased in a light-weight concrete shell built in the early 1970s and were over 35 years old at the time of this inspection. The results of the field inspection were compiled and tabulated into a GIS database for analysis using Microsoft Excel, Access, and ESRI ArcMap software.

A final assessment of overall condition of a dock component was made upon review of the number of deficiencies noted and the severity of any one item observed with each item given a final evaluation rating.