Jacob H. Douma
that. If I had gone to CERC, I would be very much involved in coastal engineering, and
probably wouldn't have much time to devote to private consulting. When I retired, I was
immediately free to do more consulting.
Committees on Tidal Hydraulics and Channel Stabilization
I should mention my involvement with the Corps' Committee on Tidal Hydraulics during
my service in the Chief's office. I was the Chief's office representative on that Committee
from its inception in 1947 until my retirement in
years. I initiated the Committee
on Channel Stabilization in about 1965 and served as its chairman until my retirement.
This committee operated much like the Committee on Tidal Hydraulics. Members were
from Districts and Divisions who had major channel problems, bank protection problems.
When I retired, the secretary of the committee on stabilization, who was from the
Waterways Experiment Station, was elected chairman. He served as chairman for the next
three or four years, until he retired. I think this committee is still operating.
Well, channel stabilization is a problem that hasn't gone away.
A:
No, that's right.
Let's talk about this Committee on Tidal Hydraulics now, because we've talked about it
before. What was its origin Where did it come from? Why did you want that set up?
A:
All right. There's differences of opinion. My recollection is that
of the South
Atlantic Division and Rhodes of the Savannah District had some problem in a tidal bay,
and they wanted to have it model tested. The model was constructed at WES.
While they were at the Waterways Experiment Station looking at the model, Clarence
Wicker of the Philadelphia District also got involved. Shortly after that meeting, the
Chief's office got a letter from the South Atlantic Division suggesting that a Committee
on Tidal Hydraulics be established to review the Corps' tidal hydraulic problems. This
committee would consist of a representative from each division and district that had tidal
hydraulic problems. In the Chief's office, everyone thought it was a good idea, so the
Committee was approved. The first meeting was attended by representatives from several
divisions and districts, WES, and the Beach Erosion Board. I did not attend the first
meeting. They discussed the committee's membership, operating procedures, and reported
to the Chief's office.
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