Wave Dissipation through Rigid Vegetation

Rhizophora mangle, or red mangroves, are halophytes which grow in the intertidal zone along coastlines in southwest Florida. Species of the Rhizophora genus have been shown to provide effective coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and shoreline erosion mitigation through wave and wind attenuation in tropical and subtropical regions for wind waves, boat wakes, and in riverine environments. This article quantifies the wave dissipation ability and effectiveness of red mangroves in the partially exposed Cocohatchee River Channel near Naples, FL, specifically focusing on 41 distinct boat wake events. The data analysis found an average empirical vegetation transmission coefficient of 0.33, indicating that mangroves can cause significant wave dissipation for the observed conditions.