Construction of a bulkhead does not insure stability of a bluff. If a bulkhead is placed at the toe
of a high bluff steepened by erosion to the point of incipient failure, the bluff above the bulkhead may
slide, burying the structure or moving it toward the water. To increase the chances of success, the
bulkhead should be placed somewhat away from the bluff toe, and if possible, the bluff should be graded
to a flatter, more stable slope.
Bulkheads may be either thin structures penetrating deep into the ground (e.g., sheet piling) or
massive structures resting on the surface (e.g., sand- or grout-filled bags). Sheet pile bulkheads require
adequate ground penetration to retain soil. Stacked bag structures do not require heavy pile-driving
equipment and are appropriate where subsurface conditions hinder pile penetration. However, they need
firm foundation soils to adequately support their weight. Because they do not generally penetrate the
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