Photos

Poloa

The Poloa Area Shore Protection project is located on the west coast of the island of Tutuila, American Samoa. The project was authorized under Section 103a of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962, as amended. The Department of Public Works, American Samoa Government is the local sponsor and owner, responsible to operate and maintain the project. The project is in the operations and maintenance phase.

The project was completed in October 1977, at a cost of $203,094 (Federal: $101,547; non-Federal: $101,547). The project consists of a 490-foot long revetment with a crest elevation of +12 feet mean low water. The purpose of the project was to reduce impacts of storm waves on the Taputapu Elementary School.

The original length of the revetment was 475 feet and was extended 15 feet in 1992 during repair of the revetment. Cyclone Heta hit American Samoa in January 2004 and caused the displacement of the revetment’s under and armor layer stones. Rehabilitation of the revetment was accomplished under the authority of Public Law 84-99 Emergency Flood Control program. The 29 September 2009 earthquake/tsunami caused damages to Taputapu School; however, there were no damages to the shore protection structure.  The school has since been relocated.  The project remains intact but overcome by vegetation due to the lack of maintenance. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer representatives have recommended to the American Samoa Government to maintain the project, as it still protects the shoreline from erosive wave forces.