<p>Estuarine systems are sensitive to coastal processes and undergo rapid morphological changes in response to sediment flux, tidal fluctuations, and seasonal reversals in wind-wave climate, causing critical management concerns. Extensive management practices induce new hydrodynamic equilibrium in the estuarine systems and related sediment circulation patterns. In this study, the tidally modulated morphodynamic response of a tropical estuary to anthropogenic modifications is discussed based on satellite image analysis followed by in situ measurements of currents and sediment transport modeling. Time series morphometric analysis of the estuarine islands using remote sensing data (2005–2020) shows that, after the construction of vented dams in 2010 across the river channels, the growth of the estuarine islands has significantly reduced (2010–2015), followed by erosion in the later periods (2015–2018). After the river mouth was delineated with breakwaters in October 2017, the islands in the estuary began to grow again. However, after the river mouth was trained with breakwaters (October 2017), the islands within the estuary were observed to grow yet again. Hydrodynamic coupled with sediment transport models showed high tidal currents becoming strong at the river mouth where the breakwaters were constructed. Sediment transport model studies showed high suspended sediment transport from the river mouth toward the estuarine channels during high tide, where the island growths were observed. This study indicated that erosion of the bed sediments was due to the strong tidal currents that developed at the river mouth. Transportation of the suspended sediments thus generated toward the estuarine channel and their deposition during the slack hours resulted in the aggradations of the estuarine islands. This study indicated the relative dominance of alternate sources of sediments to the growth of estuarine islands and siltation despite the construction of vented dams and sediment trapping at the inland reaches of the river. Management practices in tropical estuaries along the West Coast of India should take into account the sediment budget and the hydrodynamic evolution of the estuaries. This approach is essential for managing issues such as siltation, migration, and the maintenance of navigable channels. The research underscores the critical need for adaptive management strategies that address sediment budgets and hydrodynamic evolution. These findings have significant implications for estuarine management worldwide, offering a framework for mitigating siltation and maintaining navigable channels. This study provides new insights into the complex interactions between anthropogenic modifications, tidal dynamics, and sediment transport in tropical estuaries, highlighting the role of vented dams and breakwaters in influencing estuarine morphology. Unlike previous studies, which primarily focused on sediment trapping or siltation, this work demonstrates the dynamic interplay between sediment erosion at the river mouth and subsequent deposition in estuarine channels, leading to island growth.</p>