Presentation Abstract
Increasing coastal development makes it vitally important to understand the shoreline’s response to anthropogenic modifications. We compared physical beach characteristics from adjacent sections of armored and unarmored shoreline at a variety of locations in the Salish Sea in order to assess the effects of armoring on beach morphology. Ten reaches, each a minimum of 500 meters in length, were selected from locations sampled with boat-based LiDAR collected by the Washington Department of Ecology Coastal Monitoring & Analysis Program. Cross-shore profiles were generated for each reach at 10-meter intervals alongshore. On each profile, estimates of beach slope, width, and toe elevation were extracted from the LiDAR in both the foreshore and backshore zones. Each parameter was tested for significant differences between the armored and unarmored sections. Alongshore patterns in these parameters were also observed in order to evaluate gradients in the alongshore effects of armoring. Lastly, the relationship between bluff or armor toe elevation and beach width and slope was tested. Findings from this research will provide insights about nearshore morphodynamics in the Salish Sea, and aid in prioritizing and evaluating armor removal restoration efforts.
Session Title
Track: Shorelines, Estuaries & Rivers – Posters
Conference Track
Shorelines, Estuaries & Rivers
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2020 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
2020_abstractID_5583
Start Date
21-4-2020 9:00 AM
End Date
22-4-2020 4:45 PM
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Coastal zone management--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Shore protection--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Shorelines--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Effects of Shoreline Armoring on Physical Beach Characteristics in the Salish Sea, WA
Increasing coastal development makes it vitally important to understand the shoreline’s response to anthropogenic modifications. We compared physical beach characteristics from adjacent sections of armored and unarmored shoreline at a variety of locations in the Salish Sea in order to assess the effects of armoring on beach morphology. Ten reaches, each a minimum of 500 meters in length, were selected from locations sampled with boat-based LiDAR collected by the Washington Department of Ecology Coastal Monitoring & Analysis Program. Cross-shore profiles were generated for each reach at 10-meter intervals alongshore. On each profile, estimates of beach slope, width, and toe elevation were extracted from the LiDAR in both the foreshore and backshore zones. Each parameter was tested for significant differences between the armored and unarmored sections. Alongshore patterns in these parameters were also observed in order to evaluate gradients in the alongshore effects of armoring. Lastly, the relationship between bluff or armor toe elevation and beach width and slope was tested. Findings from this research will provide insights about nearshore morphodynamics in the Salish Sea, and aid in prioritizing and evaluating armor removal restoration efforts.
