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National Assessment of Shoreline Change Project

Introduction Shifting Sands: Sandy ocean beaches are naturally unstable as waves, currents, and winds constantly shift the landscape. These ephemeral interfaces between land and water are often sites of intense development even though they are frequently subjected to natural hazards including flooding, storms, and coastal erosion. Beach erosion is a chronic problem along most open-ocean shores of the United States. As coastal populations continue to grow, and community infrastructures are threatened by erosion, there is increased demand for accurate information regarding past and present shoreline changes. There is also need for a comprehensive analysis of shoreline movement that is regionally consistent. To meet these national needs, the Coastal and Marine Geology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting an analysis of historical shoreline changes along open-ocean sandy shores of the conterminous United States and parts of Alaska and Hawaii. A primary goal of this work is to develop standardized methods for mapping and analyzing shoreline movement so that internally consistent updates can periodically be made to record shoreline erosion and accretion. Products - Internet Map Servers National Assessment of Shoreline Change Web Mapping Application The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) National Assessment of Shoreline Change Web Mapping Application provides a national map view of short- and long-term shoreline change evaluations, and historical and modern shorelines. This map includes data layers compiled in support of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Assessment of Shoreline Change Program. National Assessment of Shoreline Change Web Mapping Application Products Alaska Reports National assessment of shoreline change—Historical shoreline change along the north coast of Alaska, U.S.–Canadian border to Icy Cape - U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015–1048 This report summarizes the methods of analysis, documents and describes the results of the analysis, and explains historical trends and rates of shoreline change along the north coast of Alaska, between the U.S.-Canadian border and Icy Cape. GIS Data National assessment of shoreline change—A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the north coast of Alaska, U.S.-Canadian border to Icy Cape - U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1030 This data complements Open File Report 2015–1048 and includes digital vector shorelines and rates of shoreline change for the north coast of Alaska. Atlantic Coast Reports National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change along the New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts - USGS Open File Report 2010-1118 This report summarizes the methods of analysis, interprets the results, provides explanations regarding long-term and short-term trends and rates of change, and describes how different coastal communities are responding to coastal erosion along shorelines of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. National Assessment Of Shoreline Change: Part 2, Historical Shoreline Changes And Associated Coastal Land Loss Along The U.S. Southeast Atlantic Coast - USGS Open File Report 2005-1401 This report discusses historical shoreline change and coastal land loss along the U.S. Southeast Atlantic Coast along shorelines of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. GIS Data The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts - USGS Open File Report 2010-1119 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2010-1118 and the Internet Map Server by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the U.S. Southeast Atlantic Coast - USGS Open File Report 2005-1326 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2005-1401 and the Internet Map Server by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. Gulf Coast Reports National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Part 1, Historical Shoreline Changes and Associated Coastal Land Loss Along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico - USGS Open File Report 2004-1043 This report discusses historical shoreline change and coastal land loss along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico along shorelines of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. GIS Data The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico - USGS Open File Report 2004-1089 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2004-1043 and the Internet Map Server by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. Pacific Coast Reports National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change Along the Pacific Northwest Coast – USGS Open File Report 2012-1007 This report summarizes the methods of analysis, interprets the results, provides explanations regarding long-term and short-term trends and rates of change, and describes how different coastal communities are responding to coastal erosion along shorelines of Oregon and Washington. National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change in the Hawaiian Islands - USGS Open File Report 2011-1051 This report summarizes the methods of analysis, interprets the results, provides explanations regarding long-term and short-term trends and rates of change, and describes how different coastal communities are responding to coastal erosion along shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Part 4, Historical Coastal Cliff Retreat along the California Coast - USGS Open File Report 2007-1133 This report discusses historical shoreline change and coastal land loss along the coastal cliffs of the California Coast. National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Part 3, Historical Shoreline Change and Associated Coastal Land Loss Along the Sandy Shorelines of the California Coast - USGS Open File Report 2006-1219 This report discusses historical shoreline change and coastal land loss along sandy shorelines of the California Coast. GIS Data The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Pacific Northwest Coast - USGS Open File Report 2012-1008 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2012-1008 and the Internet Map Server by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Sandy Shorelines of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, Hawaii - USGS Open File Report 2011-1009 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2011-1051 and the Internet Map Server by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Cliff Edges and Associated Cliff Erosion Data for the California Coast - USGS Open File Report 2007-1112 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2007-1133 by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. The National Assessment of Shoreline Change: A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Data for the Sandy Shorelines of the California Coast - USGS Open File Report 2006-1251 This data catalog complements Open File Report 2006-1219 and the Internet Map Server by offering downloadable data layers complete with FGDC compliant metadata. Additional Resources An overview of coastal land loss: with emphasis on the southeastern United States - USGS Open File Report 03-337 This report is an introduction to coastal land loss and the physical and anthropogenic factors that influence land loss. Contact Information Rob Thieler USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 02543 Email: rthieler@usgs.gov Phone: 508-457-2350 Fax: 598-457-2310 Cheryl Hapke USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center 600 4th Street South St. Petersburg, FL 34677 Email: chapke@usgs.gov Phone: 727-502-8068 Fax: 727-502-8001

Related Research Projects: National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards USGS Coastal & Marine Geology Program National Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise USGS Coastal & Marine Geology Program