Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Joseph F. Terrano
      Originator: Jonathan Pitchford
      Originator: Michael Archer
      Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith
      Publication_Date: 20250527
      Title: Vegetation survey in a coastal marsh at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi from August 2021, May 2022, and December 2022
      Edition: 1.0
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
      Larger_Work_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Joseph F. Terrano
          Originator: Alisha M. Ellis
          Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith
          Originator: Jonathan Pitchford
          Originator: Michael Archer
          Originator: Joseph M. Vargas
          Originator: Jonathan P. Griffiths
          Originator: Samuel M. Randall
          Originator: Matthew Virden
          Originator: Cheyenne S. Everhart
          Originator: Eric Sparks
          Publication_Date: 20250527
          Title: Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2020 to January 2023
          Edition: 1.0
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Multimedia presentation
          Series_Information:
            Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey data release
            Issue_Identification: doi:10.5066/P13VT3ET
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: St. Petersburg, FL
            Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
          Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13VT3ET
  Description:
    Abstract: To better understand sediment deposition in marsh environments, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (USGS-SPCMSC) selected five marsh study sites (Sites 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) and four nearshore estuarine study sites (Sites 8S, 8D, 9S, 9D) along the Point Aux Chenes Bay shoreline of the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GNDNERR), Mississippi. This study builds on Smith and others (2020b) and includes datasets collected after the installation of a living shoreline (a subtidal sill [artificial reef]) that was completed in May 2021. Each marsh site consisted of five plots located along a transect perpendicular to the marsh-estuary shoreline at 5-meter (m) increments (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 m from the shoreline). Each plot contained three to six net sedimentation tiles (NST) that were secured flush to the marsh surface using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. NST are an inexpensive and simple tool to assess short- and long-term deposition that can be deployed in highly dynamic environments without the compaction associated with traditional coring methods. The NST were deployed for three-month sampling periods, measuring sediment deposition from August 2021 to January 2023. Sediment deposited on the NST were processed to determine physical characteristics, such as deposition thickness, volume, wet weight/dry weight, grain size, and organic content (via loss-on-ignition [LOI]). For select sampling periods, ancillary data (water level, elevation, and vegetation) are also provided in this data release. The estuarine sites consisted of Site 8S (shallow; landward of the subtidal sill), 8D (deep; seaward side of the subtidal sill), as well as 9S and 9D (both sites established adjacent to 8S/8D and the subtidal sill). During select trips water parameters (e.g., waves, water level, and turbidity) were collected at each estuarine site to collect turbidity and wave data. Data presented in this data release were collected under three USGS Field Activities Numbers (FAN; one FAN per year) during thirteen sampling trips (alternate FAN; each sampling trip was assigned a unique alt FAN under the main FAN): 2021-320-FA (21CCT01, 21CCT03, 21CCT04, 21CCT05), 2022-302-FA (22CCT01, 22CCT02, 22CCT03, 22CCT04, 22CCT05, 22CCT06, 22CCT07, 22CCT08) and 2023-301-FA (23CCT01), however, every trip does not contain all data types. This data release also contains data for 2020-323-FA (20CCT02) that was collected as a special collection trip for Hurricane Delta. This data was collected before the subtidal sill was installed and is being published with this data release since pre-subtidal sill data was already published. Additional survey and data details are available from the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System (CMGDS) at, https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/. Users can look up USGS FANs in the CMGDS by replacing the FAN in the following url: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/services/activity.php?fan=2022-302-FA. Data from a related NST study in the GNDNERR (Middle Bay and North Rigolets) can be found in Smith and others (2020a). Data collected from before the living shoreline (subtidal sill) installation can be found in Smith and others (2020b). For additional information on data processing and analysis, refer to the accompanying journal publication Smith and others (2025). Please read the full metadata for details on data collection, dataset variables, and data quality. 
    Purpose: Vegetation species and abundance data can provide important information on the health of a marsh. Vegetation surveys were conducted within each NST plot (1 square meter). Within each plot the average vegetation canopy height was measured, a percent cover for each species was estimated, and a sub-sampled stem count of each species from 1/16th of a meter of the plot was collected.
    Supplemental_Information: Data was collected through three field visits. Each field visit was assigned a field activity number (FAN) and alternate FAN (alt-FAN) by the U.S Geological Survey (USGS). Vegetation data was only collected during field activities from: 1) 2021-320-FA (21CCT01, August 2021), 2) 2022-302-FA (22CCT03, May 2022 and 22CCT08, December 2022).
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 20210818
        Ending_Date: 20221219
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.4474
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.4435
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.3370
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.3337
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
      Theme_Keyword: USGS:a2f750c2-dfa7-4abc-8705-10afb650154e
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
      Theme_Keyword: environment
      Theme_Keyword: oceans
      Theme_Keyword: geoscientificinformation
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
      Theme_Keyword: unconsolidated deposits
      Theme_Keyword: geology
      Theme_Keyword: geomorphology
      Theme_Keyword: coastal processes
      Theme_Keyword: wetland ecosystems
      Theme_Keyword: plot sampling
      Theme_Keyword: land use and land cover
      Theme_Keyword: vegetation
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: sediment
      Theme_Keyword: net sedimentation tile
      Theme_Keyword: NST
      Theme_Keyword: sediment plate
      Theme_Keyword: physical parameters
      Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey
      Theme_Keyword: USGS
      Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey - St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
      Theme_Keyword: SPCMSC
      Theme_Keyword: deposition
      Theme_Keyword: marsh
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Place_Keyword: Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
      Place_Keyword: NERR
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System
      Place_Keyword: State of Mississippi
      Place_Keyword: Point Aux Chenes
    Stratum:
      Stratum_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Stratum_Keyword: sediment
      Stratum_Keyword: surface
  Access_Constraints: No access constraints. Please see 'Distribution Information' for details. 
  Use_Constraints: These data are marked with a Creative Common CC0 1.0 Universal License. These data are in the public domain and do not have any use constraints. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
        Contact_Person: Joseph F. Terrano
      Contact_Position: Physical Scientist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: Mailing
        Address: 600 4th Street South
        City: St. Petersburg
        State_or_Province: FL
        Postal_Code: 33701
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-502-8047
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-502-8182
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jterrano@usgs.gov
  Data_Set_Credit: The authors would like to acknowledge the GNDNERR staff for their contributions in collecting and reviewing this data.
  Native_Data_Set_Environment: Environment as of Metadata Creation: Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise Version 22H2 (Build 19045.3324, Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0); Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2302, Build 16.0.16130.20806, 32-bit)
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith
      Originator: Joseph F. Terrano
      Originator: Nicole S. Khan
      Originator: Chelsea A. Stalk
      Publication_Date: 20200226
      Title: Shore Proximal Sediment Deposition, Elevation, Turbidity, and Water Level Data for Four Sites in the Coastal Marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2016 Through October 2017
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: St. Petersburg, Florida
        Publisher: United States Geological Survey
      Other_Citation_Details: Smith and others (2020a)
      Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9BFR2US
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith
      Originator: Joseph F. Terrano
      Originator: Jonathan Pitchford
      Originator: Michael Brochard
      Originator: Joseph M. Vargas
      Originator: Isabelle D. Atchia
      Originator: Cheyenne S. Everhart
      Originator: Christopher G. Smith
      Publication_Date: 20200713
      Title: Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020
      Edition: 2.0 (June 2023)
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: St. Petersburg, Florida
        Publisher: United States Geological Survey-St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
      Other_Citation_Details: Smith and others (2020a)
      Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ONI8PS
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Kenneth Moore
      Publication_Date: 20091201
      Title: NERRS SWMP Bio- Monitoring Protocol: Long-term Monitoring of Estuarine Submersed and Emergent Vegetation Communities
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Gloucester Point, Virginia
        Publisher: Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve System in Virginia
      Online_Linkage: https://coast.noaa.gov/data/docs/nerrs/Research_TechSeries_TechReportSWMPBio-MonitoringProtocol.pdf
  Cross_Reference:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith
      Originator: Jonathan L. Pitchford
      Originator: Eric L. Sparks
      Originator: Michael J. Archer
      Originator: Matthew F. Virden
      Originator: Joseph F. Terrano
      Originator: Christopher G. Smith
      Publication_Date: 20250612
      Title: Evaluating the influence of constructed subtidal reefs on marsh shoreline erosion, sediment deposition, and wave energy 
      Series_Information:
        Series_Name: Estuaries and Coasts 
        Issue_Identification: Volume 48, Article 128
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Online
        Publisher: Springer Nature
      Other_Citation_Details: Smith and others (2025)
      Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-025-01564-7
Data_Quality_Information:
  Attribute_Accuracy:
    Attribute_Accuracy_Report: Vegetation data was collected by the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and provided to the USGS as a comma separated value (CSV) file. Elevation, positional information, and positional accuracy can be found in the "GB_Elevation_Data_2020_2023" folder of this data release. 
  Logical_Consistency_Report: The data included in this data file are related to: FAN, alternate FAN, site, plot distance, plot canopy height, vegetation species, percent cover, and stem counts. Additional attribute information and definitions are provided below. Comparisons with other datasets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies in data collection methods.
  Completeness_Report: This is a complete, vegetation survey data file for data collected within the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi from August 2021 to December 2022. Canopy height is considered the average of all vegetation species for the plot, thus only one value is presented per plot, and all remaining cells are intentionally left blank. Stem counts with blank cells denote no stems of that species were counted in the subsampled plot, however, that vegetation type is present in the overall plot.
  Lineage:
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Five previously established study sites (Sites 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) containing net sedimentation tiles (NST) within the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi were used to collect vegetation data. NST plots (a 1 square meter plot) were located at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m inland and perpendicular to the shoreline. Vegetation surveys were conducted by Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve staff in 21CCT01 (August 2021), 22CCT03 (May 2022), and 22CCT08 (December 2022) using NERR system wide monitoring protocols (Moore, 2009). First, a 1 square meter quadrat was placed on the corner PVC markers of the plot to ensure the quadrat covered the study area. To collect percent cover, the observer looked at the whole plot, then visualized that all of one species were gathered together and pushed to once side of the quadrat (if it appears that three-quarters of the quadrat is covered, then the percent cover for that species is 75%). This was repeated for each of the vegetation species, making sure that the overall sum of percent cover with species was not greater than 100%. To collect canopy height, a pole marked at 25-centimeter (cm) intervals was used to estimate the average height (in meters) of the vegetation within the plot. To collect stem densities, the quadrat was marked at 1/16th of a meter in the upper right corner. Within the smaller quadrat area, the number of stems for each species were counted. The field sheet data for each field activity was compiled and transferred to a CSV file for inclusion in this data release.
      Process_Date: 2023
      Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: Grand_Bay_Vegetation_2021_2022.csv
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Organization_Primary:
            Contact_Organization: Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
            Contact_Person: Jonathan Pitchford
          Contact_Position: Stewardship Coordinator
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: Mailing and physical
            Address: 6005 Bayou Heron Road
            City: Moss Point
            State_or_Province: MS
            Postal_Code: 39562
            Country: U.S.
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: (228) 523-4009
          Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jonathan.pitchford@dmr.ms.gov
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: Grand_Bay_Vegetation_2021_2022.csv
      Entity_Type_Definition: Vegetation data collected from NST plots located in the marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, from August 2021, May 2022, and December 2022. Blanks indicate no data.
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USGS
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: FAN
      Attribute_Definition: USGS field activity number (FAN) assigned to each sample collection trip.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Field activity numbers were assigned by the USGS to track field collection of samples. The FAN consists of YYYY-XXX-FA, with YYYY being the 4-digit year, XXX being the trip number, and FA representing that it is a field activity.
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Alt_FAN
      Attribute_Definition: Alternate (abbreviated) FAN assigned each collection trip.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: FANs were assigned by the USGS and are YYCCTXX, where YY is the 2-digit year, CCT stands for coastal change and transport (a USGS project identifier), and XX is the trip number.
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Site
      Attribute_Definition: Site number.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 5
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 9
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Plot distance (meters)
      Attribute_Definition: Distance inland to the NST plot from the shoreline.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 5
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 25
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters (m)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Plot canopy* height (meters)
      Attribute_Definition: *Canopy height is an average of all vegetation species for the plot. Only one value is presented per plot.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.10
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1.25
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters (m)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Vegetation species
      Attribute_Definition: Scientific name (genus and species) of the vegetation in the vegetation plot.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Scientific name (genus and species) of the vegetation. Unknown was used if the species could not be identified. Some plots have multiple unknown species. 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Percent cover (%)
      Attribute_Definition: Percent of the plot that was covered by each species. Combined percent of all species cannot exceed 100 percent. The difference between 100 percent and the sum of all species within the plot represents unvegetated area.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: <5
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 70
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: percent (%)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Stem count^
      Attribute_Definition: ^Stem count sub samples were collected from a marked area on the quadrat (at 1/16 of a meter) from the top right corner of each plot. Stem counts with blank cells denote no stems of that species were counted in the sub sampled plot however that vegetation type is present in the overall plot.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 35
Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
        Contact_Person: USGS SPCMSC Data Management
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical
        Address: 600 4th Street South
        City: Saint Petersburg
        State_or_Province: FL
        Postal_Code: 33701
        Country: United States
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-502-8000
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-g-spcmsc_data_inquiries@usgs.gov
  Resource_Description: GB_Vegetation_Data_2021_2022.csv
  Distribution_Liability: Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name: Comma-delimited text
      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Online_Option:
          Computer_Contact_Information:
            Network_Address:
              Network_Resource_Name: https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/data-release/doi-P13VT3ET/GB_Vegetation_Data_2021_2022.zip
    Fees: None
Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20250618
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
        Contact_Person: USGS SPCMSC Data Management
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical
        Address: 600 4th Street South
        City: Saint Petersburg
        State_or_Province: FL
        Postal_Code: 33701
        Country: United States
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-502-8000
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-g-spcmsc_data_inquiries@usgs.gov
  Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
