Monitoring and Evaluation of Restoration and Resilience: Dune-Beach Geomorphology, Jamaica Bay Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area
Michael P. De Luca, Norbert P. Psuty, Joshua Greenberg, Rutgers University
Shorelines and their associated dune systems are in a state of flux. This dynamic condition affects many aspects of the ecological systems in coastal zones.The magnitude, rate, and location of shoreline changes have significant implications for the strength and value of coastal infrastructure and ecosystem services, among other things. Therefore, knowledge about past and present shoreline change is a fundamental dimension of decision-making for managing system resiliency in coastal parks and communities such as Jamaica Bay.
There is an increased demand for gathering of shoreline position with high accuracy on some programmed repetitive basis that can be shared with managers. That is, there is a need to identify the spatial trends of the dune-beach system on a short-term and long-term temporal basis, not just the impacts of particular storms.
This project takes advantage of the latest technologies to develop a revised protocol for collecting geomorphological change data using geodetic GPS to develop 1D, 2D, and 3D models of the coastal system. This will create a uniquely precise and accurate measure of shoreline position and topography. Tracking the morphological trajectory of the shoreline in multiple dimensions will assist resource managers in many ways, including helping evaluate ‘hot spots’ for exercising sediment management practices or assisting in the evaluation of recovery practices (restoration).
Funding: Department of Interior, National Park Service
Project Period: November 2014 – October 2016
