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Quantifying Seasonal & Historical Shoreline Change on Santa Rosa

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Quantifying Seasonal & Historical Shoreline Change on Santa Rosa Quantifying Seasonal & Historical Shoreline Change on Santa Rosa Island, CA An Environmental Science and Resource Management Capstone Project by Stephen Bednar Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an Environmental Science and Resource Management Bachelors of Science degree from California State University Channel Islands. May 12, 2015 Quantifying Seasonal & Historical Shoreline Change on Santa Rosa Island Bednar Abstract Eminent sea level rise, and historical management of Santa Rosa Island, CA have likely caused a change in the shoreline position of the islands sandy beaches (Stocker et al. 2013). Using ArcGIS and USGS’s Digital Shoreline Analysis System I analyzed net, and annual rates of change from 1929-2015 using a compilation of historical aerial images, and GPS surveys. Seasonal analysis spanned from November 2014 to March 2015 and indicated 79% of shorelines surveyed accreted at a mean rate of 15.17m ± 8.13. 18% of shorelines eroded at a mean rate of -7.06 ± -5.20 over that period. Historical shoreline positions were drastically different from 1929 to 2015. 29% of shorelines accreted at a mean rate of 30.64 ± 29.67 while 71% of shorelines eroded at a mean rate of -26.05 ± 20.69. Shoreline analysis, incorporating aerial imagery while noisy due to many uncertainties, provides a best case management scenario for resource managers. I. Introduction Background Sandy beaches play an important role in society and also provide significant zones of ecological biodiversity (McLachlan and Brown 2006a). They also provide important roles in recreation for humans, as well as ecological functions such as nutrient cycling and buffer zones that protect human development and adjacent onshore ecosystems (McLachlan and Brown 2006a). Coastal ecosystems provide economic benefits and recreational benefits for humans, and it is paramount we understand how to manage Figure 1. A typical sandy beach depicting nearshore, surf, intertidal, backshore, and foredune zones. these manage these assets especially as coastal climates shift, and sea level rise. Given Santa Rosa’s management history, and the imminent threat of sea level rise, shorelines on the Island have likely changed. The following sections will introduce; the values of sandy beaches and challenges facing them, Channel Islands National Park (Santa Rosa Island) and it’s beaches, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) role in analyzing historical and seasonal changes on the beaches of Santa Rosa Island. 2 1. Sandy Beaches Sandy beaches are held in high regard by society and are the most heavily used type of shoreline worldwide (Schlacher et al. 2007). Humans have used sandy beach ecosystems for at least 110,000 years as sources of food and other commodities (Nel et al. 2014). The coastlines of the world provide kilometers upon kilometers of sandy beach which play a dynamic role in human recreation and economy because Ecological Functions of Beaches beaches are large tourist draws (Houston 2008). They also play an important role in • Sediment storage and transport ecological functions like nutrient cycling • Wave dissipation and associated buffering and their role as buffers to coastal inundation (McLachlan and Brown against extreme events (storms, tsunamis) 2006a). The key resources that sandy • Dynamic response to sea-level rise (within beaches provide are currently under limits) threat from global climate change (sea • Breakdown of organic materials and level rise), and anthropogenic pressure pollutants facing them is imperative in making • Water filtration and purification informed management decisions. The following section will outline key features • Nutrient mineralization and recycling surrounding sandy beaches that include; • Water storage in dune aquifers and 1. Physical Qualities & Ecology, 2. groundwater discharge through beaches Recreation & Economy, and 3. Threats & • Maintenance of biodiversity and genetic Restoration. resources • Nursery areas for juvenile fish 1.1 Physical Qualities & Ecology The sandy beach ecosystems are • Nesting site for turtles and shorebirds, and defined by a rapidly shifting environment rookeries for pinnipeds shaped by the wind and waves. The • Prey resources for birds and terrestrial physical structure of sandy beach can be wildlife narrow and steep (reflective), to broad • Scenic vistas and recreational opportunities and flat (dissipative) and are characterized by their sand, waves, and • Bait and food organisms tide regimes (Schlacher et al. 2007). The • Functional links between terrestrial and sediment of sandy beaches can be marine environments in the coastal zone composed of many different grain sizes from any sources of sediments from (Defeo et al. 2009) different points in geologic history (McLachlan and Brown 2006c). On most beaches, the grain size ranges from .1 to Figure 2. The many ecological benefits of sandy shores 1.0mm and fall into two mineral categories (quartz and calcium carbonate) and are the product of weathered rocks (McLachlan and Brown 2006b). The sand is a porous substrate that allows for large volumes of seawater to be filtered along beaches (Schlacher et al. 2008). These grains are transported either as bed load or as suspended load that can move longshore, and also on-offshore (McLachlan and Brown 2006b). During storm events beaches tend to 3 Quantifying Seasonal & Historical Shoreline Change on Santa Rosa Island Bednar be eroded and flattened as sediment is moved offshore (erosion) and during calmer periods sand is moved back onshore (accretion) (McLachlan and Brown 2006b). The movement of sand is a result of many complex interactions between the slope of the beach, waves, and tides that occur in six microtidal (wave-dominated) sandy beach types (McLachlan and Brown 2006b). The two extremes are reflective and dissipative. Reflective beaches sediment is stored in the intertidal zone and the backshore, while dissipative beaches are eroded, and the sediment is stored in sandbanks offshore in the broad surf zone ( Figure 1) (McLachlan and Brown 2006b). There are also intermediate forms that fall in between these two extreme forms of sandy beaches. The processes that form a beach’s makeup are highly complicated and are a result of many complex morphological mechanisms working together. The physical qualities of sandy beaches lend themselves to critical ecological function ( Figure 2). Beaches to most are not thought of as hot spots for diversity. However, these area house a plethora of species beneath the sand. The sediment of the intertidal zone is home to small organism (bacteria, protozoans and small metazoans)m as well as larger invertebrates (polychaete worms, clams, whelks, and crustaceans). These organisms have shown adaptions in mobility, burrowing ability, and a flexibility in coping with conditions that change rapidly (Schlacher et al. 2008). Beaches also provide nursery grounds for fish species that are important for local commercial fisheries and supporting fish stocks (Schlacher et al. 2007). The beach also plays an important role in marine ecosystems and land-based ecosystems. The sandy beach ecosystem relies on marine sources such as drift algae, plants, and carrion that supply food to crustaceans, insects, and higher invertebrates like birds (Schlacher et al. 2008). Beaches have a direct link with other surrounding ecosystems like that of the surf zone, and coastal dunes that are affected physically as well as biologically (Schlacher et al. 2008). The productivity of beaches seem miniscule in relationship to other ecosystems, but in reality they play a vital role between in the connection between land and sea. 1.2 Recreation & Economy Sandy beaches do more than provide ecological value; they are also hubs of society that provide esthetic values as well as recreational. Understanding that 75% of the world’s population will live within 60km of the coast in the near future helps to realize beaches immense value (Amyot and Grant 2014). In a study by (Ghermandi and Nunes 2013), sandy beaches were valued the highest and visited the most frequently worldwide. As travel and tourism become dominant forces in economies throughout the world beaches are increasingly becoming the target tourist destinations (Houston 2008). Travel and tourism are the United States as well as the world’s leading employers, and beaches are a heavily targeted destination (Houston 2008). Beaches in California alone provide 322 billion dollars annually to the economy (Houston 2008). Understanding that these resources provide important sources of ecological diversity, as well as their importance economically help to realize how important these sandy beach communities are to society. 1.3 Threats & Management 4 The threats to sandy beach shorelines range from localized effects (source pollution), to global impacts (climate change), which impact every beach on every shoreline across the globe (Defeo et al. 2009). Understanding the anthropogenic pressures shorelines face is paramount in managing future changes to sandy beach ecosystems. Since beaches are playgrounds for society, management efforts have been geared towards elevating the recreational experience. These efforts include use ecologically harmful practices like beach grooming, beach nourishment, and coastal armoring (Defeo et al. 2009), however these management strategies are not used on Santa Rosa Island. Climate change is, however, an anthropogenic pressure that is affecting its shorelines. According to (Stocker et al. 2013), it is certain that over the past
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