Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve Geologic Resources
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/451 ON THE COVERS Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve is the first such unit of the National Park System. It encompasses a rural working landscape and community on Whidbey Island, Washington State. Photographs by Emi Gunn, courtesy Lys Opp- Beckman (Ebey’s Landing NHR). Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/451 National Park Service Geologic Resources Division PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 September 2011 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. Printed copies of this report are produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is available from the Geologic Resources Inventory website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/gre_publications.cfm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). Please cite this publication as: Graham, J. 2011. Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve: geologic resources inventory report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2011/451. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 484/110343, September 2011 ii NPS Geologic Resources Division Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................ iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... vi Credits ........................................................................................................................................................................ vi Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Geologic Resources Inventory ............................................................................................................... 1 Significance of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve ............................................................................................ 1 Regional Description .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Geologic Setting .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Cultural History ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Geologic Issues .............................................................................................................. 9 Shoreline Erosion and Bluff Retreat .............................................................................................................................. 9 Groundwater Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Seismic (Earthquake) Potential .................................................................................................................................... 10 Glacier Peak Eruptive Potential ................................................................................................................................... 11 Climate Change ......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Other Issues ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 Geologic Features and Processes ................................................................................ 17 Glacial Features and Processes.................................................................................................................................... 17 Post-glacial Features and Processes ............................................................................................................................. 20 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 20 Landscape Character Areas ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Geologic History .......................................................................................................... 29 Geologic Map Data ...................................................................................................... 35 Geologic Maps ........................................................................................................................................................... 35 Source Maps .............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Geologic GIS Data ...................................................................................................................................................... 35 Geologic Map Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Use Constraints .......................................................................................................................................................... 36 Geologic Map Overview Graphic ................................................................................ 37 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................... 39 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 45 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................ 49 Additional References ................................................................................................. 53 Geology of National Park Service Areas ...................................................................................................................... 53 Resource Management/Legislation Documents ........................................................................................................... 53 Geological Survey and Society Websites ..................................................................................................................... 53 Other Geology/Resource Management Tools .............................................................................................................. 53 Appendix: Scoping Session Participants .................................................................... 54 Attachment 1: Geologic Resources Inventory Products CD EBLA Geologic Resources Inventory Report iii List of Figures Figure 1. Location map of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. ........................................................................... 4 Figure 2. Whidbey Island map ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 3. Whidbey Island bluffs. ..................................................................................................................................