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Assateague Island National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report

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Assateague Island National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report National Park Service US Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Assateague Island National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2013/708 ON THE COVER The character and locations of Assateague Island National Seashore habitats are controlled by geomorphology and framework geology. Photograph courtesy Assateague Island National Seashore. THIS PAGE The geologic history of Assateague Island National Seashore geomorphology can be read in its varied landscape. Photograph by Jane Thomas, Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (http://ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/). Assateague Island National Seashore Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2013/708 National Park Service Geologic Resources Division PO Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225 September 2013 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 These reports are 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/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Schupp, C. 2013. Assateague Island National Seashore: geologic resources inventory report. Natural resource report NPS/NRSS/GRD/NRR—2013/708. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 622/122312, August 2013 ii NPS Geologic Resources Division Contents Lists of Figures and Tables ........................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... viii Credits ....................................................................................................................................................................... viii Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Geologic Resources Inventory Program ......................................................................................................................... 1 Park Setting ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Geologic Setting .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Geologic Issues ............................................................................................................ 11 Storm Impacts ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Coastal Vulnerability and Sea-Level Rise...................................................................................................................... 12 Inlet Impacts on Sediment Transport Processes ........................................................................................................... 18 Benthic Habitats ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 Landscape and Shoreline Evolution ............................................................................................................................ 24 Recreation and Watershed Land Use .......................................................................................................................... 26 Disturbed Lands ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Archeological Resources............................................................................................................................................. 30 Paleontological Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Seismicity ................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Geologic Features and Processes ................................................................................ 33 Wave and Current Activity ......................................................................................................................................... 33 Wind Activity ............................................................................................................................................................. 34 Tidal Activity .............................................................................................................................................................. 34 Sediment Transport Processes .................................................................................................................................... 35 Barrier Island System Units ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Geologic History .......................................................................................................... 45 Mesozoic Era (248 to 65.5 Million Years Ago): Freeing Mountain Sediments to Nourish Beaches ................................ 45 Cenozoic Era (the Past 65.5 Million Years): Isostatic Adjustment ................................................................................. 45 Geologic Map Data ...................................................................................................... 49 Geologic Maps .......................................................................................................................................................... 49 Source Maps .............................................................................................................................................................. 49 Geologic GIS Data ..................................................................................................................................................... 49 Geologic Map Graphic ............................................................................................................................................... 50 Map Unit Properties Table .......................................................................................................................................... 50 Use Constraints .......................................................................................................................................................... 50 Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 51 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................ 55 Additional References ................................................................................................. 67 Appendix A: Scoping Meeting Participants ............................................................... 68 Appendix B: Geologic Resource Laws, Regulations, and Policies ............................. 69 GRI Digital Products CD .................................................................................... attached Geologic Map Graphic ...................................................................................... in pocket Map Unit Properties Table ..............................................................................
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