University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping 2010 Marine Benthic Habitat Mapping of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska With an Evaluation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard III Luke D. Mitchell Northern Illinois University Guy R. Cochrane Lisa Etherington Ross D. Powell Northern Illinois University Larry A. Mayer University of New Hampshire, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/ccom Part of the Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Recommended Citation Trusel, Luke D., Cochrane, Guy R., Etherington, Lisa L. Powell, Ross D., and Mayer, Larry A., 2010, Marine benthic habitat mapping of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, with an evaluation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard III: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3122, 4 sheets, various scales, 1 pamphlet, 26 p. This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Prepared for the National Park Service Marine Benthic Habitat Mapping of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska With an Evaluation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard III By Luke D. Trusel, Guy R. Cochrane, Lisa L. Etherington, Ross D. Powell, and Larry A. Mayer Perspective view of bathymetry and topography of Muir Inlet looking north from Glacier Bay. Pamphlet to accompany Scientific Investigations Map 3122 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Contents Abstract........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Setting ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Geology ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Temperate Glaciomarine Environment.................................................................................................................... 3 Oceanography ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Previous Habitat Mapping in Glacier Bay.................................................................................................................... 4 Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard .............................................................................................. 4 Data Sources .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Multibeam Sonar ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Ground Truth ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Historical Bathymetric Data ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Methodology.................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Benthic Cover Component .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Geoform Component................................................................................................................................................. 11 Water Column Component........................................................................................................................................ 11 Sediment Accumulation............................................................................................................................................. 12 Results and Discussion................................................................................................................................................. 13 Benthic Cover Component ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Geoform Component................................................................................................................................................. 14 Water Column Component........................................................................................................................................ 15 Sediment Accumulation............................................................................................................................................. 16 Benthic Habitats ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 Discussion of the use of CMECS in Muir Inlet .............................................................................................................. 20 Comments on CMECS .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Comments on the Benthic Cover Component........................................................................................................... 20 Comments on the Water Column Component........................................................................................................... 21 Comments on the GFC Component.......................................................................................................................... 22 Comments on Modifiers and Attributes ..................................................................................................................... 22 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Management Implications ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................................................... 23 References Cited .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Figures Figure 1. Location maps for Muir Inlet relative to (A) Alaska and (B) Glacier Bay. ...............................................2 Figure 2. Map of multibeam backscatter intensity for Muir Inlet. ...........................................................................6 Figure 3. Map of CMECS rugosity classes for Muir Inlet.......................................................................................7 Figure 4. Map of CMECS slope classes for Muir Inlet...........................................................................................8 Figure 5. Perspective view of backscatter draped on bathymetry showing subaerial and submarine bedrock and apparent boulder talus (red outline) at base of slope.................................................................................................10 Figure 7. Maps showing (A) upper and (B) bottom water column CMECS habitats in Glacier Bay area............17 Figure 8. Map showing average annual sediment accumulation rates for 1972 – 2004. ....................................18 ii Tables 1. CMECS slope classes surveyed within Muir Inlet...........................................................................................9 2. CMECS rugosity classes surveyed within Muir Inlet.......................................................................................9 3. CMECS benthic depth zones surveyed within Muir Inlet. .............................................................................11 4. Substrate distribution for Muir Inlet. ..............................................................................................................13 5. Substrate distribution by depth zone for Muir Inlet........................................................................................14 6. Major GFC distribution for Muir Inlet.............................................................................................................15 7. Major GFC distribution by depth zone for Muir Inlet. ....................................................................................15 iii Marine Benthic Habitat Mapping of Muir