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Beaches dominate much of Puget Sound’s shoreline. They are characterized by the active transport of sediment by wave action. They can be divided into those associated with coastal bluffs, where the coastline has retreated landward, and those associated with barrier beaches, where sediment has been deposited seaward of the original coastline. Barriers are numerous and include spits, tombolos, cuspate forelands and a variety of other forms. Most Puget Sound beaches (other than the pocket beaches along rocky coasts) exhibit net longshore transport of sediment and the development of discrete littoral drift cells, within which sources and sinks for sediment and a direction of net transport can be defined. (from Shipman 2008)
Beaches are organized into sites based on the extent littoral drift cells. The 2500 miles of Puget Sound shoreline has been divided into 744 distinct littoral cells where the presence of bluff-backed beach indicates the likely presence of sediment input and transport along retreating coastal bluffs (Cereghino et al 2012).
Littoral drift cells are units of beach that include a source of sediment, conveyance of sediment along the shoreline, and a sink for sediment, either at a convergence zone where two drift cells merge, or offshore below the depth of wave action. Shipman 2008 differentiates between beach systems with littoral drift, and pocket beaches where sediment is relatively contained.
Notes[edit]
- 2023 - WDFW has published a Beach Strategies Data Hub.
- Shoreline Monitoring Database is standardizing protocols and engaging community in monitoring beaches. They observed that landslides on beaches provide connectivity between uplands and beaches for wildlife.
- A variety of Nearshore Salmon Recovery Planning efforts have considered salmon use of beaches.
- The ShoreZone Geodatabase provides a range of information about beach conditions beyond that provided by the PSNERP geodatabase including biological data.
- George Kaminsky at Washington State Department of Ecology is completing innovative boat-based LIDAR mapping of Salish Sea shorelines as part of a Mapping Bluff and Beach Change effort. Repeat surveys allow for Quantifying Sediment Supply from bluffs. As part of another project, the lidar data are being used to Evaluate Puget Sound Bluffs and Beaches for Restoration.
- The US Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over beach modification, and regulates construction below ordinary high water in Puget Sound. NOAA has recommended regulation from Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT).
- The Shoreline Master Program managed by WDOE requires jurisdictions to develop shoreline management plans that include protection and restoration strategies, and mandates "no net loss of shoreline ecological functions".
- There are limited data to describe natural rates of bluff erosion, and the relationship between sediment supply and beach structure. The Measuring Coastal Bluff Recession Rates Throughout the Puget Sound Region effort by Coastal Geologic Services uses the aerial photograph record to estimate beach recession rate.
- Megan Dethier is noteworthy as a long time regional research scientist that has been studying Effects of bulkhead removal on beaches and their biota and Dethier 1990 remains a seminal work in linking beach structure to biotic communities, and is used in the ShoreZone Geodatabase.
- The ESRP program provides grants for beach protection and restoration.
- Marine Resource Committees provide a unique advisory function on coastal issues to Northern Puget Sound Counties, with support from the Northwest Straits Commission.
Beach Topics[edit]
The following pages summarize topics associated with beaches. A topic page encompasses a body of knowledge and referenced several efforts and documents.
Other Beach topics:
- Alternative Shoreline Armoring
- Beach ecosystem assessment
- Beach Food Webs and Biodiversity
- Beach Forage Fish Spawning
- Beach Nourishment
- Beach Sediment Dynamics
- Beach Shellfish Production
- Beach social dynamics
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Grade
- Eelgrass
- Eelgrass Restoration
- Feeder Bluffs
- Managed Retreat
- Nearshore Monitoring Strategy
- Nearshore Salmon Recovery Planning
- Non-natal Nearshore Rearing of Salmon
- Olympia Oyster Restoration
- Pacific Herring
Beach Sites and Places[edit]
The following sites are in beaches:
Beach Products[edit]
The following Product pages are categorized with Beach.