Media

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Barrier island systems often exhibit natural spatial variability which can be altered or enhanced by human actions. To predict barrier system resiliency to storms and sea-level rise, quantifying the volume of available sediment and understanding the controls on sediment volume are important, since the availability of shelf sediment may affect shoreline erosion and long-term coastal behavior. For this report, geophysical data were used to quantify the volume of sediment in the active shoreface offshore of the Rockaway Peninsula in New York, which withstood extensive damage following Hurricane Sandy (2012). Since the peninsula has been heavily modified by nourishment, groins, and jetties, the report explores how geologic and engineered features control shoreface sediment volume. These data will support an evaluation of coastal restoration effectiveness by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Further, these results help inform coastal managers about the current and future state of the Rockaway Peninsula so they can make decisions regarding coastal resilience and sediment management.