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Colma Marsh

By Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) October 30, 2017

Colma marsh is located on the western side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 25 hectares. We surveyed 537 elevation points to determine baseline conditions of the marsh; no vegetation surveys were conducted. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores near Laumeister marsh were extrapolated to Colma marsh and used as input for the WARMER sea-level rise response model. WARMER projects that by 2040 Colma marsh will be dominated by mid marsh vegetation and will transition into low marsh habitat by 2100.

COLMA MARSH

WERC Colma study area
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(Public domain.)
WERC Colma marsh figures
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The elevation histogram for Colma Marsh shows the marsh platform is below MHW on average (Fig. 1). The percent of time Colma Marsh is inundated varies throughout the year by season, with the most inundation during the winter (Fig. 2). Results from WARMER response model indicate that Colma will lose relative elevation as sea levels rise (Fig. 3). The marsh platform at Colma Marsh is projected to transition to low marsh habitat by 2040 and be below mean sea level by 2100 (Fig. 4). (Public domain.)
WERC Colma WARMER results
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
(Public domain.)

To download the Colma PDF Summary Report (Colma appendix from USGS Open-File Report Final report for sea-level rise response modeling for San Francisco Bay estuary tidal marshes):

File icon Colma Summary Report

 

Colma marsh is located on the western side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 25 hectares. We surveyed 537 elevation points to determine baseline conditions of the marsh; no vegetation surveys were conducted. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores near Laumeister marsh were extrapolated to Colma marsh and used as input for the WARMER sea-level rise response model. WARMER projects that by 2040 Colma marsh will be dominated by mid marsh vegetation and will transition into low marsh habitat by 2100.

COLMA MARSH

WERC Colma study area
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
(Public domain.)
WERC Colma marsh figures
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
The elevation histogram for Colma Marsh shows the marsh platform is below MHW on average (Fig. 1). The percent of time Colma Marsh is inundated varies throughout the year by season, with the most inundation during the winter (Fig. 2). Results from WARMER response model indicate that Colma will lose relative elevation as sea levels rise (Fig. 3). The marsh platform at Colma Marsh is projected to transition to low marsh habitat by 2040 and be below mean sea level by 2100 (Fig. 4). (Public domain.)
WERC Colma WARMER results
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
(Public domain.)

To download the Colma PDF Summary Report (Colma appendix from USGS Open-File Report Final report for sea-level rise response modeling for San Francisco Bay estuary tidal marshes):

File icon Colma Summary Report

 

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