Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Coon Island Marsh

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Coon Island marsh is located along the Napa River and covers 99 hectares. We surveyed 799 elevation points and 364 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores were used as input for the WARMER sea-level rise response model. WARMER projects that by 2070 Coon Island marsh will be dominated by low marsh vegetation and will transition into mudflat habitat by 2090.

COON ISLAND MARSH

The elevation histogram for Coon Island Marsh shows the marsh platform is below MHW on average (Fig. 1). Data from the vegetation surveys indicate relatively high species richness (Fig. 2). Results from WARMER response model indicate that Coon Island will lose relative elevation as sea levels rise (Fig. 3). The marsh platform at Coon Island Marsh is projected to transition to low marsh habitat by 2070 and be below mean sea level by 2090 (Fig. 4). The percent of time Coon Island Marsh is inundated varies throughout the year by season, with the most inundation during the winter (Fig. 5). (Public domain.)

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

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December 31, 2009

Sea-level Rise Scenario for San Francisco Bay Estuary - Coon Island

How will sea level rise impact coastal ecosystems like salt marshes? Will plant species change and shift available habitat for local wildlife? Or will the marsh be completely inundated? USGS scientists are conducting extensive elevation and habitat surveys along the U.S. Pacific Coast, and using the data to model sea level rise impact for the next 100 years. This research

Attribution: Land Resources, Western Ecological Research Center

Coon Island Marsh

Science Center Objects

Map of elevation sampling point locations at Coon Island Marsh

Map of the derived elevation data at Coon Island Marsh

Map of the derived elevation data at Coon Island Marsh with 2 cm contour lines

Sea-level Rise Scenario for San Francisco Bay Estuary - Coon Island