Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Wetlands and Estuaries
Coastal wetlands and estuaries connect lands and watersheds to the ocean. They are biologically and physically dynamic and are among the most productive and valuable ecosystems in the world. Many different types of USGS scientists work together to increase our understanding of these ecosystems under past, present and future conditions, and how human activities influence them.
What is a coastal wetland?
Coastal wetlands are transitional areas between dry land and open water that are either permanently or seasonally inundated with fresh, brackish, or salt water. They contain a range of plant and animal species that are uniquely adapted to the wet soil conditions, the type of water present, and the degree of inundation.
Types of coastal wetlands include salt marshes, freshwater marshes, seagrass meadows, mangrove swamps, and forested swamps.
What is an estuary?
Estuaries are created where watersheds meet the ocean, bringing land-based waters and salt water from the ocean together. A dynamic ecosystem is created where river flows meet ocean tides. These regions offer food sources and shelter for many different species, including humans.
Estuaries also face a variety of issues that alter their productivity as an ecosystem—many related to the watershed that supplies water from the mainland, including:
Why are coastal wetlands and estuaries important?
Some of America’s largest cities and communities are located along wetlands and estuaries, such as New York-New Jersey Harbor, Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Biscayne Bay, Puget Sound, Tampa Bay, and many others. Coastal wetlands and estuaries provide numerous critical benefits and services to society—these are known as ecosystem services. Specifically, they:
-
Protect coastal communities from storms and flooding
-
Help prevent erosion
-
Provide essential food, refuge, and nursery habitat for commercially and recreationally important species
-
Improve water quality by filtering runoff and absorbing excess nutrients
-
Decrease the effects of climate change by storing large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
-
Provide recreational opportunities like boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife/bird watching
-
Serve as important areas of commerce, shipping activity, and ocean/port access
USGS Research
Estuaries are the mixing point between land and coasts. The water that flows into them is critical to their high biological productivity. Changes to the quality, quantity, and type of water, sediment, and river flow affect everything from the types of plants and animals that live there, the landscapes that develop, and the ecosystem services provided to coastal communities.
USGS scientists work in and bring expertise in hydrology, water chemistry, ecology, and sediment transport science, to integrate various information that can help forecast, predict, and identify threats or effects of changes. This helps decision-makers and resources managers develop science-based policies that balance sustainable use of these rich coastal ecosystems while maintaining their productivity for the benefit of all.
Storms, sea-level rise, and other elements of climate and coastal change often involve coastal engineering in order to accommodate human needs. These natural systems are highly adaptable. Many plant and animal species can move and grow in response to changing conditions, but some management actions like building coastal defense structures (e.g., seawalls and dikes) and maintaining roads restrict the ability of these coastal ecosystems to adapt or migrate. When estuaries and coastal wetlands are constrained by seawalls or unable to move, they can be inundated, dried out or exposed to too much salt or fresh water. When they are depleted or destroyed, the benefits and services they provide to people and the environment could be diminished or lost. The loss of estuary and wetland health can have far-reaching effects such as reduced fish catch, diminished water quality, algal blooms, and lost habitat and food sources for many migratory species.
The USGS conducts a variety of research on coastal wetlands and estuaries that support management decisions of federal, state, regional, and local partners and help in evaluating the effectiveness of restoring these valuable habitats so that will continue to provide the most benefits to society and ecosystems.
The USGS creates topobathymetric digital elevation models (DEMs) to assist with identifying flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones. These maps also assist with other earth science applications such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. The DEM data are important for a range of applications needed for climate change analysis in sensitive coastal regions. Access the Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) viewer.
Past, Present, and Future Conditions
USGS scientists collect basic observational data on physical processes (e.g., storms and sea-level rise) and human activities (e.g., nutrient loading), develop numerical models of these data, and apply models to understand the past, present, and future states of these ecosystems. Through this work, USGS scientists can assess vulnerability (e.g., UnVegetated-Vegetated marsh Ratio or UVVR), water-quality conditions, and resilience and identify human activities that are preventing wetland migration and causing tidal restriction, impoundments, and other issues causing degradation.
Blue Carbon
Additionally, USGS scientists are working to better understand blue carbon—carbon that is stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a process known as carbon sequestration. Though coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands, may be smaller in size when compared to say, a forest, they can sequester more carbon per unit area, making them an incredible climate change mitigation tool.
USGS scientists are researching how environmental changes and human activities (e.g., land use management) can impact the ability of coastal wetlands and estuaries to sequester carbon and store it in soil and plant materials. These ecosystems are powerful carbon sinks and store carbon that has accumulated over hundreds to thousands of years. However, when coastal ecosystems are degraded or destroyed, their capacity to store carbon is diminished, and the carbon stored there can be released back into the atmosphere. Improved management of coastal wetlands and estuaries, leading to enhanced conservation and restoration, is therefore a crucial climate change mitigation strategy. Ultimately, USGS blue carbon research and science-based tools will help guide decision-making regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation, wetland restoration, coastal resilience, and carbon sequestration and storage.
Publications
CO2 uptake offsets other greenhouse gas emissions from salt marshes with chronic nitrogen loading
Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands
Impoundment increases methane emissions in Phragmites-invaded coastal wetlands
Modeling the dynamics of salt marsh development in coastal land reclamation
How much marsh restoration is enough to deliver wave attenuation coastal protection benefits?
Science
Priority Landscapes: San Francisco Bay-Delta
Sediment Transport in Coastal Environments
Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound
Coastal watershed and estuary restoration in the Monterey Bay area
Columbia River estuary
Multimedia
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Coastal wetland
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
News
A Changing Marsh: The Past, Present, and Future of Grand Bay
As sea levels rise on U.S. coasts, saline wetlands are expected to displace freshwater wetlands, croplands, forests and pastures
Data Collection to Assess Marsh Restoration Success in New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy
CO2 uptake offsets other greenhouse gas emissions from salt marshes with chronic nitrogen loading
Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands
Impoundment increases methane emissions in Phragmites-invaded coastal wetlands
Modeling the dynamics of salt marsh development in coastal land reclamation
How much marsh restoration is enough to deliver wave attenuation coastal protection benefits?
Quantifying slopes as a driver of forest to marsh conversion using geospatial techniques: Application to Chesapeake Bay coastal-plain, USA
Sediment transport in a restored, river-influenced Pacific Northwest estuary
Predicting the success of future investments in coastal and estuarine ecosystem restorations is limited by scarce data quantifying sediment budgets and transport processes of prior restorations. This study provides detailed analyses of the hydrodynamics and sediment fluxes of a recently restored U.S. Pacific Northwest estuary, a 61 ha former agricultural area near the mouth of the Stillaguamish Ri
Simple metrics predict salt-marsh sediment fluxes
Land area changes in coastal Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Land Area Changes in Coastal Louisiana After the 2005 Hurricanes: A Series of Three Maps
Priority Landscapes: San Francisco Bay-Delta
Sediment Transport in Coastal Environments
Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound
Coastal watershed and estuary restoration in the Monterey Bay area
Columbia River estuary
Sediment transport between estuarine habitats in San Francisco Bay
Carbon and Water Budgeting Along Upper Estuaries: Developing Linkages to Environmental Change
Coastal National Elevation Dataset (CoNED) - Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model (TBDEM) Data Dictionary
Wetland Carbon Cycling: Monitoring and Forecasting in a Changing World
Research Vessel David H. Peterson
USGS science supporting the Elwha River Restoration Project
Estuarine and MaRsh Geology Research Project
A Century of Change in Grand Bay, Mississippi and Alabama
The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in southern Mississippi was established to provide recreational and educational opportunities along with facilitating science-based coastal management; therefore, Grand Bay is the subject of numerous short and long-term environmental studies. The reserve is an important location for research and conservation.
Suspended-sediment concentrations and loss-on-ignition from water samples collected in the Herring River during 2018-19 in Wellfleet, MA (ver 1.1, March 2023)
Barnegat Bay, NJ Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
This collection contains estuarine shorelines and rates of change for Barnegat and Great Bay, New Jersey.
Breton Island, LA Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
This collection contains estuarine shorelines and rates of change for Breton Island, Louisiana.
Grand Bay, MS/AL Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
This collection contains estuarine shorelines and rates of change for Grand Bay, Mississippi/Alabama (1848-2017).
Idealized COAWST numerical model for testing marsh wave thrust and lateral retreat dynamics routines
National UVVR Map
This map shows the unvegetated and vegetated area of coastal wetlands and adjacent land (inland and shorelines) for the Conterminous United States computed from 2014-2018 Landsat imagery at ~30 meter horizontal resolution.
COAWST Modeling System v3.4
CoNED Project Viewer
The Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project Viewer is a portal to the topobathymetric models created with the expertise of the expertise of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Coastal wetland
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Sediments in estuarine and marsh environments contain organic peat, or material derived from life, that plays an important role in ecosystem health. Here, USGS geologist Chris Smith of the St.
Sediments in estuarine and marsh environments contain organic peat, or material derived from life, that plays an important role in ecosystem health. Here, USGS geologist Chris Smith of the St.
A succulent and grass-dominated salt marsh ecosystem in San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (Texas). The succulent plants in the foreground of this photo are indicative of dry and hypersaline conditions.
A succulent and grass-dominated salt marsh ecosystem in San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (Texas). The succulent plants in the foreground of this photo are indicative of dry and hypersaline conditions.
Coastal wetland ecosystems in Jamaica Bay, New York, provide important ecosystem services along the highly urbanized Atlantic coast.
Coastal wetland ecosystems in Jamaica Bay, New York, provide important ecosystem services along the highly urbanized Atlantic coast.
Diagram showing the transition from a) tidal freshwater forested wetland (TFFW) to b) tidal fresh water marsh to c) low-salinity marsh to d) saltmarsh with increasing salinity and the movement of carbon in, out, and through this
Diagram showing the transition from a) tidal freshwater forested wetland (TFFW) to b) tidal fresh water marsh to c) low-salinity marsh to d) saltmarsh with increasing salinity and the movement of carbon in, out, and through this
Chesapeake Bay is the Nation's largest estuary and its restoration and protection is a priority. The USGS provides scientific information to help manage this vital ecosystem. As part of that role, staff at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center created this true color composite image.
Chesapeake Bay is the Nation's largest estuary and its restoration and protection is a priority. The USGS provides scientific information to help manage this vital ecosystem. As part of that role, staff at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center created this true color composite image.
A Critical Assessment of Recent Soil Dating Methods in Coastal Wetlands
A Critical Assessment of Recent Soil Dating Methods in Coastal Wetlands
Marsh shoreline inundation during high tide at a marsh sampling site around Middle Bay in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi.
Marsh shoreline inundation during high tide at a marsh sampling site around Middle Bay in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi.
An aerial view of southeast Louisiana coastal marshes.
An aerial view of southeast Louisiana coastal marshes.
Vegetation assessments are part of an effort to produce seamless, consistent, and high resolution landcover data for the northern portion of the western gulf coastal plain. This geography was once dominated by tallgrass prairie and has undergone dramatic change with less than 1% of this natural habitat in existence.
Vegetation assessments are part of an effort to produce seamless, consistent, and high resolution landcover data for the northern portion of the western gulf coastal plain. This geography was once dominated by tallgrass prairie and has undergone dramatic change with less than 1% of this natural habitat in existence.
Coastal wetlands and estuaries connect lands and watersheds to the ocean. They are biologically and physically dynamic and are among the most productive and valuable ecosystems in the world. Many different types of USGS scientists work together to increase our understanding of these ecosystems under past, present and future conditions, and how human activities influence them.
What is a coastal wetland?
Coastal wetlands are transitional areas between dry land and open water that are either permanently or seasonally inundated with fresh, brackish, or salt water. They contain a range of plant and animal species that are uniquely adapted to the wet soil conditions, the type of water present, and the degree of inundation.
Types of coastal wetlands include salt marshes, freshwater marshes, seagrass meadows, mangrove swamps, and forested swamps.
What is an estuary?
Estuaries are created where watersheds meet the ocean, bringing land-based waters and salt water from the ocean together. A dynamic ecosystem is created where river flows meet ocean tides. These regions offer food sources and shelter for many different species, including humans.
Estuaries also face a variety of issues that alter their productivity as an ecosystem—many related to the watershed that supplies water from the mainland, including:
Why are coastal wetlands and estuaries important?
Some of America’s largest cities and communities are located along wetlands and estuaries, such as New York-New Jersey Harbor, Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Biscayne Bay, Puget Sound, Tampa Bay, and many others. Coastal wetlands and estuaries provide numerous critical benefits and services to society—these are known as ecosystem services. Specifically, they:
-
Protect coastal communities from storms and flooding
-
Help prevent erosion
-
Provide essential food, refuge, and nursery habitat for commercially and recreationally important species
-
Improve water quality by filtering runoff and absorbing excess nutrients
-
Decrease the effects of climate change by storing large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
-
Provide recreational opportunities like boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife/bird watching
-
Serve as important areas of commerce, shipping activity, and ocean/port access
USGS Research
Estuaries are the mixing point between land and coasts. The water that flows into them is critical to their high biological productivity. Changes to the quality, quantity, and type of water, sediment, and river flow affect everything from the types of plants and animals that live there, the landscapes that develop, and the ecosystem services provided to coastal communities.
USGS scientists work in and bring expertise in hydrology, water chemistry, ecology, and sediment transport science, to integrate various information that can help forecast, predict, and identify threats or effects of changes. This helps decision-makers and resources managers develop science-based policies that balance sustainable use of these rich coastal ecosystems while maintaining their productivity for the benefit of all.
Storms, sea-level rise, and other elements of climate and coastal change often involve coastal engineering in order to accommodate human needs. These natural systems are highly adaptable. Many plant and animal species can move and grow in response to changing conditions, but some management actions like building coastal defense structures (e.g., seawalls and dikes) and maintaining roads restrict the ability of these coastal ecosystems to adapt or migrate. When estuaries and coastal wetlands are constrained by seawalls or unable to move, they can be inundated, dried out or exposed to too much salt or fresh water. When they are depleted or destroyed, the benefits and services they provide to people and the environment could be diminished or lost. The loss of estuary and wetland health can have far-reaching effects such as reduced fish catch, diminished water quality, algal blooms, and lost habitat and food sources for many migratory species.
The USGS conducts a variety of research on coastal wetlands and estuaries that support management decisions of federal, state, regional, and local partners and help in evaluating the effectiveness of restoring these valuable habitats so that will continue to provide the most benefits to society and ecosystems.
The USGS creates topobathymetric digital elevation models (DEMs) to assist with identifying flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones. These maps also assist with other earth science applications such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. The DEM data are important for a range of applications needed for climate change analysis in sensitive coastal regions. Access the Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) viewer.
Past, Present, and Future Conditions
USGS scientists collect basic observational data on physical processes (e.g., storms and sea-level rise) and human activities (e.g., nutrient loading), develop numerical models of these data, and apply models to understand the past, present, and future states of these ecosystems. Through this work, USGS scientists can assess vulnerability (e.g., UnVegetated-Vegetated marsh Ratio or UVVR), water-quality conditions, and resilience and identify human activities that are preventing wetland migration and causing tidal restriction, impoundments, and other issues causing degradation.
Blue Carbon
Additionally, USGS scientists are working to better understand blue carbon—carbon that is stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a process known as carbon sequestration. Though coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands, may be smaller in size when compared to say, a forest, they can sequester more carbon per unit area, making them an incredible climate change mitigation tool.
USGS scientists are researching how environmental changes and human activities (e.g., land use management) can impact the ability of coastal wetlands and estuaries to sequester carbon and store it in soil and plant materials. These ecosystems are powerful carbon sinks and store carbon that has accumulated over hundreds to thousands of years. However, when coastal ecosystems are degraded or destroyed, their capacity to store carbon is diminished, and the carbon stored there can be released back into the atmosphere. Improved management of coastal wetlands and estuaries, leading to enhanced conservation and restoration, is therefore a crucial climate change mitigation strategy. Ultimately, USGS blue carbon research and science-based tools will help guide decision-making regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation, wetland restoration, coastal resilience, and carbon sequestration and storage.
Publications
CO2 uptake offsets other greenhouse gas emissions from salt marshes with chronic nitrogen loading
Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands
Impoundment increases methane emissions in Phragmites-invaded coastal wetlands
Modeling the dynamics of salt marsh development in coastal land reclamation
How much marsh restoration is enough to deliver wave attenuation coastal protection benefits?
Science
Priority Landscapes: San Francisco Bay-Delta
Sediment Transport in Coastal Environments
Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound
Coastal watershed and estuary restoration in the Monterey Bay area
Columbia River estuary
Multimedia
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Coastal wetland
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
News
A Changing Marsh: The Past, Present, and Future of Grand Bay
As sea levels rise on U.S. coasts, saline wetlands are expected to displace freshwater wetlands, croplands, forests and pastures
Data Collection to Assess Marsh Restoration Success in New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy
CO2 uptake offsets other greenhouse gas emissions from salt marshes with chronic nitrogen loading
Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands
Impoundment increases methane emissions in Phragmites-invaded coastal wetlands
Modeling the dynamics of salt marsh development in coastal land reclamation
How much marsh restoration is enough to deliver wave attenuation coastal protection benefits?
Quantifying slopes as a driver of forest to marsh conversion using geospatial techniques: Application to Chesapeake Bay coastal-plain, USA
Sediment transport in a restored, river-influenced Pacific Northwest estuary
Predicting the success of future investments in coastal and estuarine ecosystem restorations is limited by scarce data quantifying sediment budgets and transport processes of prior restorations. This study provides detailed analyses of the hydrodynamics and sediment fluxes of a recently restored U.S. Pacific Northwest estuary, a 61 ha former agricultural area near the mouth of the Stillaguamish Ri
Simple metrics predict salt-marsh sediment fluxes
Land area changes in coastal Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Land Area Changes in Coastal Louisiana After the 2005 Hurricanes: A Series of Three Maps
Priority Landscapes: San Francisco Bay-Delta
Sediment Transport in Coastal Environments
Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound
Coastal watershed and estuary restoration in the Monterey Bay area
Columbia River estuary
Sediment transport between estuarine habitats in San Francisco Bay
Carbon and Water Budgeting Along Upper Estuaries: Developing Linkages to Environmental Change
Coastal National Elevation Dataset (CoNED) - Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model (TBDEM) Data Dictionary
Wetland Carbon Cycling: Monitoring and Forecasting in a Changing World
Research Vessel David H. Peterson
USGS science supporting the Elwha River Restoration Project
Estuarine and MaRsh Geology Research Project
A Century of Change in Grand Bay, Mississippi and Alabama
The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in southern Mississippi was established to provide recreational and educational opportunities along with facilitating science-based coastal management; therefore, Grand Bay is the subject of numerous short and long-term environmental studies. The reserve is an important location for research and conservation.
Suspended-sediment concentrations and loss-on-ignition from water samples collected in the Herring River during 2018-19 in Wellfleet, MA (ver 1.1, March 2023)
Barnegat Bay, NJ Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
This collection contains estuarine shorelines and rates of change for Barnegat and Great Bay, New Jersey.
Breton Island, LA Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
This collection contains estuarine shorelines and rates of change for Breton Island, Louisiana.
Grand Bay, MS/AL Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
This collection contains estuarine shorelines and rates of change for Grand Bay, Mississippi/Alabama (1848-2017).
Idealized COAWST numerical model for testing marsh wave thrust and lateral retreat dynamics routines
National UVVR Map
This map shows the unvegetated and vegetated area of coastal wetlands and adjacent land (inland and shorelines) for the Conterminous United States computed from 2014-2018 Landsat imagery at ~30 meter horizontal resolution.
COAWST Modeling System v3.4
CoNED Project Viewer
The Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project Viewer is a portal to the topobathymetric models created with the expertise of the expertise of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Salt marshes provide important economic and ecologic services but are vulnerable to habitat loss, particularly due to shoreline erosion from storms and sea level rise. Sediments eroded at the marsh edge are either delivered onto the marsh platform or into the estuary, the latter resulting in a net loss to the marsh sediment budget and released soil carbon.
Coastal wetland
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Sophie Kuhl, Simone Gibson, Meagan Eagle, and Lindsey Smith in a coastal wetland, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Photo credit Jen O'Keefe Suttles (USG
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Algal accumulation at Ferguson Marsh in the Perry Lake Wetland Complex.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Spartina patens-dominated high marsh in Grand Chenier, Louisiana in 2019.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (www.usgs.gov/warc) study important aspects of wetlands, such as the flow and quality of water, the chemistry of soil, and the plants and animals which call this ecosystem home.
Sediments in estuarine and marsh environments contain organic peat, or material derived from life, that plays an important role in ecosystem health. Here, USGS geologist Chris Smith of the St.
Sediments in estuarine and marsh environments contain organic peat, or material derived from life, that plays an important role in ecosystem health. Here, USGS geologist Chris Smith of the St.
A succulent and grass-dominated salt marsh ecosystem in San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (Texas). The succulent plants in the foreground of this photo are indicative of dry and hypersaline conditions.
A succulent and grass-dominated salt marsh ecosystem in San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (Texas). The succulent plants in the foreground of this photo are indicative of dry and hypersaline conditions.
Coastal wetland ecosystems in Jamaica Bay, New York, provide important ecosystem services along the highly urbanized Atlantic coast.
Coastal wetland ecosystems in Jamaica Bay, New York, provide important ecosystem services along the highly urbanized Atlantic coast.
Diagram showing the transition from a) tidal freshwater forested wetland (TFFW) to b) tidal fresh water marsh to c) low-salinity marsh to d) saltmarsh with increasing salinity and the movement of carbon in, out, and through this
Diagram showing the transition from a) tidal freshwater forested wetland (TFFW) to b) tidal fresh water marsh to c) low-salinity marsh to d) saltmarsh with increasing salinity and the movement of carbon in, out, and through this
Chesapeake Bay is the Nation's largest estuary and its restoration and protection is a priority. The USGS provides scientific information to help manage this vital ecosystem. As part of that role, staff at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center created this true color composite image.
Chesapeake Bay is the Nation's largest estuary and its restoration and protection is a priority. The USGS provides scientific information to help manage this vital ecosystem. As part of that role, staff at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center created this true color composite image.
A Critical Assessment of Recent Soil Dating Methods in Coastal Wetlands
A Critical Assessment of Recent Soil Dating Methods in Coastal Wetlands
Marsh shoreline inundation during high tide at a marsh sampling site around Middle Bay in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi.
Marsh shoreline inundation during high tide at a marsh sampling site around Middle Bay in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi.
An aerial view of southeast Louisiana coastal marshes.
An aerial view of southeast Louisiana coastal marshes.
Vegetation assessments are part of an effort to produce seamless, consistent, and high resolution landcover data for the northern portion of the western gulf coastal plain. This geography was once dominated by tallgrass prairie and has undergone dramatic change with less than 1% of this natural habitat in existence.
Vegetation assessments are part of an effort to produce seamless, consistent, and high resolution landcover data for the northern portion of the western gulf coastal plain. This geography was once dominated by tallgrass prairie and has undergone dramatic change with less than 1% of this natural habitat in existence.