ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping

• Main Author: Us Forrest Service
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Glacier Bay; glacier; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.220.5583; http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/shorezone/reports/SEAK_SummaryRpt_2011.pdf

ShoreZone is a coastal habitat mapping and classification system in which georeferenced aerial imagery is collected specifically for the interpretation and integration of geological and biological features of the intertidal zone and nearshore environment. The mapping methodology is summarized in Harney et al (2008). This interim data summary report provides information on geomorphic and biological features of 24,393 km of shoreline mapped in 2004-2008 surveys of Southeast Alaska. There are approximately 6,000 km of unmapped shoreline, including 1,100 km in Glacier Bay. The habitat inventory is comprised of 88,469 along-shore segments (units), averaging 276 m in length. Organic shorelines (such as estuaries) are mapped along 2,850 km (12%) of the study area. Bedrock shorelines (BC Classes 1-5) comprise 4,213 km (17%) of mapped shorelines. Of these, steep rock cliffs are the most common mapped along 3,148 km (13%) of the shoreline. A little less than half of the mapped coastal environment is characterized as rock and sediment shorelines (BC Classes 6-20): 10,122 km (42%). Sediment-dominated shorelines (BC Classes 21-30) comprise