Enhancing Coastal Adaptation Planning at Gulf Islands National Seashore
Project Information
Principal Investigator: Erin Seekamp, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, NC State University
Jim Flocks, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Proposed Project Completion: June 2021. This project is now completed.
Implements Science Plan Theme: Adaptation
Cooperators: Xiao Xiao (Arizona State University), Max Post van der Burg (USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center), Mitch Eaton (USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center)
Key Points
- Identified priority research and data needs to support an NPS conservation project, specifically at Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Developed understanding of dredging and storm events on barrier islands
- Focused research on not just natural resources but also cultural resources
Overview
A single storm event can drastically alter barrier islands. Storms can, and have, damaged or destroyed cultural resources and impacted habitat. Dredging, the act of removing or altering sediment underwater, also impacts barrier islands. Dredging and dredge materials can change the natural rates of sand transport and renourishment. This can have positive (sand accretion) or negative (sand erosion) effects. These collective gains and losses of sediment in a region are known as its sediment budget These changes to barrier islands can also influence the islands’ dunes. Dunes are critical natural resources and they importantly serve as a first line of defense for the mainland during storm events.
This project studied the sediment budgets of barrier islands. We held several workshops, as well as updating a decision support framework. This work supports the conservation stewardship mission of the National Park Service. We provided science to inform the management of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. This project supports research at the Seashore related to cultural resource adaptation planning. We also identified priorities for future research to better conserve resources on the barrier islands. This project is the second application of this framework to a coastal area.