Reports
Determining shoreline erosion rates for the coastal regions of Maryland (Part 2)
2003, Hennessee, E.L., Valentino, M.J., and Lesh, A.M.
File Reports, Coastal and Estuarine Geology, File Report 2003-01
Abstract
In response to the recommendations of a Shore Erosion Task Force appointed by the Governor in 1999, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is developing regional shore erosion control strategies. The strategies are based, in part, on an understanding of historical rates of shoreline retreat. To provide up-to-date, site-specific rates of shoreline change, the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS) cooperated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Towson University’s Center for Geographic Information Sciences (CGIS). During this second phase of the project, the partners completed determining erosion rates for the coastal and estuarine shorelines in the State. They used digital shorelines dating from 1841-1995 as input into a computer program, the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). DSAS constructs a baseline inland of and parallel to a series of shorelines, casts closely spaced transects perpendicular to the baseline across the shorelines, and determines rates of change along each transect. Results – digital shorelines, baselines, transects, and associated rates of change – were stored on CD-ROM in ArcGIS format. Data associated with the transects were also imported into a Microsoft Access database. The data set will be useful to coastal researchers and managers in need of site- or reach-specific information about shoreline advance and retreat.
