Feeder Bluff and Accretion Shoreform
Mapping Project
SCOPE OF WORK
For: Island County Marine Resources Committee
TASK 1 - Map feeder bluffs and accretion shoreforms
The purpose of this task is to definitively map feeder bluffs and accretion
shoreforms along the entire shore of both Whidbey and Camano Islands. This
task will be accomplished using the Best Available Science to include both
a thorough review of previous work and new fieldwork. Work will accomplished
using all available relevant data sources to include maps, atlases, USGS documents,
the new bulkhead inventory, air photos, LiDAR (if available), and new field
reconnaissance.
The following will be mapped for the shores of both Whidbey Island and Camano
Island:
¨ Location of all feeder bluffs
¨ Location of all accretion shoreforms
¨ Comparison will be made between the Beach Watchers bulkhead inventory
and location of feeder bluffs for analysis of the degree of "impairment"/sediment
impoundment for each drift cell
¨ Recommendations for nearshore acquisition and/or restoration opportunistically
where possible. This will be based on physical characteristics (and not shoreline
ecology) within some drift cells, particularly for drift cells that contain
estuaries and/or salt marshes. This will be based on coastal processes, and
apparent erosion and sediment input reduction, but will not be comprehensive
or systematic-which would be beyond the scope of this project.
Deliverables
1. Hard copy and digital (ArcMap GIS) copies of color maps of all county shores
mapped in the course of the study acceptable to the Island County MRC (including
metadata), which shall include the shorelines of both Whidbey Island and Camano
Island, to include:
¨ New GIS coverage for feeder bluffs
¨ New GIS coverage for accretion shoreforms
¨ GIS coverage for drift cells
2. A narrative descriptive report, in Draft version and Final, for the feeder
bluff and accretion shoreform mapping element to include findings and conclusions
properly drawn from the data, using Best Available Science.
TASK 2 - Feeder bluff ranking protocol development
A detailed protocol will be developed for quantitative analysis of individual
segments of feeder bluff. This task will include development of a systematic
analysis protocol that will assess the relative input of different size sediment
from bluff to beach as well as the amount of mapped beach habitat (such as
forage fish habitat; mapped by others) that is maintained by the sediment
input. The protocol, when implemented, would produce a ranking for specific
feeder bluff segments that would indicate the relative "value" of
the segment for the overall integrity of the mapped habitats.
The protocol will be developed with the input from others in the field, including
an advisory committee that will be recruited for this project. Technical Advisors
expected to be enlisted include Hugh Shipman, coastal geologist for Washington
Department of Ecology and USGS personnel.
The protocol will be tested on 1-2 short, discreet drift cell(s) of Island
County to help refine procedures. Results of Task 1 will provide information
for selection of drift cells. Drift cell(s) will be selected to include a
cell(s) that contain a mapped feeder bluff and accretion shoreform.
Deliverables
1. A narrative descriptive report, in Draft version and Final, documenting
the protocol properly drawn from the relevant bluff data sources, using Best
Available Science.
2. Hard copy and digital (ArcMap GIS) copies of color maps of the 1-2 feeder
bluff area(s) mapped in course of development of the protocol to the MRC (including
metadata), to include:
a. Example of GIS coverage for a feeder bluff reach
b. Supporting data collected for the drift cell(s) ranking in GIS format
From Interim June 30, 2003 Project Progress Report:
1. Task 1 'Feeder Bluffs & Accretion Shoreforms'
The initial sum associated with this task is supplemented by additional SRFB
funding, to make the full geologic assessment feasible. The first stage of
the work has been completed. The larger portion of this project will be completed
in the Summer and Fall of 2003, and those products and deliverables will be
provided to Ecology at that time.
The contractor's progress report on work-to-date is incorporated in full:
date: June 19, 2003
to: Mr. Gary Wood, Island County MRC
fr: Jim Johannessen, CGS
re: Progress Summary 1: Island County Feeder Bluff and Accretion Shoreform
Mapping Project (IAC #01-1252-N, CZM grant G0200308)
Coastal Geologic Services received a signed contract, dated May 12, 2003. Tasks completed in the first phase of the feeder bluff and accretion shoreform mapping project are summarized below.
Discussions with regional coastal processes experts were conducted covering
project approach, methods, data sources, past undocumented work, and willingness
to serve on the project advisory committee. An initial meeting was held with
Hugh Shipman. Other extensive discussions were held with former and present
USGS staff, other consultants working on nearshore assessments, and Island
County staff.
The project advisory committee has been formed and consists of:
Hugh Shipman, WA Dept. of Ecology
Ralph Hauteur, USGS
Ralph Keuler, former USGS staff and now a private consultant
Jerry Thorsen, former WA State Geologist, and Coastal Zone Atlas coordinator
Data has been researched and collection and quality investigation has begun. The data sets include aerial photography, Coastal Zone Atlas of Washington themes, quadrangle base maps, ShoreZone themes, net shore-drift cell digital mapping, and Island County land use spatial data. Much of this available data has been incorporated into CGS's geographic information system (GIS). Much of the data required scanning and manual digitizing. Other data have required extensive error checking.
Data comparisons have begun. The Coastal Zone Atlas of Washington, USGS (Keuler) bluff trend mapping, and ShoreZone have been spatially compared. Assessments as to the suitability of different data themes and applicability are near complete.
The first full advisory committee meeting had to be postponed due to illness.
It is now set for mid July. Initial fieldwork and field meetings are planned
for late June to test preliminary methods and criteria, which are currently
in development. Fieldwork will begin on Camano Island shortly. Extensive fieldwork
is planned for August and September 2003. -- JJ
There will be extensive project reports and deliverables generated in the
remaining bulk of this Task, and these will be provided to Ecology as they
are completed. Among the anticipated outcomes is the formulation by Johannessen
and his fellow investigators of a new protocol for the assessment and monitoring
of bluff processes in northern Puget Sound. Because of the extensive history
of coastal geology-based investigations on Whidbey Island in the past 45 years,
there are datasets available for digitizing as part of this Task.
In the interim, a report detailing the innovative scope of work, methods and
subjects of the investigation is submitted as the required deliverable for
Task 1. In addition, we include a Landau Associates "Bluffs & Shoreforms"
deliverable, as it was presented to the MRC in response to the Task 1 RFP.
While Landau was not awarded the final contract, the material submitted is
worthy of submission and retention.