Abstract:

Profiles of shoreline elevation were made on 2018-03-12 at 30 locations in a salt marsh at the north shore of Bay Batiste (southern Louisiana). A 3 meter rod was leveled 1.5 m into the marsh and the rod extended to 1.5 m into the open water at an angle perpendicular to the shore. The middle of the rod was at 1.5 m which was at the marsh/water interface. The distance in cm was measured from the bottom of the rod to the marsh surface at 10 cm intervals.

Suggested Citation:

Turner, R. Eugene. 2021. Shoreline erosion rates along Bay Batiste, Louisiana, 2018-03-12. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-jj1d-ff31

Purpose:

The shoreline profiles will be compared to future measurements to determine horizontal and vertical erosion in consideration of oiling from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

Data Parameters and Units:

Headers include: Latitude (decimal degrees), Longitude (decimal degrees), and Station identifier. For each station, the distance (in cm) from the bottom of the rod to the marsh surface at 10cm intervals is provided for the entire length of the 3 meter rod. Habitat descriptors (open water, marsh edge, marsh) are listed for each interval.

Methods:

Measurements were recorded in 10 cm intervals along a leveled 3 m rod and the vertical distance from the rod to the sediment surface on the marsh or below the water. The metal rod was leveled using a carpenter’s level and was determined to be level before and after the field trip and checked during the field trip when another level surface was available. It was rotated at 90-degree intervals in the field to determine if it had become warped. The rod was marked at 10 cm intervals. A forked wooden stick supported the rod at the end in the water and the rod rested on the marsh at the other end. A meter stick was used to measure the distance between the lower side of the rod and the sediment surface.

Individual Files: