Metrics of resilience and recovery in Plumb Beach, 2013-2016: Jamaica Bay Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area
Psuty NP, Ames K, Habeck A, Haussner E, Schmelz WJ, Butler K, Greenberg J. 2017. Metrics of resilience and recovery in Plumb Beach, 2013-2016: Jamaica Bay Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCBN/NRR—2017/1559. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report contains linear feature, elevation, and volumetric changes at Plumb Beach, a site along the northern shore of the Rockaway Inlet in the Jamaica Bay Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Seasonal surveys were conducted from the fall of 2014 to the fall of 2016, and the data set and analysis is supplemented by a GPS survey from the fall of 2013 that was collected post construction of two stone groins, a stone breakwater, and a beach nourishment project. The focus of this report is on the resilience and recovery of the natural beach and dune system along the Eastern Portion of Plumb Beach, as well as the effect of the structures on the central and Western Portion of Plumb Beach. The analysis provides metrics of shoreline displacement, dune crest displacement, elevation change, and volumetric change. In the Western Portion of Plumb Beach, the topography was dominated by the structures built in 2013. The shoreline change showed the beach fill that was emplaced in 2012 was eroded on either side of the breakwater, accretion directly inland of the breakwater, and erosion in the beach feature downdrift of the eastern groin. Throughout the survey period, the dune crest change was variable except for the area downdrift of the eastern groin where there was consistent inland displacement. The volumetric change in the beach mirrored spatial pattern of shoreline change during the survey period. In the Eastern Portion of Plumb Beach, the elevation and volumetric changes were smaller scale than the culturally manipulated Western Portion. There was a small amount of volumetric gain low on the beach and erosion on the tidal flat along the curved portion of the shoreline in the east. The beach feature and dune feature in this area have gained in elevation overall throughout the survey period, showing resilience in the topographic system. Spatial displays of shoreline and foredune linear feature change, elevation change, volumetric change, and associated metrics are presented in this report.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Psuty, Norbert; Ames, Katherine; Habeck, Andrea; Haussner, Elizabeth; Schmelz, William; Butler, Kelly; Greenberg, Joshua
- Date of Issue
- 2017-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GATE , NCBN , NRSS
- Keywords
- 2247842, beach dune system, Coastal Landform Elevation Model Protocol, elevation change, GATE, Gateway National Recreation Area, Hurricane Sandy, Jamaica Bay Unit, linear feature displacement, NCBN, Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, Plumb Beach, resilience and recovery, volumetric change