Erosion of sandy beaches and barrier islands has resulted in substantial economic (damage to homes and infrastructure) and ecological (loss of habitat for nesting shorebirds and sea turtles) impacts along much of the U.S. coastline. To slow or halt land loss, stakeholders commonly nourish beaches using sand from the continental shelf. Offshore sand and gravel is also mined as aggregate for construction. To ensure that sediment extraction does not damage the environment requires detailed mapping of the seafloor.
Coastal sediment is always on the move. It may be exposed and then redistributed by wind and waves, and it is affected by variations in river discharge and sea level change, and modified by human activity. Seafloor mining removes sand that naturally replenishes nearby beaches and can alter local wave, circulation, and coastal erosion patterns. As these offshore sediment resources are becoming depleted, it has become increasingly important to understand the role they play in coastal systems so that the remaining sediment reserves can be effectively managed.
CMHRP scientists provide this information through detailed geologic mapping and sampling in support of specific management projects such as the Mississippi Coastal Improvement Project (MsCIP). The CMHRP maintains a national database of seafloor sediment characteristics (usSEABED) and provides geologic information to the public through data portals (e.g., LASED, GeoMap App), Data Series Archives, and Open File reports. CMHRP studies fill gaps in understanding of sediment redistribution processes and the interaction of seafloor features (such as sand ridges) with local hydrodynamic processes. CMHRP information and expertise guide local, state, and Federal efforts that depend on sediment resources for coastal protection, ecological restoration projects, and other purposes.
The CMHRP will continue to map, interpret, and analyze the seafloor to enable more effective management of sediment resources. The CMHRP will collaborate with government and industry scientists to address high-priority regional data collection needs and conduct research into sediment transport, which is vital to predicting the possible impacts of resource extraction on the broader coastal system. This work will be made efficient and cost-effective by using data that already exist or that are collected for other projects, in many cases funded by partner agencies such as the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, that require the information for regional management purposes.
Explore the CMHRP Decadal Strategic Plan geonarrative
The CMHRP Decadal Science Strategy 2020-2030
This geonarrative constitutes the Decadal Science Strategy of the USGS's Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program for 2020 to 2030.
Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor
Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics Project
Geologic and Morphologic Evolution of Coastal Margins
Erosion of sandy beaches and barrier islands has resulted in substantial economic (damage to homes and infrastructure) and ecological (loss of habitat for nesting shorebirds and sea turtles) impacts along much of the U.S. coastline. To slow or halt land loss, stakeholders commonly nourish beaches using sand from the continental shelf. Offshore sand and gravel is also mined as aggregate for construction. To ensure that sediment extraction does not damage the environment requires detailed mapping of the seafloor.
Coastal sediment is always on the move. It may be exposed and then redistributed by wind and waves, and it is affected by variations in river discharge and sea level change, and modified by human activity. Seafloor mining removes sand that naturally replenishes nearby beaches and can alter local wave, circulation, and coastal erosion patterns. As these offshore sediment resources are becoming depleted, it has become increasingly important to understand the role they play in coastal systems so that the remaining sediment reserves can be effectively managed.
CMHRP scientists provide this information through detailed geologic mapping and sampling in support of specific management projects such as the Mississippi Coastal Improvement Project (MsCIP). The CMHRP maintains a national database of seafloor sediment characteristics (usSEABED) and provides geologic information to the public through data portals (e.g., LASED, GeoMap App), Data Series Archives, and Open File reports. CMHRP studies fill gaps in understanding of sediment redistribution processes and the interaction of seafloor features (such as sand ridges) with local hydrodynamic processes. CMHRP information and expertise guide local, state, and Federal efforts that depend on sediment resources for coastal protection, ecological restoration projects, and other purposes.
The CMHRP will continue to map, interpret, and analyze the seafloor to enable more effective management of sediment resources. The CMHRP will collaborate with government and industry scientists to address high-priority regional data collection needs and conduct research into sediment transport, which is vital to predicting the possible impacts of resource extraction on the broader coastal system. This work will be made efficient and cost-effective by using data that already exist or that are collected for other projects, in many cases funded by partner agencies such as the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, that require the information for regional management purposes.
Explore the CMHRP Decadal Strategic Plan geonarrative
The CMHRP Decadal Science Strategy 2020-2030
This geonarrative constitutes the Decadal Science Strategy of the USGS's Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program for 2020 to 2030.