Students Research Presentations: Spatial and Temporal Variability of Sedimentation in Living Shorelines of the Maryland Chesapeake Bay

Year:

2022

Source:

Atlantic Estuarine Research Society Fall Meeting, Chestertown, MD

Abstract:

Living shorelines are becoming a popular option to combat shoreline erosion, but research into their performance has lagged behind installation. This study seeks to help refine sampling strategies for research by examining small-scale spatial and temporal trends in sediment characteristics in and adjacent to a ~10-year-old living shoreline. A total of 25 sediment cores were collected and analyzed for grain size and organic content; data were compared to 3 years of previously collected data. Results suggest that small-scale spatial variability is sufficiently captured by relatively few cores, but >3 years of repeated sampling is needed to understand temporal trends.

Mentors:

Cindy Palinkas, Ph.D.

Students:

Anji Cooper, University of Delaware