Analysis of Marsh Sedimentation Changes, Cumberland Island, Georgia

Cofer-Shabica, S. V.; Nakashima, L. D.; ,

Analysis of Marsh Sedimentation Changes, Cumberland Island, Georgia

by S. V. Cofer-Shabica, National Park Service Cumberland, Island National Seashore, St.Marys, United States,
L. D. Nakashima, National Park Service Cumberland, Island National Seashore, St.Marys, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '93

Abstract:

The national park service has initiated a long-term monitoring project to determine whether dredging for the King's Bay Naval Base is affecting sedimentation and erosion rates in the backbarrier marshes of Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia. Detailed measurements of marsh surface elevation changes were made the first year using six different methods; three of which are discussed here. Actual sedimentation rates are estimated at less than 3mm annually, while method precisions range from 2 to 10mm. The first year's data were analyzed to determine whether the methods employed, singly or in combination, would satisfy the need to discriminate long-term trends. An ANOVA model, based on a repeated measures design, was used in which the significant effects of the within subject analysis were found to yield similar net results after one year, but trends for individual methods at individual sites were statistically different. The statistical method employed offers a practical approach to early evaluation of any long-term monitoring program relying on repeated measurement and multiple modes of measurement.

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