MMS OCS Study: MMS 99-0052 - Environmental Survey of Identified Sand Resource Areas Offshore Alabama, Appendix D. Field Survey Data

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Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Applied Coastal Research & Engineering, Inc.
Originator: Continental Shelf Associates, Inc.
Originator: Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc.
Originator: Aubrey Consulting, Inc.
Originator:
U.S. Dept. of Interior, Minerals Management Service, International Activities & Marine Minerals Division (INTERMAR)
Publication_Date: 1999
Title:
MMS OCS Study: MMS 99-0052 - Environmental Survey of Identified Sand Resource Areas Offshore Alabama, Appendix D. Field Survey Data
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: .pdf documents and datatables in appendices
Other_Citation_Details: Funded Under Contract Number 14-35-01-97-CT-30840
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mms.gov/sandandgravel/PDF/1999-052/toc_report.pdf>
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Applied Coastal Research & Engineering, Inc.
Originator: Continental Shelf Associates, Inc.
Originator: Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc.
Originator: Aubrey Consulting, Inc.
Originator:
U.S. Dept. of Interior, Minerals Management Service, International Activities & Marine Minerals Division (INTERMAR)
Publication_Date: 1999
Title:
MMS OCS Study: MMS 99-0052 - Environmental Survey of Identified Sand Resource Areas Offshore Alabama
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: datatables
Other_Citation_Details: Funded Under Contract Number 14-35-01-97-CT-30840
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mms.gov/sandandgravel/PDF/1999-052/toc_report.pdf>
Description:
Abstract:
The inshore portion of the OCS, seaward of the Federal-State boundary and within the Alabama Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), encompasses the project area (Figure 1). The seaward limit of the study area is defined by the 30°05’N latitude line. The project area is located within the east Louisiana-Mississippi-Alabama Shelf (ELMAS). The continental shelf surface within the study area is relatively broad and featureless west of the Mobile Bay entrance; however, the Alabama shelf east of the entrance channel contains many northwest-southeast trending shoreface sand ridges, as well as other shoals (Figure 1). Five potential sand resource areas were defined within the study area. Of these, a borrow site within each of Sand Resource Areas 1 through 4 was defined to evaluate potential impacts of sand mining for beach replenishment. Physical processes and biological data were collected and analyzed to assess the potential impacts of offshore dredging activities within the study area to minimize or preclude long-term adverse environmental impacts at potential borrow sites and along the coastline landward of resource areas. In addition, wave transformation and sediment transport numerical modeling were employed to simulate physical environmental effects of proposed sand dredging operations to ensure that offshore sand resources are developed in an environmentally sound manner. Five primary study elements were developed for addressing environmental concerns associated with offshore sand dredging for beach replenishment. They included 1) assess baseline benthic ecological conditions, using existing data sets and data collected from field work, in and around the proposed sand borrow sites; 2) evaluate benthic infauna present in the proposed sand resource areas, and assess the potential effects of offshore sand dredging on these organisms; 3) develop a schedule of best and worst times for offshore sand dredging in relation to transitory pelagic species; 4) evaluate potential modifications to waves that propagate within the study area due to offshore sand dredging within the proposed sand resource areas; and 5) evaluate the impact of offshore dredging and consequent beach replenishment in terms of potential alteration to sediment transport patterns, sedimentary environments, and impacts to local shoreline processes.
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to provide MMS environmental information to assess the potential impacts of offshore dredging activities and to identify ways in which dredging operation can be conducted so as to minimize or preclude long-term adverse impacts to the environment. The primary environmental concerns focused on biological and physical components. Seven study objectives were identified: 1) compile and analyze existing oceanographic literature and data sets to develop an understanding of existing environmental conditions offshore Alabama and ramifications of dredging operations at selected sand borrow sites; 2) design and conduct biological and physical field data collection efforts to supplement existing resources; 3) analyze the physical and biological field data sets to address basic environmental concerns regarding potential sand dredging operations; 4) use physical processes data sets to predict wave transformation under natural conditions and in the presence of proposed dredging activities; 5) determine existing coastal and nearshore sediment transport patterns using historical data sets, and predict future changes resulting from proposed sand dredging operations; 6) evaluate potential cumulative environmental effects of multiple dredging scenarios; and 7) develop a document summarizing the information generated to assist with decisions concerning preparation of an Environmental Assessment/Impact Statement to support a negotiated agreement. The purpose of this data layer is to create a digital version of the sedimentary characteristics published by Applied Coastal (1999) for inclusion in the usSEABED data collection.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19970524
Ending_Date: 19971216
Currentness_Reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.40837
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -87.56971
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.19802
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.07495
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: General
Theme_Keyword: sediment
Theme_Keyword: sand
Theme_Keyword: sand resources
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: General
Place_Keyword: Gulf of Mexico
Place_Keyword: Alabama
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
None except that acknowledgement must be made in publications and reports of (i) the original data source, and (ii) the data integration by USGS and dbSEABED project at the University of Colorado.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Applied Coastal Research & Engineering, Inc.
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 766 Falmouth Road
Address: Building A, Unit 1-C
City: Mashpee
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02649
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (508) 539-3737
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (508) 539-3739
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: info@appliedcoastal.com
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: MMS_92-0052.jpg
Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Image showing geographic extent of data layer coverage
Data_Set_Credit:
Please review the cross reference information for the original data set credit to MacDonald, ed. (1992), and Chris Jenkins for digitizing samples locations and entering the data from the source report.
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report: All attributes were entered and checked in a consistent manner.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
No additional check for topological consistency were performed on this data.
Completeness_Report:
Sedimentary descriptions and locations are provided for 202 samples.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
A differential global positioning system (DGPS) was used to navigate the survey vessels to all sampling stations. The DGPS was connected to an on-board computer equipped with Hypack Navigation Software Version 6.4 (Coastal Oceanographics; 1996). With this system; the ship’s position was displayed in real-time on a monitor affixed to a counter top in the wheel house. All sampling stations were pre-plotted and stored in the Hypack program. While in the field; actual positions of all samples collected were recorded and stored by the program.
Lineage:
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Digital data were hand formatted into dbSEABED data entry structure, then filtered and data-mined through dbSEABED software (version: db9_MNEx.bas)
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Chris Jenkins
Contact_Organization:
Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) University of Colorado at Boulder
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1560 30th Street
Address: Campus Box 450
City: Boulder
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80309-0450
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 492-6387
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 492-6388
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: chris.jenkins@colorado.edu
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 202
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Geographic:
Latitude_Resolution: dd mm.mm
Longitude_Resolution: dd mm.mm
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Degrees Decimal minutes
Distribution_Information:
Resource_Description: MMS 92-0052
Distribution_Liability:
Although this data set has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. Trade, firm, or product names and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20060327
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Person: Brian J. Buczkowski
Contact_Position: Core Curator and Data Management Specialist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (508) 548-8700 x2361
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (508) 457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: bbuczkowski@usgs.gov
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
Metadata_Access_Constraints: None
Metadata_Use_Constraints: None
Metadata_Extensions:
Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>
Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
Generated by mp version 2.8.24 on Mon Mar 27 19:55:56 2006