Coastal Classification Atlas

Classification Summary

The coastal classification maps provide a basis for establishing the lengths of shore that have a particular morphological characteristic or cultural attribute. Such information is relevant for local and state governments for planning that involves the amount of shore that is developed versus undeveloped, or the amount of parkland held in the public trust. Also there is interest regarding the amount of shore that is affected by engineering structures, referred to as armoring or hardening of the shore. Environmental protection and resource management issues such as these require quantitative data that can be derived from the classification maps.

The shore lengths and equivalent percents of the 136 km segment of coast between Anclote Key and Venice inlet are presented for each classification unit in Table 2. The percents are shown graphically in the last column of Table 2. More than two-thirds of this coastal segment is developed, and the development is moderate to high density (Table 2). Multi-family units such as high-rise condominiums and hotels dominate the landscape and only six percent of the shore is classified as parks (Table 2) . Because of the type and extent of development, the dunes are absent or discontinuous along two-thirds of the shore (Table 2). Beaches are more than 30 m wide for approximately two-thirds of the shore (Table 2), but beach width can vary greatly because beach nourishment is common for this region. Despite low elevations and narrow barrier widths (Table 2), areas of complete storm overwash represent only 7% of the total shore, and recent deposition of a washover terrace characterizes another 8% of the shore (Table 2). About 38% of the shore is influenced by hard structures, most of the structures are seawalls or bulkheads built in the backbeach area (Table 2).

Category Classification Length (km) Percent Pie Chart Washover Overwash 8.1 6 Closed inlet 1.3 1 New Inlet 0.2 0 No overwash 126 93 Dunes Absent 52.0 38 Continuous 32.6 24 Discontinuous 40.7 30 Washover terrace 10.6 8 Beach width > 30 m natural 50.7 37 > 30 m maintained 37.4 28 < 30 m natural 44.2 33 < 30 m maintained 3.2 2 Structures No structure 85.2 62 Wall 36.7 27 Riprap 4.9 4 Groins 0.9 1 Multiple structures 8.2 6 Development Density Undeveloped 40.7 30 Low density 7.1 5 Moderate density 28.2 21 High density 59.9 44 Dwelling Type No dwelling 37.2 27 Single family 30.4 22 Mixed 9.0 7 Multi-unit 50.7 38 Park 8.4 6

Table 2. Lengths of shore and percentages for the classification units mapped between Anclote Key and Venice Inlet. Total length of this coastal segment is about 136 km.