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

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
MMS OCS Study: MMS 99-0052 - Environmental Survey of Identified Sand Resource Areas Offshore Alabama, Appendix D. Field Survey Data
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.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Applied Coastal Research & Engi, Inc., Continental Shelf Associates, Inc., Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc., Aubrey Consulting, Inc., and U.S. Dept. of Interior, Minerals Management Service, Internation, 1999, MMS OCS Study: MMS 99-0052 - Environmental Survey of Identified Sand Resource Areas Offshore Alabama, Appendix D. Field Survey Data.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Funded Under Contract Number 14-35-01-97-CT-30840
    This is part of the following larger work.

    Applied Coastal Research & Engi, Inc., Continental Shelf Associates, Inc., Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc., Aubrey Consulting, Inc., and U.S. Dept. of Interior, Minerals Management Service, Internation, 1999, MMS OCS Study: MMS 99-0052 - Environmental Survey of Identified Sand Resource Areas Offshore Alabama.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Funded Under Contract Number 14-35-01-97-CT-30840

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.40837
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -87.56971
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.19802
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.07495

  3. What does it look like?

    MMS_92-0052.jpg
    Image showing geographic extent of data layer coverage

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 24-May-1997
    Ending_Date: 16-Dec-1997
    Currentness_Reference: publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: .pdf documents and datatables in appendices

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (202)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest dd mm.mm. Longitudes are given to the nearest dd mm.mm. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Degrees Decimal minutes.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    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.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Applied Coastal Research & Engineering, Inc.
    766 Falmouth Road
    Mashpee, MA 02649
    USA

    (508) 539-3737 (voice)
    (508) 539-3739 (FAX)
    info@appliedcoastal.com

Why was the data set created?

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.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    (process 1 of 1)
    Digital data were hand formatted into dbSEABED data entry structure, then filtered and data-mined through dbSEABED software (version: db9_MNEx.bas)

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Chris Jenkins
    Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) University of Colorado at Boulder
    1560 30th Street
    Boulder, CO 80309-0450
    USA

    (303) 492-6387 (voice)
    (303) 492-6388 (FAX)

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    All attributes were entered and checked in a consistent manner.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    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.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Sedimentary descriptions and locations are provided for 202 samples.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    No additional check for topological consistency were performed on this data.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

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.

  1. Who distributes the data set?[Distributor contact information not provided.]

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    MMS 92-0052

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    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.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 27-Mar-2006
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Brian J. Buczkowski
Core Curator and Data Management Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2361 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
bbuczkowski@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.8.24 on Mon Mar 27 19:55:56 2006