Center for Coastal Resources Management

Description and Disclaimer

Management of small watersheds within the larger Delaware Bay watershed is challenging.  The Delaware Coastal Zone Management Program seeks decision support tools that enhance coastal management at the local and state level.  The rational for a coastal inventory is to provide information to inform policy development and regulation of coastal resources.  Three watersheds were initially targeted to begin developing a shoreline inventory for the watersheds of Delaware Bay. The Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program (CCI) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has applied the same mapping and reporting techniques used in Virginia, Maryland, and portions of North Carolina.

The data inventory developed for the Shoreline Inventory is based on a three-tiered shoreline assessment approach. In most cases this assessment characterizes conditions that can be observed from a small boat navigating along the shoreline. Hand-held GPS units are used to log features observed. The three tiered shoreline assessment approach divides the shorezone into three regions: 1) the immediate riparian zone, evaluated for land use; 2) the bank, evaluated for height, stability, cover and natural protection; and 3) the shoreline, describing the presence of shoreline structures for shore protection and recreational access. Three GIS coverages are generated for each watershed.  They are listed in the table below.

Waterbody	Landuse/Bank	Structure (points)	Structures (lines)
Appoquinimink	appo_lubc	appo_astru	appo_sstru
Blackbird	bb_lubc	bb_astru	bb_sstru
St. Jones	stjo_lubc	stjo_astru	stjo_sstru

The xxx_lubc coverage is features related to the land use in the riparian zone, and conditions at the bank. The xxx_sstru coverage includes information pertaining to structures for shoreline defense. Finally, xxx_astru identifies structures that are typically built for access and recreational activities at the shore. They can be downloaded from this site through links at the bottom of this page. A metadata file is provided to describe the data.

GIS coverages are developed from the GPS datasets collected in the field. The coverages use a shoreline basemap generated from high resolution color infra-red digital ortho quarter quadrangles (DOQQ). The base shoreline is re-coded to reflect features and attributes observed in the field. The metadata file that accompanies the coverages defines attribute accuracy, data development, and any use restrictions that pertain to the data. When downloading data from this site, the users agree to all conditions outlined in the disclaimer below.

This inventory is published entirely in digital format. Below, a text report includes an outline of methods. Color maps illustrate the conditions recorded. Tables quantify data on a plate by plate basis. These sources can be downloaded with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Acknowledgment

The Shoreline Inventory for Delaware was funded through a grant from the Delaware Coastal Programs with funding from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under award number NA06NOS4190243.  Special thanks to Amy Jacobs and Andrew Howard of the Watershed Assessment Section for their help with the project plan.

This work was completed entirely with staff support and management from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program.  A host of individuals are acknowledged.  In addition to those listed as preparers, the project directors would like to thank the VIMS Vessel Center for their support.

Disclaimer

The Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program (CCI) provides these data with the understanding that it is not guaranteed to be correct or complete, and conclusions drawn from the data set are the sole responsibility of the user.

Every attempt has been made to ensure that these data and the documentation are reliable and accurate. Neither CCI, VIMS, NOAA, nor the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) assume liability for any damages caused by inaccuracies in the data or documentation, or as a result of failure of the data to perform in a particular manner. CCI, VIMS, NOAA or DNREC make no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or utility of this information, nor does the fact of distribution constitute a warranty.

Individuals who download these data agree to the following, and understand the limitations defined:

Integration of these data into other products requires proper citation. Proper citation for this dataset is: "Berman, M.R., Berquist, H., Hershner, C.H., Killeen, S., Nunez, K., Rudnicky, T., Reay, K., and D. Weiss, 2008. Delaware Shoreline Inventory: Appoquinimink River, Blackbird Creek, St. Jones River, Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program, Center for Coastal Resources Management Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062."

Use of these data in map publications, either digital or hardcopy, requires proper citation, and inclusion of the CCI logo (see CCI logo).

CCI is not responsible for misuse of these data.

CCI does not oversee or assume responsibility for alterations to this product by users.

CCI may not address specific questions from users who received the data through another party.

Distribution of these data is not restricted. CCI, however, recommends metadata file(s) always remain with the data.

CCI encourages noticeable errors be reported to CCI contact person identified in the metadata file.