Mapping the characteristics and condition of the Charlotte Harbor coastal shoreline using volunteer boater observations and photointerpretation

The goal of this project is to develop a shoreline condition map for the coastal areas within the CHNEP boundary that could be used as a tool for decision makers, scientists and resource users. The additional objectives that are related to this goal are:   

• Provide data to assist in decision making related to estuary protection and restoration

• Identify shoreline habitat use patterns

• Identify lands suitable for protection

• Determine the impact of new coastal development

• Promote understanding of watershed issues

• Identify wetlands suitable for restoration

• Determine the impact of point and non-point pollution

• Identify areas vulnerable to future hurricanes and sea level rise

A  two-fold program was developed in order to address both large and small scale shoreline conditions. For one aspect of the project a volunteer boater survey was developed to enlist the assistance of many of the resource users. The second portion of the program involves a photointerpretation mapping approach.

Volunteers attended a luncheon November 17, 2007 where they heard presentations and received a draft report. These presentations are available on this website as both PowerPoint presentations and PDF files.

• Shoreline study preliminary results presented by CHNEP: Powerpoint (7,092 KB) and PDF file (520 KB)

  • Volunteers effort contributed more than $45,000 to this project!

• Photointerpretation mapping approach presented by Photoscience: Powerpoint (34,752 KB) and PDF file (3,217 KB)

Completion of this project is planned for summer of 2008, the final report and map products will be available to the public through the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program website at www.chnep.org.