Historical Shoreline Changes in ... Bays, Texas Gulf Coast. Digital Download

GC9301D. Historical Shoreline Changes in Copano, Aransas, and Redfish Bays, Texas Gulf Coast, by J. G. Paine and R. A. Morton. 66 p., 30 figs., 5 tables, 3 appendices, 1993. doi.org/10.23867/gc9301D.  Downloadable PDF.


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ABSTRACT
Shorelines bordering the bays of Texas are generally not as dynamic as those along the Gulf of Mexico. Nevertheless, the predominantly erosional movement of these bay shorelines translates to large losses of wetlands, arable uplands, and recreational and residential property. The shorelines occur along steep clay bluffs, along salt- and brackish water marshes, along sand and shell beaches, at the base of moderate slopes composed mainly of sand, and in newly formed areas filled by dredged material. Unprotected sediments forming the margins of these bays are modified by natural coastal processes and human activities, both of which can cause shoreline movement. This study of historical shoreline movement in the Copano Bay system (1) quantifies bay shoreline movement since 1930, (2) describes shoreline types around Copano Bay and coastal processes affecting shoreline position, and (3) relates spatial and temporal differences in rates of shoreline movement to changes in coastal processes in different settings and at different times.

Changes in shoreline position along Texas bays over several decades permit estimation of the relative stability of these shorelines; these changes also allow comparisons of recent shoreline movement with that which occurred when the bay system was less affected by human modification. Documenting long-term movement along the 233 mi of shoreline surrounding the Copano Bay system (Copano, Aransas, Redfish, Mission, Port, and St. Charles Bays) included comparing three sets of aerial photographs taken in the early 1930's - late 1950’s, and 1982, measuring shoreline movement, calculating rates of change, and summarizing in tables and on maps the magnitudes and rates of shoreline change.

Despite widespread use of shoreline protection measures, which began in some areas before 1930, shorelines within the Copano Bay system largely retreated between the early 1930's and 1982. During this period, bay shorelines moved landward an average of 0.8 ft/yr, resulting in loss of about 23 acres of land per year. Rates of land loss for the most recent monitoring period (late 1950's to 1982) were even higher, reaching an average of 2.5 ft/yr, or about 71 acres/yr when averaged over the entire bay system.

Shoreline attributes (orientation, wave fetch, and sediment type) determine shoreline response to coastal processes. Contributing to shoreline changes are (1) frequent and intense storms, (2) local changes in relative sea level, (3) human activities, (4) local alterations in sediment supply, and (5) regional and worldwide climate. The increased shoreline retreat during the more recent period can be attributed to natural and human-induced factors, including an increase in major hurricanes, low bay water levels during the drought of the 1950’s, higher rates of sea-level rise, increased coastal development and compartmentalization, and lower fluvial sediment influx. Historical data indicate that recurring severe storms, rising sea level, ongoing human activities, decreasing sediment supply, and increasing temperatures will lead to continued erosion of most shorelines in the Copano Bay system.

Keywords: Aransas Bay, bays, Copano Bay, Redfish Bay, shoreline changes, shoreline erosion, shoreline protection, Texas Coastal Zone, Texas


Citation
Paine, J. G., and Morton, R. A., 1993, Historical Shoreline Changes in Copano, Aransas, and Redfish Bays, Texas Gulf Coast: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Geological Circular 93-1, 66 p. doi.org/10.23867/gc9301D.