Dataset for: Impacts of a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake on water levels and wetlands of the lower Columbia river and estuary

Subsidence after a subduction zone earthquake can cause major changes in
estuarine bathymetry. Here, we quantify the impacts of earthquake-induced
subsidence on hydrodynamics and habitat distributions in a major system,
the Lower Columbia River Estuary, using a hydrodynamic and habitat model.
Model results indicate that coseismic subsidence increases tidal range,
with the smallest changes at the coast and a maximum increase of ~10% in a
region of topographic convergence. All modeled scenarios reduce intertidal
habitat by 24-25%, and shifts ~93% of estuarine wetlands to
lower-elevation habitat bands. Incorpating dynamic effects of tidal change
from subsidence yields higher estimates of remaining habitat by multiples
of 0-3.7, dependent on the habitat type. The persistent tidal change and
chronic habitat disturbance after an earthquake poses strong challenges
for estuarine management and wetland restoration planning, particularly
when coupled with future sea-level rise effects.