Slope Values Across Marsh-Forest Boundary in Chesapeake Bay Region, USA

The marsh-forest boundary in the Chesapeake Bay was determined by geoprocessing high-resolution (1 square meter) land use and land cover data sets. Perpendicular transects were cast at standard intervals (30 meters) along the boundary within a GIS by repurposing the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) Version 5.0, an ArcGIS extension developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Average and maximum slope values were assigned to each transect from surface elevation data. The same values were also provided as points at the center of the transect where it crossed over the boundary. The slope values across the marsh-forest transition zone and at the boundary itself provide comprehensive data layers for local, state, and Federal managers to improve understanding of salt marsh migration. This additionally aids the U.S. Geological Survey in its effort to assess the coastal vulnerability and response of salt marsh ecosystems, including the Chesapeake Bay region.