On June 2, 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a joint report on the impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier systems. The report contains a comprehensive summary of the available scientific literature on the impacts of sediment management actions (e.g., dredging and beach nourishment) within coastal barrier systems.
Barrier islands play a key role in storm protection for coastal communities and infrastructure and serve as critical habitats for many coastal and marine species. Sediment management actions are typically done for hazard mitigation such as erosion prevention and flood control.
The report provides resource managers with valuable information they can use to evaluate sediment management practices and the effects they might have on coastal barrier systems, including: impacts to coastal sediment supply, seafloor habitats, beach habitats, fish and other marine species, and long-term coastal resilience along the U.S. coasts.
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