Presenter(s): Kira Bartlett − Earth Science, Geography
Faculty Mentor(s): David Sutherland, Patricia McDowell
Oral Session 4CS
Research Area: Natural/Physical Science
Coos Bay Estuary is the largest bay between San Francisco and Puget Sound. The estuary serves an important role in the region’s economic prosperity through transportation and agriculture. The purpose was to study the Coos Bay Estuary coastline change through the years 1895 through 2011 and determine the human and natural influences causing the changes. Historic NOAA maps were georeferenced into ArcGIS and analyzed by altering shapefiles of the estuary shoreline the years using for each selected map. Comparison maps, area change charts, and shoreline distance verses time graph were used to demonstrate the major changes. The changes were compared to a historical events timeline for the region of Coos Bay to show the correlation. The major changes on the estuary shoreline are a result of the local airport construction, and other areas that were heavily influenced by human alteration and influence. Between the years 1953 and 1940 the estuary was the most heavily altered. Only a minimal amount of the shoreline changes shows evidence of natural causes, such as erosion. With this information, the City of Coos Bay can decide on what preservation or alterations they feel are necessary to maintain the economic benefits of the estuary.