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 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.鈥�
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.鈥疭ediment management actions are typically鈥痙one鈥痜or hazard mitigation鈥痵uch as鈥痚rosion 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:鈥痠mpacts to鈥痗oastal sediment supply,鈥痵eafloor habitats,鈥痓each habitats, fish and other marine species, and long-term鈥痗oastal鈥痳esilience along the U.S. coasts.鈥�
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