AK TRLN Information Session: Coastal Mapping and Decision Making - Part II

This session expanded on the conversation that began in May surrounding coastal mapping and decision making for the City of Unalakleet. Unalakleet is one of the communities participating in the ongoing coastal mapping workshops and projects that are recording topographic (land elevation) data in addition to bathymetric (water depth) data in the shallow waters adjacent to coasts (topobathymetric data) along the Norton Sound region. We discussed how the upcoming USGS coastal flood mapping tools can be used by Tribe, city, Alaska Native Corporations, state, and federal level long-term planners to plan for new construction sites, guide infrastructure design, identify vulnerable or soon-to-be vulnerable assets, and evaluate susceptibility of highly valued ecosystems to changes, such as saltwater exposure.

Presenters
Kelsi Ivanoff – City Administrator for Unalakleet
Erin Trochim – UAF Institute of Northern Engineering Assistant Research Professor, Coastal Mapping Lead
Maya Hayden – USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Director of Outreach and Engagement
Li Erikson – USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Research Oceanographer