Sediment dynamics of a sediment-starved, open-marine marsh embayment: Waccasassa Bay, Florida

Journal of Coastal Research
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Abstract

Although the Big Bend region of Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast is considered sediment-starved, the open marine marshes that characterize the area are keeping pace with sea level rise. Waccasassa Bay, an embayment within this region, also contains unique subtidal mudbanks that thicken with increasing proximity to embayment head, while the remainder of the bayfloor is characterized by exposed carbonate bedrock or by a thin veneer of sediment. Hydro- dynamic data sets were collected to determine the primary sedimentary processes within Waccasassa Bay capable of creating such geomorphic features. Data suggest that the embayment is a flood-dominated system influenced primarily by semi-diurnal tides with flood-stage intensification towards the river-mouth. Subtidal mudbanks are believed to be the result of tidal time-velocity asymmetries and the convergence of sediment transport pathways. Flood dominance for potential bedload transport suggests a gradual infilling of the bay interior for the short time scale of this study. With no mechanism for seaward transport, Waccasassa Bay can be considered a sediment sink for the remainder of the Big Bend re

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Sediment dynamics of a sediment-starved, open-marine marsh embayment: Waccasassa Bay, Florida
Series title Journal of Coastal Research
Volume 19
Issue 3
Year Published 2003
Language English
Publisher Coastal Education & Research Foundation
Publisher location Fort Lauderdale, FL
Contributing office(s) Western Geographic Science Center
Description 10 p.
First page 574
Last page 583
Country United States
State Florida
Other Geospatial Waccasassa Bay
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