Award Period
to
Award Amount
$108,833
Agency Name
The Nature Conservancy
Award Number
SB250163-Task2
PI First Name
Ian
PI Last Name
Walker
MSI People
Area/s of Research
Climate Change Science
Marine Conservation, Policy and Education
Marine Geology and Geophysics
Natural Marine Resources
Abstract
- Conduct a historical analysis of dune geomorphology and vegetation changes from historical aerial photography. Grantee will quantify changes in plant cover and open sand surface area over time to create baseline scenarios for restoration goals. As possible, reconstruct 3D digital elevation models (DEMs) of the terrain using Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. This information will inform what types of vegetation, if any, are appropriate for restoration of the dune ecosystem. Report will be provided by August 1, 2025.
- Assess regional wind climatology and sand drift potential for the Point Conception dunes site. As possible, obtain nearby historic wind and precipitation records or climate re-analysis datasets (NARR, ECMWF) that extend back several decades. These data will be used to produce seasonal wind roses, wind power density (WPD) estimates, and model sand drift potential (RDP, per Fryberger and Dean 1979) for the site. RDP 'drift roses' and WPD estimates are commonly used to model sand flux and examine the transporting regime that maintains and controls dune form. Assess if this regime has changed over recent decades (to the extent that historical records allow) and use this to inform restoration approaches in the dune system using NOAA/CIRES 20th c. reanalysis. Report will be provided by August 1, 2025.
- Continue monitoring of geomorphic and plant cover responses at the restoration site using the established monitoring protocol with UAS-based surveys with RGB and multi-spectral payloads. Install sand traps in Fall 2025 to quantify sand flux amounts along a transect within the restoration site to compare with volumetric estimates derived from UAS change detection methods. These measurements will be used to characterize changes in plant cover, dune geomorphology, sand volume, and sand flux at the site for the 2025 and 2026 wind and plant growth seasons (~April to September). Report will be provided by June 1, 2027.
- Conduct an initial change analysis of dune morphodynamics, sediment budgets, and vegetation cover changes from UAS flights in August 2023, September 2023, November 2023, April 2024, July 2024, February 2025. Analysis of these datasets will be used to interpret initial changes of the restoration site following iceplant removal in Fall 2023. A memo reporting on the findings of the monitoring will be provided to TNC following the completion of monitoring by August 1, 2025.
- Analyse core samples collected in April 2024 within the dune field for interpretation of sedimentology, stratigraphy, and absolute dating of deposits (using OSL and/or 14C dating) within and beneath the modern dunes and into the underlying marine terrace in collaboration with Drs. Alex Simms, Olav Lian, and Mitch D’Arcy. Stratigraphic and sedimentological information from the cores, coupled with the absolute ages will allow for facies model development of the dune deposits on the marine terrace, including any constraining ages. A report describing the number and locations of the core samples, sampling and data analysis methods, stratigraphic interpretations, and any ages obtained, will be delivered to TNC by December 31, 2026.
- A final summary report of cumulative findings on the sedimentology, geomorphology, and formation of the Point Conception headland bypass dune system using the cumulative results of all surveys will be delivered by end of the project on July 1, 2027.
- All data collected as a result of the surveys and any derived data products should be delivered to TNC in common data formats (e.g. csv, shapefiles, .txt) with ascribed metadata upon project completion.