Dam Removal: Thousands of small dams 

in the United States will be removed 

during the 21st century, owing to their 

age or to ecosystem-restoration efforts. 

USGS scientists are preparing to monitor 

sediment released by the removal of two 

dams on the Elwha River in Washington 

in order to determine how this sediment 

affects local habitats and water quality.

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Locations and Personnel

The Western Coastal and Marine Geology Team consists of about 120 people 

located in Santa Cruz and Menlo Park, 

California. Work and staff are integrated 

with the other USGS Coastal and Marine 

Geology centers in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and St. Petersburg, Florida.

Examples of Current Research

Tsunami Hazards: USGS researchers are 

working with the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

and other organizations to develop probabilistic inundation-hazard maps for use 

by the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA). They are also seeking 

evidence of ancient tsunamis in southern 

California that may be associated with 

the huge landslide deposits identified in 

offshore bathymetric and seismic-reflection data.

Benthic Habitats: Sea-floor characteristics affect the distribution, abundance, 

and behavior of bottom-dwelling fish and 

shellfish of commercial and recreational 

value. USGS scientists are mapping 

benthic (sea floor) habitats offshore California and Alaska to better understand 

seabed dynamics and to support State and 

national management efforts.

Landslides: Team scientists are using 

ground-penetrating radar and other remote-sensing tools to study landslides 

and ground failures in coastal environments of central California, Puget Sound 

(Washington), and Alaska. A project with 

the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is investigating recent and 

historical landslides along the Big Sur 

coast to assess the hazard for California 

Highway 1 and to determine impacts on 

the coastal environment.

Coral Reefs: USGS scientists are mapping 

the distribution and condition of coral 

reefs as part of a national effort to understand and protect these fragile environments. Projects are underway in Hawaii in 

cooperation with the National Park Service, the University of Hawaii, and others.

Puget Sound Nearshore Project: USGS 

scientists are investigating present-day 

water-circulation and sediment-transport 

patterns in nearshore environments of 

Puget Sound, Washington, to document 

the characteristics, evolution, and geologic processes of estuarine and marine habitats. This work contributes to the Puget 

Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration 

Project, a cooperative effort involving the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and many 

State and local agencies.

Southern California Sediment: Team scientists are studying the distribution of 

sediment and pollutants offshore heavily 

populated southern California. The U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

and local sanitation districts help support 

this work, which includes investigating 

and modeling processes that transport 

sediment and pollutants through coastal 

waters.

Earthquake Hazards: The USGS is mapping and documenting the locations, geometry, slip rates, and earthquake-recurrence intervals of active faults offshore 

California and the Pacific Northwest—information essential for seismic-hazard 

assessment and mitigation.

Extreme-Event Response: After wildfires 

ravaged southern California in fall 2003, 

USGS researchers deployed instruments 

off the Santa Clara River, which drains 

one of the largest coastal watersheds in 

the region. These instruments recorded 

the transport of a large volume of sediment washed to the ocean by erosion of 

the denuded slopes. A followup coring 

study was conducted to determine the 

amount and chemical composition of this 

sediment and its effects on the marine 

environment.

USGS Western Coastal and Marine Geology Team, 2004

U.S. Geological Survey scientists about to 

deploy a video sled to study benthic habitats in 

Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Drifter equipped with navigation system and 

radio transmitter tracks the movement of newly 

spawned coral larvae in Hawaii.

Helen Gibbons

Edited by George A. Havach

Graphic design by Stephen L. Scott

For more information contact:

Dr. Samuel Y. Johnson, Chief Scientist

USGS Pacific Science Center

400 Natural Bridges Dr.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 427-4746, sjohnson@usgs.gov

http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/

This Fact Sheet and any updates to it are available 

online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3075/

 he Western Coastal and Marine

 Geology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) studies the 

Pacific coast of the Western United 

States. Team scientists conduct 

marine research, monitor ocean 

processes, and provide information 

about geologic hazards, environmental conditions, habitats, and energy 

and mineral resources. USGS activities help managers at all levels of 

government and in the private sector 

make informed decisions about 

the use and protection of national 

coastal and marine resources.

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sheet 2004–3075

2004

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