This window contains information about the drift cell data set. This shows the direction of alongshore drift (arrows) and the approximate boundaries (lines) of drift cells. The drift cell data is plotted on top of a bathymetry base map (details available in metadata for the base map).
Drift Cells: All drift cell data that we used in the inventory originated in a 1974 report by Wolf Bauer titled, "Drift Sectors of Whatcom County Marine Shores: Their Shoreforms and Geo-Hydraulic Status." This report shows the geographic limits of drift cells in the County, the direction of long term shore-drift in each cell, the type and locations of existing shoreforms, and written summaries of evidence for these limits and directions. The map included in this report was used to digitize three new shapefiles; Drift Cell Boundaries, Shore Forms, and Net High Tide Drift Direction. Wolf Bauer Report Background: The data for this inventory item comes from the 1976 report "Drift Sectors of Whatcom County Marine Shores: Their Shoreforms and Geo-Hydraulic Status," by Wolf Bauer. This pioneering study contains the best known information regarding drift cells in Whatcom County. The data from this report does have some limitations. The data is from the early 1970's and although much of the data is extremely useful today, some of the shoreline conditions have undoubtedly changed since the report was published.
The report states: "In a pioneering study of this type, it should be emphasized that the determination of Drift Sector boundaries and their geographic locations represents a preliminary, rather than final or absolute fixation in view of the lack of longshore drift-monitoring data, lack of wave-action observations under various conditions, and the limited time available for a base-line study for this purpose." (Bauer, 1976). The report also explains the scope of the study: "Rock, including non-drift pock-beach shores, estuarine and certain industrial shores are not included in this study. These excluded areas are the Nooksack River estuary, south half of Lummi Island, Lummi Aquaculture sea pond, Chuckanut, and Bellingham and Blaine harbor areas" (Bauer, 1976). This report also numbers the drift sectors and includes detailed tables for all 34. Each table includes detailed notes on boundary location, accretion shoreforms (including percent of sector), bluff factors, drift factors, intrusion status, use and potential limits, and special notes or problems. This information should be used to supplement the spatial data included in the inventory. Drift Cell Boundaries: The following is from the Bauer report (Bauer, 1976): "The assumed Sector (cell) boundaries are either absolute or overlapping, depending on shore orientation, wave progression or refraction limits, driftway loading, and the effectiveness of natural or artificial drift barriers within the foreshore. Where Sector boundaries are well defined, they are indicated with solid lines on both photo and map and as broken lines representing partial or drift overlap." The same line-classification system was used to display this theme in the inventory.
Shapefile feature class (line) in UTM Zone 10 coordinate system (North American Datum 1927 w False Northing)
Line ID's only.
GENERAL MAP INFORMATION: Map Projection is UTM NAD 27 Zone 10. Maps Created By Applied GIS Services (W.Lynch-C.Dolphin), January 2002. Data is complete only for Whatcom County Waters- refer to original data sources for other counties.
CAUTION: Map Should Not Be Used For Navigation.
DISCLAIMER: The data shown on these maps was processed primarily for use by the Whatcom County Marine Resource Committee. The maps may contain errors of content, completeness and positional accuracy. Testing of the positional accuracy of this data with respect to National Map Accuracy Standards has not been completed and therefore assume that it does not conform to National Mapping Accuracy Standards. User assumes responsibility to assess the appropriate use of the maps and data. Whatcom County MRC and Applied GIS cannot anticipate nor assume any responsibility or liability for the subsequent, secondary uses of the maps or data.