To Claim the Find:
- What are three man-made structures that have helped make Coney Island the shape it is today?
- From the Posted Coordinate, look at the spacing between the groins. How do you think the spacing between them effects beach erosion?
- How dose the view of this beach compare to a natural beach?
- Is Coney Island an Island?
- (Optional) Please Include a Photo with your Log!
Is Coney Island an Island?
Coney Island is the westernmost part of the barrier islands of Long Island. At its highest, it is 7 feet above sea level. Formerly an island that was separated from Brooklyn by Coney Island Creek, a partial tidal mudflat, but a large portion of the creek was filled in the 1920s and 30s for highway development, turning the island into a peninsula.
At the time of European settlement, Coney Island was actually several separate islands that were constantly changing shape due to tidal and storm forces, as well as the reshaping of the island by humans.
At the turn of the 20th century, there were plans to dredge and straighten the creek as a ship canal, but they were abandoned. In the 1930’s a major section of the creek was filled in to allow construction of the Belt Parkway. More fill was added in 1962 with the construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
The perimeter of Coney Island features man-made structures designed to maintain its current shape. The beaches are currently not a natural feature at all. The sand on Coney Island beach is all shipped in. In fact, this was the first “beach nourishment project” in the US, 1922-1923. The sand is held in place by around two-dozen groins.
What are all these Groins doing on the beach?
N 40° 34.208 W 073° 59.007
A Groin or Groynes is a rigid water structure built on the ocean shore that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of sediment. The Coney Island Groins are some of America’s oldest and are made of stone. The areas between groins are groin fields. Groins tend to cause a shoreline to look unnatural. Here at Coney Island, the Groyne Fields are filled with bathers most of the summer.
Coney Island Mudflats
N 40° 34.889 W 073° 59.126
From this waypoint, you can see the original Coney Island Creek. Now since it is blocked off it has become more of a Mudflat. Mudflats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides. Most of the sediment within a mudflat is within the intertidal zone, and thus the flat is submerged and exposed approximately twice daily.
In the past tidal flats were considered unhealthy, economically unimportant areas and were often dredged and developed for industry and shipping, or filled in. But today we better understand they are an important part of the ecosystem providing a unique areas for specific plant life, fish and a great food source for birds.
Sheepshead Bay Bulkhead
N 40° 34.924 W 073° 56.951
Coastal bulkheads are also referred to as seawalls, bulkheading, or riprap revetments. These man-made structures are constructed along shorelines with the purpose of controlling beach erosion.
Studies over recent decades have resulted in public awareness as to potential negative effects that bulkheads may bring to beaches, islands and the interconnected habitat areas of fish, plants, and birds.
While bulkheads may serve their purpose to slow erosion they commonly cause a domino effect of change to the beach profile. The increased wave reflection caused by their presence can result in large sand re-deposits in front of the bulkhead.
Bulk Heads also disrupt the natural habitat of many fish species and plant life that can only survive along shorelines.
To Claim the Find:
- What are three man made structures that have helped make Coney Island the shape it is today?
- From the Posted Coordinate, look at the spacing between the groins. How do you think the spacing between them effects beach erosion?
- How dose the view of this beach compare to a natural beach?
- Is Coney Island an Island?
- (Optional) Please Include a Photo with your Log!