The Geomorphology of Puget Sound Beaches

The preservation and restoration of nearshore ecosystems in Puget Sound (including Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Saratoga Passage, Skagit Bay and Port Susan) fundamentally depends on an understanding of the processes that shape the shoreline over space and time. This report synthesizes information about the geomorphology and dynamics of Puget Sound’s beaches. It summarizes important peer-reviewed literature relevant to these beach environments and assembles background information that should be useful to shoreline managers and scientists alike.