Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College/School
College of Science and Mathematics
Department/Program
Earth and Environmental Studies
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba
Committee Member
Gregory Pope
Committee Member
Josh Galster
Abstract
Flood-tidal deltas are key sediment reservoirs that stabilize tidal inlets and adjacent shorelines, yet their function can be undermined by engineering interventions. We quantify the 1933-2024 evolution of the Barnegat Inlet system (New Jersey, USA) using geospatial mapping of landmass change, historical and modern bathymetry, and compiled dredging records. The system transitioned from net accretion through the early 1970s to persistent landmass loss thereafter, coinciding with intensified channel deepening and maintenance dredging. A mass-balance comparison shows that cumulative dredging volumes consistently exceed estimated delta losses, suggesting a reorganization of sediment pathways that bypass traditional deltaic sinks and promote interior shoaling. While tides, storms, and sea-level rise remain active drivers, their timing and magnitude do not account for post-1970s degradation trend. We infer that engineering activities are the primary driver of delta decline and the decoupling of barrier-lagoon sediment sharing feedbacks. These results underscore the need for adaptive sediment management, particularly strategic bypassing and placement, to sustain inlet-delta function and long-term coastal resilience in modified estuarine systems.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Truman, Andrew Joseph, "Transformative Shifts: Sediment Loss and Flood Tidal Delta Decline in Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey" (2025). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1596.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1596