INDICATORS FOR CORAL HEALTH FOR THE COASTAL ROAD EROSION SUSCEPTIBILITY INDEX (CRESI) ON OAHU, HAWAII, USA

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2022

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Natural coastal protection possesses the capability of dissipating large amounts of incoming wave energy, protecting the coastline, while providing more adaptability into the ecosystem than hard-engineering coastal protection. Healthy nearshore coastal waters provide an environment more conducive for coral reef growth and prosperity, resulting in a higher degree of wave attenuation and adaptability as reefs build and grow. The health of the fringing reefs surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are of significant importance to the protection of coastal infrastructure and communities. To assess coral health, a coral health matrix is developed using seven variables, watershed percent conservation area, rainfall amount, coral coverage, total effluent, sedimentation, depth, and significant wave height, to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the condition and vulnerability of the coral and coral reef environment. The matrix is implemented at two case study locations, located in Waimanalo and Punaluu, Oahu, HI, respectively. Milepost (MP) 24+0.48, receiving a final vulnerability score of 3.71, is deemed as having a coral that is more vulnerable than MP 5+0.93, receiving a vulnerability ranking of 2.86 primarily due to the significantly higher rainfall and sedimentation occurring at this location. Additionally, MP 24+0.48 possesses a lower significant wave height and depth, resulting in less ocean circulation and coral reefs that are more exposed to potential threats. This coral vulnerability matrix may be adopted into the Coastal Road Susceptibility Index (CRESI) in the future.

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Civil engineering, Environmental engineering

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43 pages

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