Metadata: Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Ann E. Gibbs Originator: Alexander G. Snyder Originator: Nora M. Nieminski Publication_Date: 20260102 Title: Long-term shoreline intersect points for the northwest coast of Alaska (Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River), calculated using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 5.1.2 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polyline) Series_Information: Series_Name: data release Issue_Identification: 10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Larger_Work_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Ann E. Gibbs Originator: Alexander G. Snyder Originator: Nora M. Nieminski Publication_Date: 2026 Title: National assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines (1949 to 2015) and associated shoreline change data for the west coast of Alaska, Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River Series_Information: Series_Name: data release Issue_Identification: 10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Other_Citation_Details: Suggested Citation: Gibbs, A.E., Snyder, A.G., Nieminski, N.M., 2026, National assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines (1949 to 2015) and associated shoreline change data for the west coast of Alaska, Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1RYHDR7. Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Description: Abstract: This dataset consists of point data created by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) v5.1.2 at the intersection of shoreline and transect locations. Measurement transects are cast by DSAS from the baseline to intersect shoreline vectors, and the intersect data provide location and time information used to calculate rates of change. These point data contain identification information related to the DSAS transect (TransOrder) as well as the shoreline (ShorelineID and Uncertainty). They can be used to visually display which shorelines were used in the rate calculations and capture details on the shoreline represented by the intersection. The distances between the reference baseline and each shoreline intersection along a transect are used by the DSAS software to compute the shoreline change metrics. Purpose: Coastal erosion is a persistent process along most open-ocean shores of the United States and affects both developed and natural coastlines. Along the coast of Alaska, coastal erosion is widespread and threatens communities, infrastructure, and coastal habitat. As the coast changes, there are many ways that change can affect coastal communities, habitats, and the physical characteristics of the coast including beach erosion, shoreline retreat, land loss, and damage to infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for conducting research on coastal change hazards, understanding the processes that cause coastal change, and developing models to forecast future change. To understand and adapt to shoreline change, accurate information regarding the past and present configurations of the shoreline is essential, and a comprehensive, nationally consistent analysis of shoreline movement is needed. To meet this national need, the USGS is conducting an analysis of historical shoreline changes along open-ocean coasts of the United States and parts of the Great Lakes. This dataset is one in a series of regionally focused reports on historical shoreline change. As more data are gathered, periodic updates are made, which provide information that can be used in multidisciplinary assessments of coastal change hazards. Supplemental_Information: Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys or the U.S. Government. Although this Federal Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file is intended to document the dataset in nonproprietary form, as well as in Esri format, this metadata file may include some Esri-specific terminology. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 1949 Ending_Date: 2015 Currentness_Reference: ground condition at the time of the shoreline data Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -168.0948 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -160.4740 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 65.5317 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 62.9810 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: oceans Theme_Keyword: environment Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: Data Categories for Marine Planning Theme_Keyword: Distributions Theme_Keyword: Physical/Chemical Features Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: coastal processes Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: Marine Realms Information Bank (MRIB) keywords Theme_Keyword: shoreline accretion Theme_Keyword: shoreline erosion Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey Theme_Keyword: USGS Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program Theme_Keyword: CMHRP Theme_Keyword: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Theme_Keyword: PCMSC Theme_Keyword: Shoreline Theme_Keyword: Shoreline change Theme_Keyword: Digital Shoreline Analysis System Theme_Keyword: DSAS Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier Theme_Keyword: USGS:68bf8fecd4be023bd943fffe Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Place_Keyword: State of Alaska Place_Keyword: Bering Sea Place_Keyword: Norton Sound Place_Keyword: Brevig Mission Place_Keyword: Teller Place_Keyword: Nome Place_Keyword: Golovin Place_Keyword: Shaktoolik Place_Keyword: Unalakleet Place_Keyword: Stebbins Place_Keyword: Saint Michael Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: United States of America Place_Keyword: Alaska Access_Constraints: No access constraints Use_Constraints: USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. These data are marked with a Creative Common CC BY 4.0 License, and users must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey and Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys as the originators of the dataset and in products derived from these data. Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Contact_Person: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical Address: 2885 Mission Street City: Santa Cruz State_or_Province: CA Postal_Code: 95060 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 831-427-4747 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pcmsc_data@usgs.gov Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Emily A. Himmelstoss Originator: Rachel E. Henderson Originator: Meredith G. Kratzmann Originator: Amy S. Farris Publication_Date: 2021 Title: Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 5.1) User Guide Other_Citation_Details: Himmelstoss, E.A., Henderson, R.E., Kratzmann, M.G., and Farris, A.S., 2021, Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 5.1) User Guide: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2021-1091. Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211091 Online_Linkage: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/whcmsc/science/digital-shoreline-analysis-system-dsas Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Emily A. Himmelstoss Originator: Amy S. Farris Originator: Rachel E. Henderson Originator: Meredith G. Kratzmann Originator: Ayhan Ergul Originator: Ouya Zhang Originator: Jessica L. Zichichi Originator: E. Robert Thieler Publication_Date: 2018 Title: Digital Shoreline Analysis System (version 5.1): U.S. Geological Survey Software Other_Citation_Details: Current software at time of use was 5.1. The second link directs to the DSAS project page. Online_Linkage: https://code.usgs.gov/cch/dsas/-/tree/v5.1?ref_type=tags Online_Linkage: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/whcmsc/science/digital-shoreline-analysis-system-dsas Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The attributes of this dataset are based on the field requirements of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System and were automatically generated by the software during the generation of the transect layer or during the calculation of shoreline change rates performed by the software. The data have been quality checked. Logical_Consistency_Report: These data were generated using DSAS version 5.1.2. The transects automatically generated by the software were visually inspected along with the shoreline data prior to rate calculations. Sometimes transect positions were manually edited within a standard ArcMap edit session to adjust the position at which an individual transect intersected the shorelines to better represent an orthogonal position to the general trend of the coast over time. Completeness_Report: This dataset contains the intersects automatically generated by the DSAS software application that were used to calculate shoreline change rates for the region. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The intersection points represent the location where transects cast by the DSAS software crosses a historical shoreline position. The positional uncertainties associated with the shoreline and intersection points are captured in the shorelines metadata in this release. Lineage: Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: U.S. Geological Survey Publication_Date: 2025 Title: Midshore baselines for the northwest coast of Alaska (Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River) generated to calculate shoreline change rates Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: shapefile Publication_Information: Publication_Place: online Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Online_Linkage: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/68b9e4b2d4be021c5e4c9d5a Type_of_Source_Media: Digital Resources Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2025 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DSAS baselines Source_Contribution: DSAS baselines used for calculation of shoreline change rates, available from this same data release.. Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: U.S. Geological Survey Publication_Date: 2025 Title: Shorelines from 1949 to 2015 for the northwest coast of Alaska (Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River) used in shoreline change analysis Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: shapefile Publication_Information: Publication_Place: online Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Type_of_Source_Media: Digital Resources Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 1949 Ending_Date: 2015 Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DSAS shoreline Source_Contribution: DSAS shoreline file used for calculation of shoreline change rates, available from this same data release.. Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: U.S. Geological Survey Publication_Date: 2025 Title: Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5.1.2 transects with long-term rate calculations for the northwest coast of Alaska (Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River) Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: shapefile Publication_Information: Publication_Place: online Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Type_of_Source_Media: Digital Resources Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 1949 Ending_Date: 2015 Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DSAS transects Source_Contribution: DSAS transect file used for calculation of shoreline change rates, available from this same data release.. Process_Step: Process_Description: Long-term (LT) rate calculations were performed using DSAS v5.1.2 in ArcMap v10.8.1 on selected shoreline features. Parameters Used: Shoreline Layer= NorthwestAK_Shorelines, Shoreline Date Field=DATE_, Shoreline Uncertainty Field=UNCY, Default Data Accuracy=0 meters, Intersection Parameters=Seaward Intersection, Statistics to Calculate = [Shoreline Change Envelope (SCE)], [Net Shoreline Movement (NSM)], [End-point Rate (EPR)], [Linear Regression Rate (LRR)], [Weighted Linear Regression Rate (WLR)],Confidence Interval=90 percent, producing rates and intersect points. Process_Date: 2025 Process_Step: Process_Description: The resulting intersect shapefile was projected in Esri's ArcGIS Pro v3.4.3 > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Feature > Project. Parameters: input projection – NAD 1983 UTM Zone 3N; output projection - geographic coordinates (WGS84); transformation = WGS_1984_(ITRF00)_To_NAD_1983. Process_Date: 2025 Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector Point_and_Vector_Object_Information: SDTS_Terms_Description: SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: String Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 56475 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.0000001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.0000001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal seconds Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_WGS_1984 Ellipsoid_Name: WGS_1984 Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257223563 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: Attribute Table Entity_Type_Definition: Table containing attribute information associated with the dataset. Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Producer defined Attribute: Attribute_Label: FID Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Shape Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: Point Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: ESRI point shapefile Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute: Attribute_Label: TransectID Attribute_Definition: A permanent and unique identification number for each transect in the output rates table calculated by DSAS. Attribute_Definition_Source: Himmelstoss and others (2018) Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 223 Range_Domain_Maximum: 21868 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Unitless Attribute: Attribute_Label: TransOrder Attribute_Definition: Assigned by DSAS based on ordering of transects along the baseline or baselines. If the user manually adds transects to the file in an edit session, they will be added to the end of the transect attribute table and given a new TransectID (ObjectID). However, TransOrder will be updated to reflect the position of the new transect with respect to the other transects along the baseline. This field provides the user with a method to sort transect attribute data from the start of the baseline segment with an ID=1 and increment by one alongshore to the end of the final baseline segment. Attribute_Definition_Source: Himmelstoss and others (2018) Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 223 Range_Domain_Maximum: 22153 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Unitless Attribute: Attribute_Label: BaselineID Attribute_Definition: Values in this field correlate to the baselines attribute field “ID” and are assigned by DSAS to identify the baseline segment used to generate the measurement transect. Attribute_Definition_Source: Himmelstoss and others (2018) Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 1 Range_Domain_Maximum: 40 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Unitless Attribute: Attribute_Label: ShorelineI Attribute_Definition: Date of shoreline position; date of survey as determined from shoreline layer. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 09/01/1949 Range_Domain_Maximum: 08/31/2015 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: mm/dd/yyyy Attribute: Attribute_Label: Distance Attribute_Definition: The distance in meters between the DSAS reference baseline and the shoreline intersection point along a DSAS transect. Decimal values may be positive or negative, which is used to indicate landward (negative) or seaward (positive) shoreline movement. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: -563.95 Range_Domain_Maximum: 431.81 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters Attribute: Attribute_Label: IntersectX Attribute_Definition: The easting or X-coordinate location of the intersect point in NAD83 UTM Zone 3. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 357485.87 Range_Domain_Maximum: 708696.90 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters Attribute: Attribute_Label: IntersectY Attribute_Definition: The northing or Y-coordinate location of the intersect point in NAD83 UTM Zone 3. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 6990303.82 Range_Domain_Maximum: 7278804.80 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters Attribute: Attribute_Label: Uncertaint Attribute_Definition: The uncertainty of the shoreline intersect point as defined by the positional uncertainty value of the shoreline. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 2.13 Range_Domain_Maximum: 8.93 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The entity and attribute information provided here describes the tabular data associated with the dataset. Please review the detailed descriptions that are provided (the individual attribute descriptions) for information on the values that appear as fields/table entries of the dataset. Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: The entity and attribute information were generated by the individual and/or agency identified as the originator of the dataset. Please review the rest of the metadata record for additional details and information. Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302 City: Denver State_or_Province: CO Postal_Code: 80225 Country: CA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 888-275-8747 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: sciencebase@usgs.gov Resource_Description: These data are available in shapefile format contained in a single zip file, which also includes CSDGM FGDC-compliant metadata. Distribution_Liability: Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) , no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: Shapefile Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS Pro v3.4.3 Format_Specification: Esri point shapefile Format_Information_Content: Zip file contains the point data representing the intersection of shorelines and transect data measured along shore perpendicular transects on the northwest coast of Alaska and associated metadata. File_Decompression_Technique: Use WinZip or equivalent Transfer_Size: 2.43 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Access_Instructions: Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and selecting the specific Child Items title page. Fees: None. Technical_Prerequisites: These data are available in a point shapefile format. The user must have software to read and process the data components of a shapefile. Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20260102 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Contact_Person: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical Address: 2885 Mission Street City: Santa Cruz State_or_Province: CA Postal_Code: 95060 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 831-427-4747 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pcmsc_data@usgs.gov Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998