Metadata: Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Ann E. Gibbs Originator: Alexander G. Snyder Originator: Nora M. Nieminski Publication_Date: 20260102 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: vector digital data (polyline) Series_Information: Series_Name: data release Issue_Identification: 10.5066/P1RYHDR7 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey 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 Description: Abstract: This dataset includes reference baselines used by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5.1.2 to calculate rate-of-change statistics for the exposed, open-ocean coast of western Alaska between Cape Prince of Wales to the Kotlik River for the time period 1949 to 2015. This baselines layer serves as the starting point for all transects cast by the DSAS application and can be used to establish measurement points used to calculate shoreline-change rates. 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: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2025 Currentness_Reference: publication date Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -168.1244 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -160.7629 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 65.6920 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 63.0331 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:68b9e4b2d4be021c5e4c9d5a 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: Elim 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 the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys as the originators of the dataset and in products derived from these data. These data are not to be used for navigation. 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 Data_Set_Credit: U.S. Geological Survey Native_Data_Set_Environment: Generated as a Shapefile in ArcGIS. 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 attribute in this layer is based on the requirements for use within the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software (Himmelstoss and others, 2018, 2021). The data have been quality checked. Logical_Consistency_Report: All polylines have a unique identification attribute (ID). This field is used by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to designate the alongshore order of baselines if there are more than one. Adjacent baseline segments do not overlap and are not necessarily continuous. Completeness_Report: This baselines file is complete and contains all baseline segments used to cast transects where shoreline data are present to calculate a rate of change. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The baseline serves as a reference point for transects cast by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. It does not correspond to any real-world feature. Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The baseline serves as a reference point for transects cast by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. It does not correspond to any real-world feature. Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: Baselines were constructed midshore from the time series of shoreline positions using standard editing tools in Esri ArcMap v10.8.1. The baselines were positioned to conform to changes in the orientation of the historical shorelines also presented in this data release. This was done so that transects, which are generated by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System v. 5.1 from the baseline, would intersect perpendicular to the general trend of the shorelines. Process_Date: 2024 Process_Step: Process_Description: The baselines shapefile was imported into a personal geodatabase in ArcCatalog v10.8.1 by right-clicking on the geodatabase > Import for use with the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to perform rate calculations. Process_Date: 2024 Process_Step: Process_Description: The baselines feature class was used as the input within the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software to generate transects and perform rate calculations. Process_Date: 2025 Process_Step: Process_Description: The baselines feature class was exported from a personal geodatabase to a shapefile in ArcCatalog v10.8.1 by performing a right-mouse click on the data layer > export > to shapefile (single). Process_Date: 2025 Process_Step: Process_Description: The data were projected in Esri's ArcGIS Pro v3.4.3 > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > 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: 39 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.0000001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.0000001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_WGS_1984 Ellipsoid_Name: WGS 84 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: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute: Attribute_Label: FID Attribute_Definition: Index number unique to each record in the attribute table. Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: Polyline ZM Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: ESRI polyline shapefile Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute: Attribute_Label: DSAS_ID Attribute_Definition: Field required by the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. DSAS uses this value to determine the ordering sequence of transects when the baselines feature contains multiple segments. Individual segments are numbered sequentially alongshore. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 1 Range_Domain_Maximum: 40 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Unitless Attribute: Attribute_Label: SearchDist Attribute_Definition: An optional field within the DSAS software that allows users to set a search distance in meters. DSAS will use this value to search for shorelines extending out from either side of the baseline. Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 40 Range_Domain_Maximum: 450 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Meters Attribute: Attribute_Label: Shape_Leng Attribute_Definition: Length of feature in meter units (UTM zone 3N, NAD83) Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 395 Range_Domain_Maximum: 212167 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 individual attribute descriptions for detailed information. 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: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302 City: Denver State_or_Province: CO Postal_Code: 80225 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747 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: Vector Digital Dataset (Polyline) Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS Pro v3.4.3 Format_Specification: Esri polyline shapefile Format_Information_Content: Zip file containing a shapefile of baselines for the northwest coast of Alaska (Cape Prince of Wales to Kotlik River) and associated metadata File_Decompression_Technique: Use WinZip or equivalent Transfer_Size: 0.60047 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 polyline 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