GEOLOGIC AND GEOMORPHIC MAPPING IN NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA NATIONAL PARKS

The Florida Geological Survey (FGS) is mapping the geomorphology and completing new surficial and subsurface geologic mapping for the National Park Service (NPS) at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial as well as Fort Matanzas National Monument and Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Color infrared imagery was classified using remote sensing software to identify water and wetland features. True color aerial imagery and LiDAR data were utilized to delineate additional surface geomorphic units. This geomorphic mapping is highly detailed to identify surficial geology and, in part, the ecology of discrete features in the coastal zone of northeastern Florida. Lithologic description of cores and cuttings in the FGS Core and Cuttings Repository, as well as new cores collected for this project, provided a greater level of detail for the subsurface stratigraphy of coastal northeastern Florida. Ground-truthing reconnaissance field-verified preliminary interpretations accomplished using GIS and computer work stations. Research coordinated with NPS staff identified areas of greatest concern for future management decisions. The data from the project will go into a geodatabase that will be available for NPS and public use through NPS-based data portals as well as the FGS geodatabase and a future FGS publication. This FGS research furthers our understanding of the coastal and subsurface geology in northeastern Florida, and increases data available for upcoming STATEMAP geologic mapping in the USGS 30 x 60 St. Augustine quadrangle.