Shoreline Site Characterization Form

NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project

Shoreline Site Characterization Form
Complete ONCE per 100-meter site
Register this site at https://mdmap.orr.noaa.gov

SITE NAME:

Be specific when naming your 100-meter site so it is unlikely to appear elsewhere in the MDMAP database

GROUP/INDIVIDUAL:

SITE LOCATION:

DATE:

MM/DD/YYYY

Group/individual leading the survey effort

City (Village, Island, Borough, or County)

State/Province/Territory

Country

SITE COORDINATES:

Record in decimal degrees out to six decimal places at all four corners of the 100-meter shoreline site (DDD.DDDDDD)

DIRECTION WHEN FACING WATER:

Circle one direction on the compass below

SITE PHOTOS:

List timestamp, number, or other information to keep track of photos
of the site

This portion can be completed offsite.

NEAREST RIVER, STREAM, OR INLET:

Name of nearest river, stream, or inlet

SITE REMOTENESS:

(Check one)

parking within 1 kilometer (0.61 miles)
of site access
parking more than 1 kilometer away
need a boat or plane to access

Straight line distance from site in kilometers

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Why was this location selected to conduct surveys?
(Check all that apply)
I like this beach

random

convenience/easy access

secluded

popular tourist/recreation area

regulatory/legislative
consideration

legacy of monitoring here

no previous monitoring

suggested by MDMAP team

to answer a research question

I consistently see debris here

it is relatively clean

near a suspected source of debris

other (describe in notes)

NOTES:

Describe site features, including landmarks, coastal circulation
patterns, offshore barriers, etc.

TIPS FOR SELECTING AND ESTABLISHING A SHORELINE SITE:

GPS points mark the
four corners of the
100-meter site

Confirm that the length of the survey site
(shoreline parallel to water) is a continuous
100 meters. Measure along the back barrier.

Make note of landmarks
that can be helpful to
find the site