the florida state university college of arts and sciences evolution of ...
the florida state university college of arts and sciences evolution of ...
the florida state university college of arts and sciences evolution of ...
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St. Vincent Isl<strong>and</strong><br />
CHAPTER 2<br />
STUDY AREA<br />
The Northwest coast <strong>of</strong> Florida is characterized by s<strong>and</strong>y beaches <strong>and</strong> extensive barrier<br />
isl<strong>and</strong>s. St. Vincent Isl<strong>and</strong> is a coastal barrier isl<strong>and</strong> located near <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Florida<br />
panh<strong>and</strong>le coast, approximately 120 km southwest <strong>of</strong> Tallahassee, Florida (Figure 1.1). The<br />
isl<strong>and</strong> is located just west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Apalachicola River. The isl<strong>and</strong> is approximately<br />
0.5 km from <strong>the</strong> nearest point on <strong>the</strong> mainl<strong>and</strong>. It is 6 km wide at its east end, 14 km long <strong>and</strong><br />
covers an area <strong>of</strong> over 50 square km (Davis <strong>and</strong> Mokray, 2000). It is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> largest Gulf<br />
coast barrier isl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
The isl<strong>and</strong> has been inhabited sparsely <strong>and</strong> intermittently throughout its history. The<br />
oldest paleoindian pottery shards on <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> date to approximately 4,000 yr B.P. (Miller et al.,<br />
1981). In 1633, <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> was named by Franciscan Friars who were visiting <strong>the</strong> local<br />
Apalachee tribes. Around 1750, members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Creek <strong>and</strong> Seminole tribes entered <strong>the</strong> area <strong>and</strong><br />
inhabited <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>. By <strong>the</strong> 1960’s, <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> was in private h<strong>and</strong>s, stocked with exotic game<br />
<strong>and</strong> was being used as a hunting ground. The isl<strong>and</strong> was later acquired by <strong>the</strong> federal<br />
government <strong>and</strong> in 1968, <strong>the</strong> U.S. Fish <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Service established <strong>the</strong> St. Vincent Isl<strong>and</strong><br />
National Wildlife Refuge (Davis <strong>and</strong> Mokray, 2000).<br />
Dominating <strong>the</strong> local geomorphology is a well-developed beach ridge plain that covers<br />
<strong>the</strong> surface <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> (Figure 2.1). More than 100 ridges have been formed over <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>’s<br />
approximately 4,000-year history. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se ridges are marked by eolian decoration.<br />
Previous studies conducted by Stapor (1973, 1975) <strong>and</strong> Campbell (1986) have divided <strong>the</strong> beach<br />
ridge plain on <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> into 12 ridge sets separated by erosional truncations (Figure 1.2). The<br />
oldest set (Set A) is on <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rnmost side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> youngest set (Set L) fronts a<br />
portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> active modern beach on <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>ast portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>. The ridges on St.<br />
Vincent Isl<strong>and</strong> are concave seaward. Ridges on <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> generally have<br />
lower elevations than those on <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn half. Ridges within sets A, B, C <strong>and</strong> D have crest<br />
elevations <strong>of</strong> approximately 1 m (Stapor <strong>and</strong> Tanner, 1977). Ridges within sets E, F, G, H, I, J,<br />
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