Soft bottom is unconsolidated, unvegetated sediment that occurs in freshwater, estuarine, and marine system
Soft bottom is unconsolidated, unvegetated sediment that occurs in freshwater, estuarine, and marine systems. Mud flats, sand bars, inlet shoals, and intertidal beaches are specific types of soft bottom. Grain size distribution, salinity, DO, and flow characteristics affect the condition of soft bottom habitat and the type of organisms that use it. Soft bottom covers approximately 1.9 million acres. North Carolina’s coast can be divided into geologically distinct northern and southern provinces. In the northern province (north of Cape Lookout), the seafloor consists of a thick layer of unconsolidated mud, muddy sand, and peat sediments. The low slopes of the bottom result in an extensive system of drowned river estuaries, long barrier islands, and few inlets. The southern province has a thin and variable layer of surficial sands and mud, with under- lying rock platforms, a steeper sloping shoreline with narrow estuaries, short barrier islands, and numerous inlets.
Soft bottom is important as a storage reservoir of nutrients, chemicals, and microbes in coastal ecosystems
Soft bottom is important as a storage reservoir of nutrients, chemicals, and microbes in coastal ecosystems, allowing for both deposition and resuspension of nutrients and toxic substances. The surface supports benthic microalgae, contributing substantial primary production to the coastal system. Estuarine soft bottom supports over 400 species of benthic invertebrates in North Carolina. Juvenile stages of species such as summer and southern flounder, spot, Atlantic croaker, and penaeid shrimp use the shallow unvegetated flats, which larger predators cannot access, as important nursery habitat. As fish get larger, they will venture out of protective cover to forage in soft bottom. Fishery independent data from shallow creeks and bays in Pamlico Sound documented 78 fish and invertebrate species. Eight of those — spot, bay anchovy, Atlantic croaker, Atlantic menhaden, silver perch, blue crab, brown shrimp, and southern flounder — comprised > 97% of the total nekton abundance. Soft bottom between structured habitat (SAV, wetlands, shell bottom) acts as a barrier to connectivity, which can be beneficial to small invertebrates by reducing predation risk. Fish and invertebrates that commonly occur in this habitat, including hard clams, flatfish, skates, rays, and other small cryptic fish such as gobies, avoid predation by burrowing into the sediment, thus camouflaging themselves from predators. Ocean soft bottom, particularly in the surf zone and along shoals and inlets, serves as an important feeding ground for fish that forage on benthic invertebrates. These predators generally have high economic value as recreational and commercial species, and include Florida pompano, red drum, kingfish, spot, Atlantic croaker, weakfish, Spanish mackerel, and striped bass. Many demersal and estuary-dependent fish spawn over soft bottom habitat in North Carolina’s coastal waters.
Soft bottom includes features such as mud flats, inlets, shoals, channel bottoms, and ocean beaches
Soft bottom benefits the economy by providing habitat for critical food sources, by cycling nutrients, burying pollutants, and dampening wave energy
Beaches are extremely valuable for tourism and recreation, including surf fishing, surfing, and beach going. One study, averaging data from seven North Carolina beaches, found the net economic benefits of a day at a beach ranged from $14—$104 for single day trips and $14 to $53 overnight stays. For example, the total average annual benefits of long-term beach nourishment was estimated to be $14,836,688 (2014 dollars) due to recreational and storm damage reduction benefits.
According to an EPA report, North Carolina's sediment quality is ranked as poor due to toxicity
Comprehensive mapping of soft bottom habitat has not been completed. The loss of more structured habitat, such as SAV, wetlands, and shell bottom, has undoubtedly led to gains in soft bottom habitat. The quality of soft bottom habitat is a better indicator of soft bottom status than quantity. The best available information on sediment quality comes from EPA’s latest National Coastal Condition Report (NCCR IV). The report rated the coast from North Carolina to Florida at 3.6 (fair) overall, while sediment quality was rated 2 (fair to poor), which was lower than in previous reports. Sediment quality is based on toxicity, contaminants, and total organic carbon (TOC). The percentage of area determined to be in poor condition was 13%. The primary reason for the low rating was sediment toxicity. The quality of soft bottom habitat can affect species abundance and diversity. Sediments in soft bottom habitat can accumulate both chemical and microbial contaminants, potentially affecting benthic organisms and community structure. Tidal creeks are sensitive to various aspects of human development, but sensitivity depends on the size and location of the creeks. Because tidal creeks are the nexus between estuaries and land-based activities, potential for contamination is high. Intertidal creeks close to headwaters demonstrate greater concentrations of nonpoint source contamination than larger systems near the mouth. The degree of contamination also depends on the impervious cover surrounding the land.
Soft bottom covers about 2.1 million acres of estuarine and ocean bottom within state waters
Excess nutrients, dredging, and toxic chemicals can disrupt this habitat and kill benthic organisms important for the entire food chain
Inadequate information is available to determine the current condition of soft bottom. Many human activities aimed at enhancing the “coastal experience” can inadvertently degrade this habitat. The ecological functions provided by soft bottom can be altered by activities such as dredging for channels or marinas, shoreline stabilization, water churning in marinas, and use of certain types of fishing gear. Along the oceanfront, jetties form barriers to the movement of sand, altering the natural sediment cycle. Excess nutrient concentrations in coastal rivers, in combination with certain environmental conditions, can lead to no or low oxygen levels near the bottom, killing the benthic organisms in the sediment, which reduces food availability for larger invertebrates and fish. Sediment contaminated with toxins can affect reproduction and growth of shellfish and other aquatic animals. Soft bottom habitat is relatively resistant to a changing environment.
Soft bottom strongly influences the water column by the constant cycling of nutrient and sediments