2014 Map of Wainwright B-4 SW

About this map

Chukchi Sea waters dominate the northern extent of this coastal reach within the North Slope Borough. The landscape is defined by the narrow, shifting barrier islands that separate the open sea from the protected waters of Kasegaluk Lagoon. This delicate marine environment is punctuated by Akoliakatat Pass, a vital break in the barrier sands that allows for the exchange of tides and nutrients. The inland terrain is a saturated coastal plain, marked by a complex network of thaw lakes and ponds typical of the Arctic slope, where land and water intermingle without high relief. This 2014 survey documents the precise configuration of these coastal landforms and the extent of the lagoon system before further seasonal erosion or deposition alters the shoreline.