The California Estuary Assessment (CEA) tool provides remotely-sensed information about mouth state and inundation extent of California bar-built estuaries (BBEs) with the goal of informing BBE management. This Google Earth Engine tool is free to use and does not require any coding knowledge. Links to the tool, user guide, and publication are available below:
Why is the CEA Tool so Important?
Bar-built estuaries (BBEs) are highly dynamic habitats that are subject to various natural and anthropogenic factors influencing their environmental state. It is crucial to monitor BBEs in California to protect estuarine ecosystem services, including estuary function, structure, diversity, cultural value, and educational value. Traditional in situ monitoring can be expensive, time-consuming, difficult, and physically demanding. This can limit resource managers’ capacity to engage in consistent and robust monitoring ofBBEs. The CEA Tool supports monitoring efforts by using freely available satellite data that complements in situ data collection. Satellite imagery archives allow users to assess both historical patterns and near-real-time status of estuary mouth state and inundation extent.
USC Sea Grant’s Role
USC Sea Grant has partnered with the CEA Tool developers in order to host the tool, along with other relevant project links. Hosting the CEA Tool on USC Sea Grant’s website ensures that the tool remains free and easily accessible. Additionally, the USC Sea Grant team supports training and education about the tool, including through a recent educational webinar hosted by our AdaptLA program and featuring tutorials and assistance by the tool creators.
USC Sea Grant’s AdaptLA Program provides leadership, technical assistance, training workshops, and webinars, including those on the use of the CEA Tool, to inform planning efforts with the best available science for coastal practitioners across the greater Los Angeles region.
