especially from New Jersey southward. 



The salt marshes of this region show a subtle shift from the 

 New England type to that more characteristic of the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf Coastal Plain. Here, there are limited areas of smooth 

 cordgrass ( Spartina alterniflora ) with saltmeadow grass ( Spartina 

 patens ) occupying the largest area. There is a similar zonation 

 pattern found on the eastern shore of Maryland. The western shore 

 of the Chesapeake Bay with its stronger freshwater influence has 

 Spartina alterniflora in areas covered by tides, but giant cordgrass 

 ( Spartina cynosuroides ) often borders tidal streams. 



The South Atlantic nearshore region consists of almost continuous ex- 

 panses of barrier islands, sea islands, marshes, and estuaries. These barrier 

 and sea islands commonly shelter productive marshes on the landward side, 

 as shown in Figure 8. Toward the southern portion of this region, i.e., the 

 Florida East Coast, the coastline consists of sea islands broken irregularly 

 by inlets. 



Along most of the North Carolina coast extends a series of barrier 

 islands known as the Outer Banks. Behind the islands lie large estuaries 

 containing small islands, and the mainland shore. The primary differences 

 between these barrier islands as compared to those further north is the dis- 

 tance between the islands and the mainland. The Outer Banks lie 20-30 miles 

 off the mainland while further north about 10 miles is the greatest distance 

 between barrier islands and mainland (24, p. 15). 



The Outer Banks barrier islands are composed of two types: Those stab- 

 ilized by man's efforts and the natural. The natural islands have wide 

 beaches, up to 600 feet, and a long zone of low dunes and sparse vegetation. 

 Overwash and the opening and closing of inlets is common for such beach 

 islands (25, p. 155). The stabilized dunes of man-altered areas are much 

 higher, have very short, steep beaches, and are maintained primarily by 

 heavily fertilized American beachgrass ( Ammophila breviligulata )(25,p.158). 



60 



