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Home | Image Galleries | Emergency Response

Shoreline Types (by ESI Rank)

Photo examples of 15 major shoreline types, listed in order of their Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) rank, from least sensitive to damage from spilled oil (lowest numbers) to most sensitive (highest numbers). [Part of the Shoreline Assessment Job Aid.]

Click on an image below to see the full image.

1. Exposed Rocky Shores (08.19.04, unknown) Exposed rocky shores (also includes exposed seawalls)	2. Exposed Rocky Platforms (08.19.04, unknown) Exposed rocky platforms (also includes clay scarps)	3. Fine-grained Sand Beaches (08.19.04, unknown) Fine-grained sand beaches (also includes scarps in sand)
4. Coarse-grained Sand Beaches (08.19.04, unknown) Coarse-grained sand beaches	5. Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches (08.19.04, unknown) Mixed sand and gravel beaches	6a. Gravel Beaches (08.19.04, unknown) Gravel beaches
6b. Riprap Structures (08.19.04, unknown) Riprap structures	7. Exposed Tidal Flats (08.19.04, unknown) Exposed tidal flats	8a. Sheltered Rocky Shores (08.19.04, unknown) Sheltered rocky shores
8b. Sheltered Artificial Structures (08.19.04, unknown) Sheltered artificial structures	9. Sheltered Tidal Flats (08.19.04, unknown) Sheltered tidal flats	10a. Salt to Brackish Marshes (08.19.04, unknown) Salt to brackish marshes
10b. Freshwater Marshes (08.19.04, unknown) Freshwater marshes	10c. Swamps (08.19.04, unknown) Swamps	10d. Mangroves (08.19.04, unknown) Mangroves

Related Pages on Our Site

ESI Toolkit Tools and resources for Environmental Sensitivity Index maps.

Shoreline Assessment Job Aid A supplement to the Shoreline Assessment Manual, containing visual examples of many of the terms you would use during shoreline assessments after an oil spill.