Skip to main content Skip to footer unit links
← Back to all capstone projects
2016 Autumn | Education & Outreach, Natural Science & Restoration

Wrack Deposition on Lake Washington Shoreline

Student(s):

Brian Goldgeier

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Jason Toft

Partner(s):

  • School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington

Faculty advisor(s):

Jeff Cordell Principle Research Scientist, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington

During my project, I took measurements of wrack quantity and composition at beaches around Lake Washington in order to learn about wrack dynamics, specifically how certain characteristics of beaches affected wrack cover and composition. At each beach I also took notes about things like if there was vegetation surrounding the beach or if the beach was composed of sand or cobbles. Based on trends in my data and results from previous studies, I found three factors that I believe to have the most impact on wrack deposition. Those are, availability of vegetation, wind and wave exposure, and beach substratum.