Estimating the Influence of Oyster Reef Chains on Freshwater Detention at the Estuary Scale Using Landsat-8 Imagery

Oyster reef chains grow in response to local hydrodynamics and can redirect flows, particularly when reef chains grow perpendicular to freshwater flow paths. Singularly, oyster reef chains can act as porous dams that may facilitate nearshore accumulation of fresh or low-salinity water, in turn creating intermediate salinities that support oyster growth and estuarine conditions. However, oyster-driven freshwater detention has only been confirmed by limited, point-scale observational data, and simplified models. Oyster reef-driven freshwater detention in real ecosystems at the estuary scale remains largely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the visible bands in 30-m resolution remote sensing (RS) images recorded by the Operational Land Imager aboard Landsat-8 to characterize the freshwater detention effect of oyster reef chains across a set of hydrologic conditions. Our results support prior findings indicating that 30-m resolution RS images recorded by the Operational Land Imager aboard Landsat-8 are useful for analyzing coastal dynamics after atmospheric correction, despite having been originally designed for terrestrial studies. Statistical models of water-leaving reflectance revealed that freshwater detention by oyster reefs was evident across the estuary, with the greatest effect occurring in the region closest to shore. Additionally, statistical modeling results and spatial patterns apparent in the satellite images suggested that reef-driven freshwater detention occurred under high riverine discharge conditions, but was less evident when flow was low. Beyond offering insight on the potential role of oyster reefs as mediators of estuarine hydrology, this study presents a transferable methodological framework for exploring estuarine biophysical feedbacks in blackwater river estuaries using satellite remote sensing.

Automated summary

Oyster reef chains can slow down freshwater flow, promoting the accumulation of fresh or low-salinity water near shore, which supports oyster growth and estuarine conditions. However, research on the impact of oyster reef chains on freshwater detention is currently limited.