Distribution of terrestrial organic material in intertidal and nearshore marine sediment due to debris flow response efforts

We examined the distribution and processing of terrestrial organic material, derived from the disposal of material from a massive debris flow event following a major wildfire in a coastal California (USA) catchment in intertidal and nearshore subtidal marine sediments. Organic matter biomarkers, pyrogenic carbon and lignin phenols, were used to trace the distribution of terrestrial debris material in marine environments. In intertidal sediments located <1 km east of the debris deposition site, pyrogenic carbon values did not significantly change and lambda values, a lignin measure, decreased over time, indicating little lateral transport of the disposed material. In subtidal sediment, pyrogenic carbon and lambda values were greatest in 20 m water depths indicating transport and deposition of this material nearshore. An additional lignin measure indicative of degradation suggested terrestrial organic material degradation in subtidal sediment decreased with distance from shore. Terrestrial biomarkers demonstrated that the disposed material was not detected in the top 20 cm of intertidal sediment but was retained in subtidal sediment offshore of the disposal site. Results suggest coastal management should incorporate consideration of the effects of debris disposal activities on nearshore benthic communities and biogeochemical cycling.