General sketch-map of a tidal plain, showing the typical tripartition in supratidal, intertidal and subtidal zones. The most apparent character of the area is the development of tidal channels, affecting mainly the intertidal zone. In this case, the tidal flat is protected seaward by a beach barrier, but in many cases (low-energy waves and longshore currents) the tidal flats may directly pass into a shallow marine environment.

Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of estuarine silts, clays and marine animal detritus. Most of the sediment within a mudflat is within the intertidal zone, and thus the flat is submerged and exposed approximately twice daily.

In the past tidal flats were considered unhealthy, economically unimportant areas and were often dredged and developed into agricultural land^[1]. Several especially shallow mudflat areas, such as the Wadden Sea, are now popular among those practising the sport of mudflat hiking.

On the Baltic Sea coast of Germany in places, mudflats are exposed not by tidal action, but by wind-action driving water away from the shallows into the sea. These wind-affected mudflats are called windwatts in German.

Ecology[link]

Tidal flats, along with intertidal salt marshes and mangrove forests, are important ecosystems.^[2] They usually support a large population of wildlife, although levels of biodiversity are not particularly high. They are often of vital importance to migratory birds, as well as certain species of crabs^[3], mollusks and fish.^[4] In the United Kingdom mudflats have been classified as a Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat.

The maintenance of mudflats is important in preventing coastal erosion. However, mudflats worldwide are under threat from predicted sea level rises, land claims for development, dredging due to shipping purposes, and chemical pollution.

Selected example areas[link]

• Arcachon Bay, France
• Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania
• Great Rann of Kutch, India
• Belhaven, East Lothian Scotland, United Kingdom
• Bridgwater Bay and Morecambe Bay, United Kingdom
• Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, United States
• Cook Inlet, Alaska, United States
• Koojosee Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
• Lindisfarne Island, England, United Kingdom
• Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Padilla Bay, Washington, United States
• Port of Tacoma, Washington
• Skagit Bay, Washington
• Snettisham Norfolk England, United Kingdom
• Wadden Sea: Netherlands, Germany, Denmark
• West coast of Andros Island, Bahamas
• Yellow Sea, China, Korea

Gallery[link]

• 

  Mudflats near Oban on Stewart Island, New Zealand.

• 

  Mudflats in Brewster, Massachusetts, United States, extending hundreds of yards offshore at the low tide. The line of seashells in the foreground indicates the high water mark.

• 

  Gulls feeding on mudflats in Skagit Bay, Washington.

• 

  The tidal flat in Japan. Twilight of the Kaburasaki（蕪崎） seashore.

A panorama of the tidal flat at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, at low tide in January 2009.

See also[link]

• Bay mud
• Coastal wetland (foreshore)
• Salt marsh
• Intertidal zone
• Mangrove
• Windwatt

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mudflat

• Tidal Flats
• Tidal Flats Field Sites

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Kim Black

Personal information
Full name	Kimberly A. Black
Nickname(s)	kimmy
Nationality	United States
Born	(1978-04-30) April 30, 1978 (age 34) Liverpool, New York
Height	5'6" (168 cm)
Weight	132 lbs (60 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Stroke(s)	Freestyle
College team	University of Georgia
Medal record Women's swimming Competitor for the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney[1] 4x200 m freestyle Summer Universiade Gold 1997 Catania 4x200 m freestyle Gold 1999 Palma 200 m freestyle Gold 1999 Palma 4x100 m freestyle Gold 2001 Beijing 4x200 m freestyle Silver 1997 Messina 200 m freestyle

Kimberly ("Kim") A. Black (born April 30, 1978 in Liverpool, New York) is an American swimmer from Syracuse, New York.

Black began her collegiate career at the University of Southern California, where she competed alongside future fellow Olympians such as Lindsay Benko, before transferring to the University of Georgia in 1999.^[2][3] She graduated from UGA in 2001 and was named the NCAA Woman of the Year Award for 2001. She is also recipient of a NCAA Post-Graduate scholarship in 2001. She was on the U.S. Women's swimming team in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games where she won a gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle relay. During her swimming career at Georgia, she was a four – time All-American and helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to three straight NCAA championships. Black was also awarded the Today's Top VIII Award as a member of the Class of 2002. She was the female winner of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's highest academic honor, the 2001 Walter Byers Award, in recognition of being the nation's top female scholar-athlete.^[4][5]

She was in the 2002 Top VIII class with Emily Bloss, André Davis, Misty Hyman, Leah Juno, Nancy Metcalf, Bryce Molder, and Ruth Riley.^[6] The 2001 Male Walter Byers Scholar was Bradley Henderson.

References[link]

• sports-reference
• swimrankings
• NCAA Woman of the Year profile
• Georgia Magazine September 2001: Vol. 80, No. 4

v t e 2000 USA Olympic swimming team Men's team Pat Calhoun Chad Carvin Ian Crocker Josh Davis Tom Dolan Nate Dusing Anthony Ervin Scott Goldblatt Gary Hall, Jr. Tommy Hannan Klete Keller Lenny Krayzelburg Jason Lezak Tom Malchow Ed Moses Aaron Peirsol Michael Phelps Jamie Rauch Kyle Salyards Chris Thompson Scott Tucker Erik Vendt Neil Walker Tom Wilkens Women's team Amanda Adkins Samantha Arsenault Amanda Beard B. J. Bedford Lindsay Benko Brooke Bennett Kim Black Maddy Crippen Misty Hyman Kristy Kowal Diana Munz Rada Owen Erin Phenix Megan Quann Gabrielle Rose Kaitlin Sandeno Courtney Shealy Staciana Stitts Julia Stowers Ashley Tappin Cristina Teuscher Jenny Thompson Dara Torres Amy Van Dyken Coaches Peter Banks Jack Bauerle David Marsh Richard Quick (women's head coach) Eddie Reese Dave Salo Mark Schubert (men's head coach) Jon Urbanchek