What tool would an ArcGIS user utilize to maintain the polygons of a coastal feature class while accounting for new reference points?

The Reshape Feature tool is designed specifically to adjust the shape of existing features by adding, removing, or modifying vertices along the boundary of polygons. This capability is particularly useful when updates or new reference points necessitate a change in the geometry of coastal features, ensuring that the integrity of the polygons is maintained while accommodating new data.

When you use the Reshape Feature tool, you can click on the polygon you wish to adjust and then manipulate its shape by dragging existing vertices or creating new ones. This makes it suitable for updating polygons in response to changing coastal conditions, such as erosion or accretion, which may require the addition of new reference points to accurately represent the coastal feature.

In contrast, other tools like the Trace Feature would be more appropriate for creating new features that follow existing boundaries rather than maintaining and reshaping existing polygons. The Edit Vertices tool allows for modifying existing vertices but may not specifically account for the introduction of new reference points within the context of reshaping an entire feature. The Split Feature Tool focuses on dividing a feature into two separate parts but does not facilitate the maintenance of the overall shape or integration of new reference points. Thus, the Reshape Feature tool stands out as the most effective option for this scenario.