Which edit tool is recommended to update a coastline feature class to reflect changes due to erosion?

The recommended edit tool for updating a coastline feature class to reflect changes due to erosion is the Reshape Feature tool. This tool is specifically designed to modify the shape of existing features by allowing you to interactively drag and adjust the vertices of a feature. When dealing with a dynamic feature such as a coastline, which can change over time due to processes like erosion, the Reshape Feature tool provides the flexibility needed to accurately depict these modifications.

Using this tool, you can realign the coastline to match the new boundaries caused by erosion, effectively ensuring that the feature remains an accurate representation of the current geographic reality. The functionality of the Reshape Feature tool is particularly useful in situations where a feature’s geometry is altered rather than completely replaced or created anew, which is precisely what occurs in the context of coastal erosion.

Other tools, such as Trace Feature or Split, serve different purposes. Trace Feature is generally used for digitizing new features along existing lines, while Split is focused on dividing a feature into multiple parts. These tools do not facilitate the nuanced adjustments necessary to accurately reflect the changing nature of coastlines in response to erosion.