A Pilot Coastal Ocean Observatory for the Estuaries

A Pilot Coastal Ocean Observatory for the Estuaries and Shores of Oregon and Washington Partners: q q q q Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Oregon Health & Science University * Oregon State University South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve University of Washington US Geological Survey Washington Department of Ecology PIs: A. Baptista*, J. Allan, A. Chawla, A. Devol, G. Gelfenbaum, M. Haller, G. Kaminsky, P. Mac. Cready, J. Newton, T. Ozkan-Haller, G. Priest, S. Rumrill, Y. Zhang NANOOS Workshop – May 5 -7, Beaverton, OR

NANOOS Governance proposals Estuaries and Shorelines Shelf Pilot proposal Context: NANOOS approach to early funding in response to IOOS request

Goal q The regional integration and expansion of existing but disparate observation and modeling capabilities for the estuaries and shores of Oregon (OR) and Washington (WA). NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

vision: NANOOS PNW Networked OOS Scope q We will explore issues of governance and coordination, certification and quality control, maintenance, expandability, and data dissemination, while seeking an effective balance between (a) local and intra-regional innovation and customization and (b) inter-regional and national standardization and economies of scale. NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Vision Real-time observation network Modeling & forecasting Information products . . . Operational and management applications Scientific research and education programs NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Anchor observation systems NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Plate 1: The Columbia River littoral cell stretches approximately 165 kilometers from Tillamook Head, Oregon to Point Grenville, Washington. The littoral cell is divided into four sub-cells, including the Clatsop Plains, Long Beach, Grayland Plains and North Beach. The sub-cells are separated by estuary entrances at the Columbia River, Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor and bounded by rocky headlands. Beach profiles are monitored at 47 sites throughout the littoral cell. Threedimensional surface maps are collected at 16 sites. Nearshore bathymetry is collected annually along more than half of the littoral cell, nominally at kilometer-spaced transects and in more detail at selected surface map sites. The locations of long-term tide and wave gages are also shown. URL: http: //www. ecy. wa. gov/programs/sea/swces/research/change/monitoring. htm

Estuarine Water Parameters 1 – Winchester Arm 2 – Sengstacken Arm 3 – Valino Island 4 – Charleston Bridge 5 – Sloughside Pilings 6 – OIMB Boathouse 6 Pacific Ocean Meteorological Station 6 – OIMB / ECOS Lab 4 Coos Bay estuary South Slough NERR Estuarine Nutrients (automated sampler) 4 – Charleston Bridge Van Dorn Samples 1 – Winchester Arm 3 – Valino Island 4 – Charleston Bridge 6 – OIMB Boathouse Ocean transects 3 5 1 2 Plate 2: SSNERR maintains an observation network in South Slough, in the Coos Bay estuary. With 6 primary stations, the network includes both continuous and episodic sampling strategies, and covers a broad range of in-water physical and water quality parameters, as well as meteorological parameters. The network extends from the watershed to the ocean, with fixed stations are all within the South Slough. URL: http: //www. southsloughestuary. org.

Plate 3: OHSU’s CORIE observatory includes modeling, real-time observation, and information systems. While observations emphasize the Columbia River estuary and (to smaller extent) plume, the modeling system extends to most of the PNW coast, and the information system is not geographically constrained. CORIE products are diverse, and often web-based

I. Puget Sound II. Grays Harbor III. Willapa Bay Plate 4: The WDo. E has since 1973 conducted water quality monitoring at stations in Puget Sound, Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. UW maintains an ORCA (Oceanic Remote Chemical-optical Analyzer) profiler in Puget Sound URLs: http: //www. ecy. wa. gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/mwm_intr. html http: //www. ocean. washington. edu/research/orca ORCA site

Components of pilot project think “initial focus” … NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Observations q five estuaries South Slough in Coos Bay, OR Columbia River, OR-WA Willapa Bay, WA Grays Harbor, WA Puget Sound, WA q two littoral cells Columbia River, OR-WA Rockaway, OR. NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Modeling The modeling framework will extend to the entire PNW, with enhanced detail in the Columbia River and its littoral cell. q Builds on existing modeling capabilities (CORIE, …) q NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines Add PS, SJF and SG

Data and communication system Vision: Data and communication system will “provide quantifiably reliable information to the right user, at the right time, in the right format. ” q Initially unify “anchors sites” under an existing data and communication system (CORIE), but expect to evolve towards national standards as soon as feasible and appropriate q NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Driving environmental issues The pilot will focus on providing data products needed to address three environmental issues that are critical to the sustainable development of the PNW; (a) estuarine water quality (b) estuarine ecosystem management and restoration (c) coastal storms and erosion NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

Initial user groups WDo. E DOGAMI NOAA Fisheries NOAA Coastal Storms Initiative (CSI) USGS US Army Corps of Engineers OR Department of Land Conservation and Development Local action groups such as Puget Sound Action Team, Friends of Grays Harbor, Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom Working Group, and Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce US Fish & Wildlife Service Scientific community Education, K-lifelong IOOS NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines

q Pilot project is expected to start July, 2004 q Duration: 20 months q Award: $700 K (plus some in-kind) q Advisory boards: in formation q will be coordinated with the evolution of NANOOS governance q Quarterly workshops q different scopes q coordinate with NANOOS workshops NANOOS pilot: estuaries and shorelines