Olympic Coast Monitoring Inventory

The monitoring projects in the following inventory take place in or around Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Projects are conducted by either Sanctuary staff or by our partners. Summary information is presented for each.

For more information about the monitoring activities at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, please click here, and review the Sanctuary Condition Report.

Contact the research coordinator at the Sanctuary for additional information.

Nearshore Buoy Monitoring Arrays

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Monitor oceanographic parameters to correlate with harmful algal bloom events, hypoxic events, ocean acidification, intertidal sampling efforts, and seasonal upwelling.

Method

Instrumented buoy arrays at 15 and 40 m anchor depths, following design by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans at Oregon State University. Collect data for oceanographic parameters at various water column depths using thermistors, CT meters, fluorometers, and current meters.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	May 2000 - present	Continuous

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center, Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems
Keyword(s)	Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, currents, tides, carbon dioxide, depth, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), changing oceanographic conditions

Intertidal Monitoring

Lead	Liam Antrim (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary)
Objective	Provide baseline information and trends over time of intertidal living resources.

Method

Data were collected at both rocky and sandy intertidal sites by conducting 30 m transects at three different profiles.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1996 - present	Annual

Links	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/science/surveyscruises/2011
Partners	Olympic National Park, Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network
Keyword(s)	rocky intertidal, sandy intertidal, intertidal invertebrates, marine protected area

Canopy Kelp Surveys

Lead	Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Objective	Monitor kelp distribution and abundance trends along the Olympic coast.

Method

Data collected via aerial photogrammetry with infrared film and then scanned into digital graphic.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1989 - present	Annual

Links	http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/pdfs
Partners	Ecoscan, Inc.
Keyword(s)	kelp

Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) Beached Bird Monitoring

Lead	Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team
Objective	Monitor natural mortality rates of beached birds.

Method

Trained volunteers conduct beach walks; photos of specimens; tags for re-sightings.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1999 - present	Annual

Links	http://depts.washington.edu/coasst/
Partners	University of Washington, COASST Partners
Keyword(s)	seabirds

Sea Otter Surveys

Lead	Steve Jeffries (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Objective	Track and understand sea otter populations in Washington State.

Method

Aerial surveys combined with selected ground-truthing sites along coast; photos of large groups; periodic capturing for radio tagging, biopsies for contaminant loads and pathogens.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1985 - present	Annual

Links	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/science/surveyscruises
	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/science/
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Keyword(s)	sea otters

West Coast Observatories

Lead	Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System
Objective	Focus on various data streams including ocean temperature, current speed, oxygen, salinity, and fluorometry.

Method

Oceanographic parameters are observed via instrumentation attached to moorings, including current meters, thermisters, and fluorometers.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2004 - Present	Variable

Links	http://www.sanctuarysimon.org/regional_sections/obs/
	http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/website/NMSP_WCO/viewer.htm
Partners	National Oceanographic Data Center, National Coastal Data Development Center, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans, Pacific Coastal Observing System, Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System, University of California-Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory, Coastal Services Center, NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System, Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Keyword(s)	water temperature, current speed, oxygen, salinity, fluorometry

Acoustic Surveys for Seafloor Mapping

Lead	Dr. Chris Goldfinger (Oregon State University)
Objective	Make incremental progress towards fully mapping the OCNMS seafloor, leading to habitat characterization and living resource monitoring efforts.

Method

High resolution multibeam sonar (including backscatter), sidescan sonar, groundtruthing with camera sled, video bottom grabs, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and/or submersibles.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1994 - present	Annual

Links	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/multibeam.html
	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/multibeam_report.pdf
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans
Keyword(s)	sea floor

Olympic Region Harmful Algal Blooms (ORHAB)

Lead	Daniel Ayres (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Objective	Investigate the origins of blooms of toxic algae, monitor where and when the blooms occur, assess the environmental conditions conducive to blooms and toxification of intertidal shellfish populations, and explore methods that can be used to reduce impacts from harmful algal blooms on humans and the environment.

Method

Sample water for plankton species known to harbor biotoxins; sample razor clams for biotoxins; monitor domoic acid levels; satellite imagery of harmful algal blooms.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1994 - present	Bi-weekly to annual

Links	http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/algal_bloom/index.html
Partners	Washington Department of Health, University of Washington School of Oceanography, NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Quinault Indian Nation, Makah Tribe, Pacific Shellfish Institute, Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory
Keyword(s)	harmful algal blooms (HABs), domoic acid, human health

Ocean Biological Information System (OBIS) - Spatial Ecological Analyses of Megavertebrate Populations (SEAMAP)

Lead	Andrew Read (Duke University)
Objective	Create a digital database of marine mammal, seabird, and sea turtle distribution and abundance. The web-based system will allow the interactive display, query, and analysis of digital archive in conjunction with environmental data.

Method

Data collection methods include visual line-transect surveys, visual strip surveys, molecular techniques, and digital photography

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	Information Not Available	Variable

Links	http://seamap.env.duke.edu/
Partners	Duke University, Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)
Keyword(s)	marine birds, cetaceans, pinnipeds, turtles

Partnership for the Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (PISCO)

Lead	Partnership for the Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (PISCO)
Objective	Experimental studies and long-term monitoring of west coast nearshore ecosystems, with emphasis on conservation, management, and public outreach.

Method

Monitoring using SCUBA stratified transect surveys and rocky shore transect surveys.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	August 1999 - present	Annual

Links	http://www.piscoweb.org/
Partners	University of California-Santa Barbara, University of California-Santa Cruz, Stanford University, Oregon State University
Keyword(s)	rocky intertidal, nearshore

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Nearshore Fish Assemblage Monitoring

Lead	Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
Objective	Assess temporal distribution and abundance of marine fishes.

Method

Data collected using a roving diver technique, wherein volunteer divers record all observed fish and environmental data onto a REEF scansheet and submit to REEF.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1997 - present	Annual

Links	http://reef.org/
	http://www.reef.org/db/reports/geo/PAC/2703%7C2901
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Keyword(s)	reef fish

NOAA National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Program

Lead	Gunnar Lauenstein (NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries)
Objective	Monitor water contamination in the coastal United States by analyzing chemical and biological contaminant trends in sediments and bivalve tissues.

Method

Collect mussels and oysters at over 200 sites for sediment analysis and chemical analysis for a suite of trace contaminants, including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and tributyltin (TBT).

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1986 - present	Annual

Links	http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/musselwatch
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserves
Keyword(s)	mussels, oysters, sediment, contamination

West Coast Bottom Trawl Survey

Lead	Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Objective	Assess the distribution, abundance and biological characteristics of commercially important fish species, particularly sablefish, and many of the shelf and slope rockfish species.

Method

Bottom trawls

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1990 - present	Initially triennial (1977-2001), annual (2001- present)

Links	http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/
	http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fram/
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	Groundfish

Green Crab Monitoring

Lead	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Objective	Seasonal monitoring of the invasive European green crab.

Method

Deployment of intertidal traps during late spring to early fall.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1999 - present	Annual

Links	http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/species.php?Name=carcinus_maenas
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Keyword(s)	green crab

Pinniped Haulout Areas

Lead	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Objective	Monitor population trends at pinniped haulout sites in Washington State.

Method

Data are collected via aerial surveys, including photos for counting pinnipeds.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1980s - present	Annual (spring and summer)

Links	http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=00427
Partners	National Marine Fisheries Service
Keyword(s)	pinniped, haulout, population

Nearshore Seabird Project

Lead	Scott Pearson, Martin Raphael (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Objective	Monitor nearshore seabird distribution and abundance.

Method

Small boat surveys using pre-determined tracklines.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1990s - present	Annual (spring and summer)

Links	http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/seabird
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Keyword(s)	nearshore, seabirds

Acoustic Mooring

Lead	Scripps Institute of Oceanography, United States Navy
Objective	Characterize the vocalizations of cetacean species present in the sanctuary, determine their year-round seasonal presence in the region, and evaluate their distribution near the Navy range.

Method

Recordings are gathered by a year-round mooring with acoustic receivers; these data are periodically correlated to surface sightings from boats.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2006 - present	Annual

Links	http://cetus.ucsd.edu/projects_Washington.html
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Cascadia Research Collective
Keyword(s)	whale, dolphin, cetacean, acoustic

NDBC Buoys

Lead	NOAA National Data Buoy Center
Objective	Assess meteorological parameters via instrumented buoys deployed within the sanctuary.

Method

Moored buoys are equipped with sensors for wind speed and direction, air and sea surface temperatures, and barometric pressure.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1990s - present	Continuous (real-time)

Links	http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KSEW.html
Partners	United States Coast Guard
Keyword(s)	weather, navigation, real-time, data buoy

ATBA Monitoring

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Monitor voluntary compliance with the International Maritime Organization's Area to be Avoided (ATBA) for commercial vessels transporting hazardous cargo.

Method

Known vessel traffic within the northern half of the sanctuary is monitored using Canadian vessel traffic radar.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2002 - present	Continuous (real-time)

Links	http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/pdfs/atbafinal.pdf
Partners	United States Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services
Keyword(s)	boating traffic

NWFSC Acoustic Mooring

Lead	Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Objective	Monitoring for presence/absence of all vocalizing cetaceans, but focusing on southern resident killer whales.

Method

Passive acoustic monitoring via recording devices placed within the sanctuary.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2005 - present	Data downloaded annually

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Keyword(s)	killer whales, acoustics

Oceanographic Moorings

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Scientific moorings collect oceanographic data within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Method

Sensors on moorings collect physical and chemical oceanographic data including temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, fluorometry, and current velocity/direction.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2010 - present	Continuous (real-time)

Links	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/2010_moorings.html
	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/2011/moorings.html
Partners	University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory
Keyword(s)	water quality, temperature, current meter, changing oceanographic conditions

ORCAWALE

Lead	Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Objective	Monitor trends in distribution and abundance of cetaceans and seabirds along the west coast of the Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).

Method

Ship-based surveys using marine mammal observers for line-transect methodology and seabird observers for strip transects; oceanographic data collected as well.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2000 - present	Every 3-4 years

Links	http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Keyword(s)	cetaceans, marine birds, abundance, distribution

Offshore Cetacean Surveys

Lead	Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Objective	Monitor offshore distribution and abundance of cetaceans.

Method

Ship-based binocular and naked-eye surveys following line-transect protocols. Surveys conducted along permanent east-west tracklines; photo identification catalogue collected.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	June 1995 - present	Annual between late May and July

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Keyword(s)	cetaceans

Offshore Seabird Surveys

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Monitor offshore distribution and abundance trends of seabirds.

Method

Ship-based binocular and naked-eye surveys using following strip transect methodology. Surveys conducted along permanent east-west tracklines, simultaneously with marine mammal survey.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	June 1995 - present	Annual between late May and July

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	marine birds

REEF Surveys for Fish and Macroinvertebrates

Lead	Reef Environmental Education Foundation
Objective	Monitor selected fish and invertebrate species using volunteer diver surveys.

Method

Visual scuba surveys are conducted by volunteer divers.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2003 - present	Annual

Links	http://reef.org/
Partners	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Keyword(s)	fish, invertebrate

Fiber Optic Cable Installation - Benthic Recovery Monitoring

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Monitoring program across varying habitats and fishing intensities to determine recovery time of benthic habitats and communities after disturbance by cable burial procedures.

Method

Video and sample collection via remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or submersible.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2000 - present	Annual for several years, then intermittent with last survey in 2008 and a future survey planned in 2012

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	fishing intensity

US Geological Survey Stream Gauge Network

Lead	United States Geological Survey
Objective	Provides historical and real-time river/stream level and flow information. Data from real-time sites are relayed to USGS offices via satellite, telephone, and/or radio and are available for viewing within minutes of arrival.

Method

Real-time data typically are recorded at 15-60 minute intervals, stored onsite, and then transmitted to USGS offices every 1 to 4 hours, depending on the data relay technique used.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	Information Not Available	Continuous (every 15-60 minutes)

Links	http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	water quality

Tagging of Pacific Pelagics (TOPP)

Lead	NOAA's Pacific Fisheries Ecosystems Lab, Stanford's Hopkins Marine Lab, and University of California-Santa Cruz's Long Marine Laboratory
Objective	Tagging and tracking pelagic nekton and birds in the North Pacific to learn how they use the ocean environment. Species include white sharks, leather back sea turtles, black-footed albatross, sooty shearwaters, and elephant seals.

Method

Pop-up archival tags

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1998 - present	Variable

Links	http://topp.org/
	http://las.pfeg.noaa.gov/TOPP_recent/index.html
Partners	TOPP partners
Keyword(s)	marine birds, cetaceans, pinnipeds, sea turtles, fish

Deep Sea Corals

Lead	National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Objective	Inventory deep sea corals inventoried from the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the Davidson Seamount.

Method

Deep sea coral populations are surveyed using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), submersibles, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and camera sleds.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2002 - present	Every few years

Links	http://coralreef.noaa.gov/deepseacorals/about/
Partners	Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Keyword(s)	coral, ROV, AUV

Coast Watch

Lead	NOAA's Coast Watch Program
Objective	Provide remotely sensed satellite and other environmental data to government decision makers and academic researchers.

Method

Satellite imagery.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1979 - present	Continuous

Links	http://coastwatch.noaa.gov/
Partners	NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory
Keyword(s)	acoustics, remote sensing, water temperature, wind, ocean color

Rapid Assessment of Invasive Species

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Periodic assessment of coastal areas by expert taxonomists to detect invasive species.

Method

Team of expert taxonomists for marine macroinvertebrates and macroalgae survey intertidal areas for the presence of invasive species.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	2001 - present	Intermittent (every few years)

Links	http://research.nhm.org/collection.html?code=olympic
	http://faculty.washington.edu/cemills/OCX2001.html
Partners	Washington Department of Natural Resources, Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of California-Santa Barbara, Los Angeles County Museum, University of Southern California, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, University of Washington-Tacoma, Western Washington University
Keyword(s)	invertebrate, macroalgae, invasive species, intertidal

Seabird Colony Survey

Lead	United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Objective	Monitor seabird colonies to determine long-term trends of hatching success.

Method

Aerial surveys in late spring and summer, including photos for counting.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Active	1990s - present	Annual (with some temporal gaps)

Links	http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/seabird
	http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/seabird_colony_catalog.htm
Partners	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, University of Washington
Keyword(s)	marine birds

Nearshore Seabird Project

Lead	Liam Antrim (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary)
Objective	Monitor nearshore seabird distribution and abundance.

Method

Surveys are conducted across predetermined track lines using the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary's R/V Tatoosh.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Inactive, pending funding	2004 - 2011	Annual (summer data collection)

Links	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/2010_pelagicseabirds.html
	http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/marinebirds.html
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	marine birds

Subtidal Monitoring

Lead	Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Objective	Monitor long-term trends in subtidal macroinvertebrate and macroalgal communities, particularly as they relate to sea otter habitat areas.

Method

Scuba surveys are conducted using either quadrat sampling and/or video transects.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Inactive	1987-1997	Every few years

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	California State University-Monterey Bay, University of California-Santa Cruz
Keyword(s)	subtidal, macroinvertebrate, macroalgae, sea otter, habitat

Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS)

Lead	LiMPETS
Objective	An environmental monitoring and education program for students, educators, and volunteer groups throughout California. The program provides authentic, hands-on coastal monitoring experiences that empower teachers, students, and the community to conduct real science and become ocean stewards.

Method

Approximately 3,500 teachers and students are collecting rocky intertidal and sandy beach data via transects, quadrats, sieves, buckets, calipers, etc.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Inactive, pending funding	2002-2010	Seasonal and intermittent

Links	http://limpetsmonitoring.org/
	http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?
	http://www.farallones.org/education/student_monitoring.php
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	rocky intertidal, sandy intertidal, soft bottom

University of Washington Oceanographic Mooring

Lead	University of Washington
Objective	Collect physical oceanographic data using a scientific mooring.

Method

Sensors on mooring collecting physical and chemical oceanographic data.

Status	Duration	Frequency
Inactive	2003-2008	Seasonal and intermittent

Links	Information Not Available
Partners	NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Keyword(s)	physical oceanography