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 |
| 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 |