Estuary, Marine Waters and Nearshore Indicators

1
Estuary, Marine Waters and Nearshore Indicators

• Presented to the Governors Forum on Monitoring,
  October 5, 2005
• Sarah Brace , Puget Sound Action Team, PSAMP
• Curtis Tanner, WDFW, PSNERP

2
Challenges

• Complex systems difficult to characterize
• Large spatial coverage
• Limited available data across PS, CR and Coastal
  waters

3
Approach

• Short-term indicators No new data development.
  Rely on existing data as linked conceptually to
  salmon. Subset of indicators that would be
  included in long-term indicators
• Long-term indicatorsNew and existing monitoring
  data plus analysis, synthesis and modeling.
  Comprehensive characterization of coastal, marine
  and estuarine waters.

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HABITAT

• Short term Habitat condition indicators
• Eelgrass
• Shoreline alteration

• Long term Habitat condition index
• Eelgrass
• Shoreline modifications
• Marine riparian veg.
• Wetlands
• Kelp
• Mudflats
• Rocky habitat
• Invasives

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HABITAT

• Short term
• Water quality indicators
• Hypoxia
• Eutrophication sensitivity
• 303(d) List

• Long term
• Water quality index
• Hypoxia
• Eutrophication sensitivity
• 303(d) List

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Ecosystems, Communities and Species

• Short term
• Salmon conditionindicators
• Prey (herring)
• Predators (Caspian terns, marine waterfowl)
• Competitors (harbor seals)

• Long term
• Species condition index
• Herring
• Marine birds
• Seals
• Groundfish
• Shorebirds
• Marine plants
• Salmon

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Ecosystems, Communities and Species

• Long term
• Ocean conditions index
• Upwelling
• Sea surface temperature

• Short term
• Ocean conditions indicators
• Upwelling
• Sea surface temperature

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Contaminants and Stressors

• Short term
• Exposure indicators
• Herring (pelagic)
• Adult salmon (pelagic)
• Juvenile salmon (pelagic)
• Seal/Orca
• Sediment (benthic)

• Long term
• Exposure effect index
• Fish
• Wildlife
• Invertebrates
• Plankton
• Plants

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NEXT STEPS
STEP 1

• Develop fully the short term indicators for the
  purpose of SOS report.
• Characterize the systems given the extent of data
  that currently exists.
• Develop framework for long term indicators.
• 1 FTE _at_ 9 months
• Approximately 55K

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NEXT STEPS
STEP 2

• Invest in development of long-term indicators
• Fund additional monitoring, synthesis of data,
  modeling
• Build conceptual model linking indicators/indices
  to stressors and management actions

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NEXT STEPS

• Coordination across workgroups
• Develop land-cover change and impervious surface
  coverage change indicators in conjunction with
  freshwater and terrestrial monitoring groups
  coordination across ecosystem components.