About
Commercial shellfish growers depend on good water quality data. The more information they have about temperature, chlorophyll levels, salinity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen, the better decisions they can make about managing their mariculture operations. To address this issue, three National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon have partnered with NANOOS on this pilot project to bring real time water quality data to shellfish growers. The project was coordinated by the Padilla Bay NERR in Washington, which is part of the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Alaska
The monitoring sites in Alaska are operated by the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. They are located near Homer and Seldovia.
Washington
The eight monitoring sites in Washington are operated by the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the University of Washington’s ORCA (Oceanic Remote Chemical-Optical Analyzer) project, and the Department of Ecology. The Reserve site is located near Bayview; the four ORCA sites are located in the Hood Canal near Twanoh, Hoodsport, Duckabush, and north of the Hood Canal Bridge; and the Ecology sites are located near Squaxin Passage, Clam Bay, and in Willapa Bay.
Oregon
The two sites in Oregon are operated by the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. They are located near Valino Island and Charleston.
Additional partners
Technical assistance for this project was offered by the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association and the Pacific Shellfish Institute. The University of Washington’s School of Oceanography is providing water quality data from buoys located in Hood Canal (ORCA Project).
Funding
Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through their Coastal Services Center, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA), and the Centralized Data Management Office.
Partners
- NOAA Coastal Services Center The NOAA Coastal Services Center supports the environmental, social, and economic well being of the coast by linking people, information, and technology. CSC was the primary funding agency for this project.
- National Estuarine Research Reserve Association NERRA was established in 1987 and is dedicated to the protection, understanding, and science-based management of our nation’s estuaries—the valuable areas where the river meets the sea.
- National Estuarine Research Reserve SystemThe National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is a network of protected areas established for long-term research, education and stewardship. Water quality data is collected system-wide in the estuaries.
- Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing SystemsThe Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) was established to address the ocean observing and prediction needs of users in the Pacific Northwest.
- Pacific Shellfish InstituteThe Pacific Shellfish Institute (PSI) was formed to develop and disseminate scientific and technical information of value to the general public, shellfish farmers, and public officials in connection with shellfish-related environmental, and animal/human health and safety issues.
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers AssociationThe Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association is the largest shellfish association in North America. They represent the local, state and federal interests of oyster, clam, mussel, scallop and geoduck growers from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii.