Resource Library

Pigeon Guillemot Prey Selection Informational Poster

This is an informational poster of prey selection for Pigeon Guillemots nesting on Whidbey Island, WA.

By: Phyllis Kind, Govinda Rosling, Kirsten Kreamer, Houston Flores, Frances Wood Whidbey Audubon Society, and Island County MRC
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County
Length: 1

San Juan County MRC Annual Report

This is San Juan MRC's Annual Report for 2010.

By: San Juan MRC
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: All
Location: San Juan County
Length: 6

Maynard Nearshore Restoration Project

This report outlines the details of the Maynard Nearshore Restoration Project. The site located at the head of Discovery Bay in Jefferson County, WA., while the northwestern shores of Discovery Bay are in Clallam County. Both counties are in agreeance with the need to restore this area to restore the streams, their estuaries, and associated shorelines that have been impacted by human activities.

By: Jefferson County MRC
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Clallam County, Jefferson County
Length: 16

Pigeon Guillemot Study on Whidbey Island

This is a monitoring study of Pigeon Guillemots during breeding season on Whidbey Islands. Five beaches were selected as study sites, where several factors were documented: colony behavior, active burrows, prey selection, frequency of deliveries, and fledging success. The breeding success of these birds has been correlated with the overall health of the Puget Sound.

By: Govinda Rosling, The Evergreen State College
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County
Length: 13

Jefferson County MRC 2010 Annual Report

This is Jefferson County's MRC Annual Report for 2010.

By: Jefferson County MRC
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: All
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 9

Quality Assurance Project Plan for Monitoring Stormwater Contaminants in the Shallow Aquifer Near Seaquim, Clallam County, WA

This details the process of the Clallam County Marine Resource Committee investigating the groundwater quality in the shallow aquifer draining into streams and marine waters of the Dungeness watershed. The projects intent was first to determine the ambient quality of shallow ground water in the region, as well as determining the concentrations of specific storm water contaminates.

By: Anne Soule
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Clallam County
Length: 25

Data Inventory for Island County

This is a data inventory for Island County of various projects from 2000 - 2010.

By: Island County
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: All
Location: Island County
Length: 1

Marine Species mortality rate in derelict fishing nets in Puget Sound and financial logistics of derelict gear removal

This report provides a synopsis of detrimental issues that arise from derelict fishing gear in the Puget Sounds. Derelict gear artificially modifies the sea floor and rocky reefs, which can alter the entire marine ecosystem in an area. Derelict gear can also foul fishing boat props, clutter fishing grounds, and impede fisherman from safely and efficiently fishing an area.

Marine surveys in the Puget Sound have provided insight into the amount of derelict gear dispersed in certain regions, and this information is in turn being used to compose cost/benefit plans to remove it.

By: Kirsten V.K. Gilardi, Daphune Carlson-Bremer, Jeffery A. June, Kyle Antonelis, Ginny Broadhurst, Tom Cowan
Published: January 01, 2010
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Puget Sound
Length: 7

Coast Salish and U.S. Geological Survey Tribal Journey Water Quality Project

This report presents the findings of a water quality study of the Salish Sea to analyze the Coast Salish ancestral waters and the response of its coastal environments to climate change and land use impacts. 

By: Sarah K. Akin, Dr. Eric E. Grossman
Published: December 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Puget Sound, Skagit County
Length: 61

Habitat Restoration Feasibility Assessment: Cornet Bay/Hoypus Point Improvement Project

This report is a proposal and assessment of upgrading the Cornet Bay/Hoypus Point area in Deception Pass State Park. The proposed upgrades would include improvement to upland facilities, marine facilities, and nearshore habitat. This report focuses on the nearshore habitat improvement aspects of the project.

By: Herrera Environmental Consultants
Published: November 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Island County
Length: 165

Bank Stabilization and Beach Nourishment at Weaverling Spit Samish Indian Nation

In this report, the Samish Indian Nation restored 550 feet of eroding shoreline via an engineered soft shore. During the execution of the project, efforts were made to protect an archeological site near the shoreline that was in danger of eroding onto the beach. Other areas of focus included providing habitat for forage fish spawning along with vegetation to promote shade.

By: Samish Indian Nation
Published: October 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 19

Report and Recommendations to the San Juan County Council for NOAA's Proposed Vessel Rule

In 2009, NOAA proposed  new vessel regulations in order to combat the effects of boat proximity to the southern resident orcas population. Several years of monitoring indicate that the number of boats and the duration of the time they spend following the whales around the San Juan Islands has increased significantly over the last two decades. Boat traffic has negative effects on the orcas, by sound disturbance, impacts on foraging, communication, and resting.

NOAAs proposed vessel rule  includes three factors: prohibiting boat traffic from approaching whales within 200 yards, keep clear of the whales forward path within 400 yards, and establishing a specific "no-go zone" during a set monthly time period. This report provides details for this proposed rule, as well as means to enforce it.

By: San Juan MRC
Published: September 22, 2009
Benchmark: All
Location: San Juan County
Length: 15

Lone Tree Creek and Pocket Estuary Restoration: Progress Report for 2004-2008 Fish Monitoring

This report presents the findings for monitoring sites upstream of the pocket estuary for 3 years prior to the restoration project being completed, and for 2 years of monitoring after completion. The main objectives of the project were to increase the size and ecological capacity of the estuary through two ways: restoring tidal hydrology and restoring freshwater hydrology and sediment dynamics.

Analysis of the area after completion indicate that these goals were met.

By: Eric Beamer, Rich Henderson, Karen Wolf
Published: July 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 11

Snohomish County 2009 Derelict Fishing Gear Project

The scope of work of this project entailed re-surveying the area cleaned of crab pots in 2008 with sidescan sonar and investigating and/or removing newly lost derelict crab pots to ascertain the number of pots lost in the 2008 crab fishing season.

By: Natural Resources Consultants, Inc.
Published: June 19, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 16

Survey of Whatcom County Nearshore Rockfish by Remotely Operated Vehicle and Implications for Marine Protected Areas

To better understand rockfish
distribution in Whatcom County and to provide additional information for future marine protected area location decisions, video ROV surveys were conducted at four locations in Whatcom County to determine rockfish abundance, distribution, and habitat preference.

By: Sara Smith and Dr. David Shull
Published: June 15, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 41

Eelgrass Mapping in Crescent Bay, Freshwater Bay, Port Angeles, and Dungeness Bay

This report shows the restoration response of nearshore habitat   along the Clallam north shore line, specifically at Crescent Bay, Freshwater Bay, Port Angeles, and Dungeness Bay, following the removal of the Elwha dam. The primary objectives were to delineate any eelgrass beds as accurately as possible, and to estimate five different parameters for each eelgrass bed.

By: James H. Norris & Ian E. Fraser
Published: June 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Clallam County
Length: 42

Restoration of the Native Oyster in Fidalgo Bay Year Seven Report

The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, was a common shellfish species in the Puget Sound prior to over harvesting and increasing pollution from the late 1800s through the mid 20th century. Skagit County MRC, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, as well as other partners have began attempting to reintroduce the native oysters in favorable areas in Fidalgo Bay. Continued monitoring and environmental enhancement are aiding in promoting the growth of the species in the area.

By: Paul Dinel, Neil Borman, Ivar Dolph, Dixon Elder, John Giboney, Erica Pickett, Jim Ramaglia, Tom Richards, Paul Sund, Christine Woodward
Published: June 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 36

Cornet Bay Estuary Work Plan

Located southeast of Deception Pass, Cornet Bay serves as pocket estuary, providing protection and acting as food sources for salmon and forage fish on the northern end of Whidbey Island. This work plan was put into place to restore sections of the bays shoreline that have been altered by aged, creosote saturated overwater structures and bulkheads.

By: Terrafilia Environmental
Published: April 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Island County
Length: 34

Ghost of the Salish Sea: Threats to Marine Birds in Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits from Derelict Fishing Gear

Derelict fishing gear, lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing line, rope, nets, and crab pots, is responsible for trapping and killing a high numbers of marine birds. Since 2002, increased efforts have been made to identify and remove derelict gear from marine waters in Washington State, and it has proved to be no small task.

This report methods and results of derelict gear removal in the Puget Sound, as well as future management plans to reduce the amount of lost gear.

By: Thomas P. Good, Jerffery A. June, Michael E. Etnier, Ginny Broadhurst
Published: March 15, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Puget Sound
Length: 10

Northwest Straits Initiative Annual Report 2008

The annual report for the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative for the year 2008.

By: Northwest Straits Initiative Annual Report 2008
Published: March 01, 2009
Benchmark: All
Location: Northwest Straits
Length: 40

Long Term Habitat Monitoring - Removal of Derelict Fishing Gear

This is a monitoring project that was the Northwest Straits Initiative collaborated on with NOAA and WDFW, to address the issue of derelict fishing gear spread across the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca.

By: Jeff June & Kyle Antonelis
Published: February 11, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location:
Length: 0

Marine Habitat Recovery of FIve Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Sites in Puget Sound, WA

Derelict fishing gear is responsible for the death of thousands of marine animals throughout the Puget Sound annually. With increasing numbers of commercial and recreational fisherman, comes higher numbers of lost line, rope, nets, and pots, that can alter and damage marine habitat.

This report documents the impacts of derelict fishing gear, the monitoring of marine habitat areas following derelict gear removal, and monitoring previously cleaned sited to better understand re-accumulation rates of lost gear.

By: Jeff June & Kyle Antonels
Published: February 11, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Puget Sound
Length: 19

Assessment of Existing Marine Water Quality Data

This report identifies marine water quality monitoring programs, assesses the availability of local marine water quality data and identifies any data gaps relevant to discussion for the management effort by Snohomish County and the MRC.

By: Tetra Tech, Inc.
Published: February 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 29

Skagit County Creosote Inventory and Removal Project: Phase III

Creosote saturated docks, trestles, bulkheads, and other marine structures are littered across waters of the Puget Sound, most of which contain nearly 300 chemicals that are toxic to marine life. In this report, Skagit County MRC takes action by composing an inventory report and executing a  removal project for the environmentally  detrimental treated wood. This report outlines the methods and results of the project in Skagit County.

By: Paul Dinnel, Adria Banks, Nathan Rice, Lisa Kaufman
Published: January 08, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 44

Prey Selection by Pigeon Guillemots on Whidbey Island for the 2009 Breeding Season

This report examines the prey selection process of Cepphus columba, commonly known as Pigeon Guillemot, during their breeding season on Whidbey Island. Five study sites were selected on the southern portion of Whidbey Island, with prey identification being carried out by observing the birds as they delivered prey items to the chicks. The report gives insight to the prey preference of the birds, and how it correlates to the development of their chicks.

By: Kirsten A. Kreamer
Published: January 01, 2009
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County
Length: 11