Resource Library
Our library contains a collection of materials from projects and meetings brought to you by the Northwest Straits Commission and the seven Marine Resources Committees. Please contact Commission staff if you are unable to find what you are looking for online.
Enter keywords to search below. Results will include resources that contain any, but not necessarily all, of the keywords.
Jefferson County Nearshore Restoration Feasibility Report
This report presents the work of the Jefferson County MRC analyzing and moving forward with executing nearshore restoration projects in Eastern Jefferson County. The main objectives of this project was to establish coastal processes assessment and develop specific restoration/soft shore protection designs for improving nearshore habitat.
By: Coastal Geologic Services Inc.
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 29
Rockfish and Rockfish Habitat survey in Whatcom County
This report presents the findings of a survey on rockfish abundance and habitat off the south western shore of Lummi Island on June 21, 2007. The survey covered 500 square meters of bottom habitat, and revealed that best habitat was along the southern most portion of Lummi Island. Information obtained through this study was used as a baseline for creating effective management strategies.
By: David Shull
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 14
Gravid Femal Dungeness Crab Habitat Study
Dungeness crab play a large role ecologically and economically in the Puget Sound, yet very little is understood about pregnant female Dungeness habitat preference in the marine environment. This study was conducted to gain further insight into the subject to promote future means of protecting gravid female crab habitat. It was carried out by underwater surveys from both divers and ROVs, which created a series of GIS maps and other data pertaining to seafloor habitat.
By: Stef Frenzl, Jen Sevigny, Don Velasquez, Jeff June, Scott Goodman
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 31
Whatcom County Nearshore Habitat Restoration Prioritization
Hired by Whatcom MRC, Coastal Geologic Services examined and prioritized nearshore restoration opportunities within three regions in Whatcom County: Port Roberts, Birch Bay, and Chuckanut Bay. The prioritization approach to this focused on three important biological resources, which included forage fish spawning, juvenile salmonoid rearing/migration, and aquatic vegetation.
By: Andrea MacLenna & Jim Johannessen
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 36
Eelgrass Mapping Along The Elwha Nearshore: Final Report
This paper outlines areas of eelgrass distribution along the Elwha nears shore, focusing on eelgrass density at various depth, as well as fish habitat provided by it. The different bays, bluffs, and geologic features that line the Elwha near shore displayed varying results of eelgrass distribution.
By: James G. Norris and Ian E. Fraser
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Clallam County
Length: 48
Fidalgo Bay Contaminant Assessment Project
This report presents the results of a one year study, collecting and analyzing water quality in Fidalgo Bay storm outfalls. The data was used to help characterize existing conditions of surface waters and to identify and quantify existing/potential pollutant sources.
By: Skagit County MRC, Samish Indian Nation Department of Natural Resources
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Skagit County
Length: 14
Skagit County Marine Resources Committee Contamination Project
This project carried out by the Skagit County MRC in collaboration with the Samish Indian Nation Department of Natural Resources, collected and analyzed water quality data from 17 different sites in Fidalgo Bay. The primary purposes of the study was to further understand current conditions of surface waters, as well at to identify pollutant sources in the Fidalgo Bay storm outfalls and creeks.
By: Skagit County MRC & Samish Indian Nation
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Skagit County
Length: 14
NW Straits Initiative Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Project
This report presents the goals and methods of executing the identification, and removal of derelict fishing gear in the North Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This project worked to efficiently remove derelict gear from the marine environment, but also to inform the public about the program and the impacts of derelict fishing gear.
By: Natural Resources Consultants Inc.
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Puget Sound, San Juan County, Whatcom County
Length: 26
Mapping of Whatcom MRC Clam Survey Results
From 2004 to 2006, the Whatcom MRC conducted clam surveys in nine general areas in Whatcom County, primarily using volunteer survey crews. This report presents the results of the spatial analysis of the clam survey results in map form, and also provides some comments/recommendations on the survey field methodology used in the surveys.
By: Craig Dolphin, LIBC Shellfish Biologist
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 13
Wood Debris Assessment and Removal Options Report: Cliffside Beach Wood Debris Removal Project Phase I
Located in Bellingham, WA, Cliffside beach accumulates substantial amount of woody debris and other detritus on its shore, overlying the sand and gravels substrate along the beach. With increased interest in exploring the sources of the wood debris, as well as the idea of removing the debris to promote ecological benefits, an assessment was conducted on Cliffside Beach. The assessment focused on the logistics of the removal and disposal/reuse of the debris, historical trends, and possible sources of the wood accumulations along the beach.
By: Anchor Environmental L.L.C. & Coastal Geologic Inc.
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 72
Evaluation of Shore Steward Program
This report is an evaluation plan developed by Applied Research Northwest, to determine how well the Shore Stewards Program is operating. This plan helped inform and standardize materials, tracking methods, outreach efforts, and evaluative tools pertaining to the Shore Stewards Program.
By: Donna Gleisner and Chrys Bertolotto
Published:
Benchmark: Education and Outreach
Location: Clallam County, Island County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Whatcom County
Length: 21
The Establishment of the Northwest Straits Initiative
This brochure provides a synopsis of the Northwest Straits Initiative, which was established in 1997 by Senator Patty Murray and Representative Jack Metcalf. The purpose of this was to explore models for protecting and preserving marine resources in the Northwest Straits.
By: Northwest Straits Commission
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Northwest Straits, Snohomish County
Length: 2
Shoreline Armoring Alternatives Project Summary Report
Shoreline armoring is necessary to prevent shoreline erosion, however armoring can inadvertently cause changes and loss of near shore and upland habitat. However, there are shoreline armoring options that are more environmentally friendly, which could replace the removal of detrimental ones. This report provides insight to the Jefferson County MRC's plans to assess sites for bulkhead removal, to monitor, and the introduction of more ecological sound structures.
By: Gabrielle LaRoche
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 9
Origins of Juvenile Chinook in San Juan County, WA
This report examines the origins of juvenile Chinook salmon in San Juan County waters. This research is done in order to connect juvenile salmons foraging behavior in the islands with their behavior in their natural streams, deltas, and estuaries. Sampling strategies include beach seine sampling and tow net sampling. Tissue samples were taken, and used for DNA extraction and microsatellite analysis.
By: Russel Barsh, Madrona Murphy, Tina Wyllie-Echevrria
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: San Juan County
Length: 0
Spartina Survey and Removal Final Report
Beginning in 1996, there has been an coordinated efforts by several state agencies and organizations in the Puget Sound to combat the spread of Spartina anglica, an invasive weed that is threatening shoreline ecosystems in Washington. Control methods of manual and mechanical removal, as well as the use of herbicide are being used to stop the spread of this salt tolerant weed.
By: Keeley O’Connell
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 7
Pigeon Guillemot Nesting Sites
This is a map of Pigeon Guillemot Nesting sites in Skagit County in 2007.
By: Skagit County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 1
Marine Life in Whatcom County: Invasive Species Series
This fact sheet provides information about three species of invasive tunicates in Whatcom County, including descriptions, distribution, life cycle, ecology, economic value and current status.
By: Whatcom MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 2
Northwest Straits Initiative Annual Report 2006
The annual report for the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative for the year 2006.
By: Northwest Straits
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location:
Length: 28
March Point Geomorphic Assessment & Drift Cell Restoration Prioritization
The purpose of this study was to provide a coastal geomorphic assessment and restoration prioritization of the March’s Point Peninsula of Fidalgo Island for the Skagit County Marine
Resources Committee. The assessment entailed mapping the current and historic geomorphic character of the drift cells within the defined study area with attention focused on
coastal processes and impairment of those processes. The results of the assessment were then applied to developing prioritized, coastal processes-based restoration opportunities aimed at restoration/ enhancement of the nearshore habitats found along the shores of the study area.
By: Coastal Geologic Services Inc., Jim Johannessen, Andrea Maclennan
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 68
Bauer Class I Beach Mapping in San Juan County
In the early 1970s, Wolf Bauer created an accurate digital "Class I" beach map on targeted areas in San Juan County. The intent of this mapping was to identify broad accretionary beaches in the county, designed for each public recognition. This older mapping system, combined with more recent shoreline datasets has provided a strikingly accurate profile of the selected shorelines.
By: Coastal Geologic Services
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: San Juan County
Length: 6
Addendum for "Lone Tree Pocket Estuary Restoration 2004 Fish Sampling and Pre-Restoration Project Monitoring Report"
This report is a sampling update for a report prepared in 2004 for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Refer to the original document, "Lone Tree Pocket Estuary Restoration 2004 Fish Sampling and Pre-Restoration Project Monitoring Report", for methods and background information.
By: Eric Beamer
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 5
Lone Tree Pocket Estuary Restoration: 2004 Fish Sampling and Pre-Restoration Project Monitoring Report
This is an addendum to the 2004 report about the Lone Tree Pocket Estuary Restoration and Monitoring, prepared for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
By: Skagit MRC, Skagit River System Cooperative
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 4
Jetty Island Clean up Final Report
This report summarizes the collective efforts of over 230 volunteers taking part in the cleaning up of Jetty Island, in doing so establishing a healthier marine environment. The focus of the project was the removal of creosote-treated logs from the island, which proved to be a success with 70 tons eventually being removed from the island. In addition, invasive plants were removed from the area, with native seeds being distributed to replace them.
By: Snohomish County MRC, Stef Frenzl
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 14
Whatcom County Feeder Bluff and Accretion Shoreform Mapping
This is a map showing the feeder bluff and accretion shoreform along the Whatcom County shoreline.
By: Coastal Geologic Services
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 1
Assessment of Juvenile Dungeness crab Abundance
This report presents the results of investigating the extent, condition, and productivity of marine near shore habitat for juvenile Dungeness crab in Snohomish County. Due to increasing harvest rates in the previous few years, Dungeness crab management has become more important to the Snohomish County MRC, which lead to this project. The outlined goals for the project were to determine habitat preference for the juvenile crab, when do they settle and reside in this habitat, and when do most juveniles begin to relocate to more adult characteristic habitat.
By: Stef Frenzl , Don Velasquez (WDFW), Chrys Bertolotto, Tom Murphy
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 13