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.
Eelgrass Mapping at Priority Shallow Water Bays in San Juan County
This report presents the results of submerged vegetation monitoring of ten different shallow bays in San Juan County. The mapping objectives were to determine where loss and recovery of eelgrass are occurring, as well as determining where populations are stabilized.
By: San Juan County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: San Juan County
Length: 3
Rapid Shoreline Inventory Map of Guemes Island for Fall 2005
This is a map presenting Guemes Island Rapid Shoreline Inventory analysis and recommendations for the Fall of 2005.
By: Skagit MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 1
Guemes Island Rapid Shoreline Inventory
This report presents the findings of a Rapid Shoreline Inventory (RSI) of the marine shoreline on Guemes Island. People For Puget Sound staff and volunteers detailed a set of physical and biological data for six and a half miles of shoreline on the island. The intent of the RSI was help in further understanding the relationships between shoreline land use and indicators of beach health. These relationships provide insight for which areas are best suited for conservation and restoration efforts.
By: Robin Clark, Starla DeLorey, Keeley O'Connell
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 218
Island County Shore Steward Newsletter - July 2005
This is the July 2005 Shore Stewards Newsletter.
By: Shore Stewards - Scott Chase
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Island County
Length: 20
Fidalgo Bay Forage Fish Shade Project
This report is a summary of the Fidalgo Bay Forage Fish Shade Project, specifically the steps take to reduce invasive and re introduce native plant life along the shoreline. This was a joint effort of the Skagit County MRC, Skagit Conservation District, and personnel from the city of Anacortes.
By: Lori Kyle, Skagit County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 6
Snohomish County Nearshore Candidate Sites for Protection & Restoration
This report presents the methodology and results of a local effort to identify candidate sites for protection and restoration of marine resources within the marine nearshore area of Snohomish County.
By: Sean L. Edwards & Ted Parker, Snohomish County Public Works Dept.
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 72
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 2004-2005 Progress Report
This is a progress report for the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative from 2004 through 2005.
By: Joan Drinkwin, Ginny Broadhurst, Sasha Horst
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Northwest Straits
Length: 36
Skagit County Creosote Inventory and Removal Project: Phase I
Thousands of creosote saturated docks, trestles, bulkheads, etc. are strewn across the waters of the Puget Sound. Creosote pilings and timbers can contain nearly 300 chemicals, many of which are toxic to marine life. As these pieces of wood are weathered, they break down into smaller pieces, gradually releasing these harmful chemicals into the Puget Sound.
This report outlines the identification and removal process of creosote treated wood in Skagit County.
By: Paul Dinnel, Margaret Schwertner, Robert Knowles, Erica Pickett, Paul Sund, Russel Barsh, Rick Haley
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 15
Native Hardshell Clam Enhancement and Restoration Planning
This report completes the second phase of the Whatcom MRC project to enhance native hardshell clam populations in either Birch Bay or Drayton Harbor. It describes additional site analysis at two locations in Birch Bay, provides cost estimates for clam seed and materials, permitting requirements, steps needed to prepare a site for planting, and key permitting agency contacts.
By: Geoff Menzies, Puget Sound Restoration Fund
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 11
Assessment of Shoreline Spawning Habitats in the Northwest Straits
This report presents the findings of 3 years of biologic field investigations at a regional scale in Island County, creating a GIS based database to map forage fish spawning habitat. Surf smelt, Pacific sand lance, and Pacific herring were the focus species of this investigation.
By: Gary Wood JD & Daniel E. Penttila
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County
Length: 87
Shore Stewards: A Guide for Shoreline Living
This is a report released by the Shore Stewards on methods for having a more positive impact on nearshore ecosystems. The report focuses on ten guidelines for shoreline property owners: Use water wisely, maintain your septic system, limit pesticide and fertilizer usage, manage upland water runoff, encourage native plants and trees, know permit procedures for shoreline development, develop on bluffs with care, minimize bulkheads & other structures, respect intertidal life, and preserve eelgrass beds and forage fish spawning habitat.
By: Shore Stewards Program
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Puget Sound
Length: 24
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Progress Report
This is the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative's Progress Report from 2004-2005.
By: Joan Drinkwin, Ginny Broadhurst
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Northwest Straits
Length: 36
Elwha and Glines Canyon dam removals: nearshore restoration and salmon recovery of the central Strait of Juan de Fuca
This report outlines the scheduled removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams in 2009, in doing so releasing approximately 8 million cubic yards of sediment downriver over a 5 year period. This release of sediment to the near shore environment will improve ecosystem processes and ecological quality in the area. Future monitoring methods are outlined for means to continue to improve restoration needs associated with salmon recovery.
By: WDFW
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Clallam County
Length: 8
Lone Tree Pocket Estuary Restoration
This report provides the procedure and results of attempting to increase the size and ecological capacity of the Lone Tree pocket estuary by restoring hydrology in the area. The main way that this goal is to be achieved is through the removal perched culvert and replacing it with a bridge, which would increase the tidal influenced area of the lagoon.
Pre-restoration data in regards to water surface elevation, salinity, and fish distribution will be used in comparison to the post-restoration data in order to determine the success of the project.
By: Eric Beamer, Aundrea McBride, Rich Henderson
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Skagit County
Length: 14
San Juan County Eelgrass Survey GIS Mapping Methodology
This report provides information about the location and format of eelgrass survey data collected in San Juan County.
By: San Juan MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: San Juan County
Length: 3
San Juan County Underwater Videographic and Hydroacoustic Eelgrass Survey Methodology
This report presents the findings of underwater videographic and hydroacoustic assessments of nearshore marine habitat, including eelgrass and forage fish in San Juan County.
By: James G. Norris & Ian E. Fraser
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: San Juan County
Length: 25
Technical Workshop on Nearshore Restoration in the Central Strait of Juan de Fuca
This workshop report focuses on the nearshore restoration that will result from the removals of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, thought to be the most significant restoration project of its kind in the nation.
By: Triangle Associates Inc.
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Clallam County
Length: 141
Native Oyster Experimental Studies in Fidalgo Bay
Native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) were once an abundant and heavily sought after shellfish in the Puget Sound, but over harvesting lead to a dramatic decline in the species over the last 130 years. In an attempt to restore the stocks of native oysters in Fidalgo Bay, cultch shells with attached native oyster seeds were distributed in the bay and their success of failure was used to provide scientific guidance for further expansion of these efforts.
By: Russel Barsh, Rose Castilleja, Sarah Johnson, Hollie Hatch, Marco Hatch, Lisa Horton
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Northwest Straits, Skagit County
Length: 13
Forage Fish Shade Restoration Pilot Project
This pilot project's purpose is to restore native plant species to known spawning grounds for surf smelt and other forage fish, where vegetation had been compromised by human activity. A strengthened riparian buffer will provide shaded areas, allowing for cooler water temperatures in spawning grounds. In addition, it will help to increase shoreline soil stability, as well as benefit the overall health of the near shore environment.
By: San Juan County
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: San Juan County
Length: 5
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative- Five Year Evaluation Report
This is a evaluation report of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiatives first five years of operation, submitted to Senator Patty Murray and Governor Gary Locke. The intent of the report is to satisfy Congressional requirements for a review of the Initiative's first five years, and to continue to receive federal authorization and support.
By: William D. Ruckelshaus, Alyn. C. Duxbury, James W. Good, Daniel Huppert, DeWitt John, Steven S. Rumrill, Ann Seiter, Edward P. Weber
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Puget Sound, Puget Sound - MESA
Length: 55
Rockfish and Lingcod Habitat
This is a habitat distribution map of rockfish and lingcod in the San Juan Islands.
By: WDFW, University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Don George
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: San Juan County
Length: 1
Best Science and Management for Rockfish and Lingcod in San Juan County
In 2003, the San Juan County MRC worked with the People for the Puget Sound to identify the best available science and the best management options for rockfish and lingcod. Information comprehensively gathered and shared include: life history of the species, factors affecting population growth, physical oceanography of the region, and understanding types of exposure to contaminations in the marine environment.
By: Mike Sato & Dr. Tina Wyllie Echeverria
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: San Juan County
Length: 92
Olympia Oyster Restoration in Fidalgo Bay
This is an informative poster about the restoration process of the Olympia Oyster in Fidalgo Bay. It includes the history of the shellfish, means of re-introduction, methods of studying it, and other insightful information about the process.
By: Jeanne Robinette, Russel Barsh, Paul Dinnel, Ivar Dolph, Katie Henoch
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 2
Spartina Survey and Removal - Final Report. 2004 Action Grant
This report presents the progress and results for attempting to eradicate the invasive, salt tolerant weed, Spartina anglica, in Skagit County in 2004. Several control methods are perpetually being used to treat the invasive plant, including manual and mechanical labor, as well as the use of herbicide.
By: Keeley O'Connell
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 4
The Incredible Egg Hunt: Finding Forage Fish Spawning Habitats of the Northwest Straits, WA
This is an informational poster about forage fish in nearshore waters in the San Juan Islands. It presents the methods and results of forage fish spawning habitat assessments.
By: Gary Wood
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County, Northwest Straits
Length: 1