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.

Location

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

Pigeon Guillemot Census in Skagit County

This is a census on Pigeon Guillemot in Skagit County in 2006 and 2007, conducted by volunteers with the WSU Skagit/Snohomish Beach Watchers Program. Pigeon guillemot are the only marine bird species that breeds in Skagit County, as well as an indicator species for the Puget Sound. The main purpose of this study is to better understand what is happening to the pigeon guillemot population in Skagit County.

By: Ivar Dolph, Bob Barry, Erica Pickett, Tim Manns, Hal Forsey
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County, Snohomish County
Length: 9

Analysis of Existing Marine Water Quality Programs and Identification of Data Gaps and Trends

With a large existing, and rapidly growing population in Snohomish County, comes increased sources (both point and non-point) of marine water pollution. Since there has been no coordinated effort within the county to monitor marine water quality, it is hard to accurately gauge and effectively combat marine water pollution on a county-wide level. This assessment to monitor these sources of marine pollution have been developed in order to coordinate monitoring efforts with multiple agencies and organizations throughout the county.

By: Stef Frenzl, Snohomish County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 12

Public and Marine Managers's Review of the San Juan County Marine Stewardship Area Plan

This report provides the results of four community meetings help in March and April 2007 to review the Marine Stewardship Area (MSA) Plan for the San Juan Islands. The report identifies and discusses the protection and restoration strategies receiving the highest degree of support from 220 San Juan County residents. This report also summarizes the perspectives and findings of federal, tribal, state, county agencies and non-governmental organizations who met in May 2007 at the Marine Managers' Workshop to review the MSA plan.

By: Norton-Arnold & Company
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: San Juan County
Length: 82

Creosote Debris Removal: Kayak Point County Park

This project was part of a regional cleanup plan throughout the Puget sound, specifically the removal of creosote treated debris from shorelines. Kayak Point was identified as removal site through creosote inventory surveys completed by the Snohomish and Island County Beach Watchers Association. A total of 15.62 tons of creosote treated material was removed from the shoreline during the project.

By: Wyatt S. Leighton
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Island County, Snohomish County
Length: 5

Skagit County Spartina Surveys Map

This is a map of the 2007 Skagit County Spartina surveys. The map displays the distribution and different size patches of the invasive Spartina.

By: People for the Puget Sound
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 1

Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee Projects

This is a map showing the locations and descriptions of different projects that the Snohomish County MRC is working on from 2005 through 2007.

By: Snohomish County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 1

Northwest Straits Commission: Water Quality Research Needs Workshop

This reports presents the summary of a water quality research needs workshop, to identify a list of priority scientific research needs related to pathogens, biotoxins, and water quality in the Northwest Straits. The workshop's intent was to encourage recommendations for research priorities regarding water quality issues in the NW Strait and the Puget Sound. Discussion was focused on pathogens that affect humans and wildlife, naturally occurring biotoxins, and water quality constituents.

By: Northwest Straits Commission
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Northwest Straits
Length: 6

Whatcom County Volunteer Monitoring Program for Drayton Harbor, Birch Bay, and Chuckanut Bay Watersheds

Water quality degradation has been an ongoing concern for shellfish growers in Drayton Harbor, Birch Bay, and Chuckanut Bay, as heavy rain events discharge potentially harmful toxins into the marine environment. To better monitor and control discharge from watersheds following heavy rain, Whatcom MRC established a volunteer water quality monitoring program. Volunteers in the program will collect water quality data and assist in community outreach efforts to encourage a need for clean marine waters for save shellfish harvesting.

By: Hirsch Consulting Services
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 54

Field Guide to Common Intertidal Seaweeds

Skagit County MRC created this field guide to assist in identifying seaweeds (algae) found in the intertidal zones of Skagit County and nearby waters. 

By: Brian Bingham, Paul Sund, Jim Ramaglia, Gisele Muller-Parker
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 6

Clallam County 2006 Derelict Fishing Gear Project: Final Report

This paper outlines the methods of assessing the location and distribution of derelict fishing gear, means of removing derelict gear, and monitoring the rate at which crab and shrimp pots are lost in Clallam County. The publication emphasizes targeting derelict gear that is at greater depths, through the use of remote operated vehicles (ROV).

By: Natural Resource Consultants
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Clallam County, Northwest Straits
Length: 22

Escape Cord Degradation Rates in Port Townsend, WA

Derelict fishing and crabbing gear is a widespread, on going issue in the Puget Sound, that has in recent years received more attention for combating the problem. This report presents the findings of a study to determine the degradation rates of different types of escape chords on Dungeness crab pots. Three different arrangements of escape chord, with five different kinds of material were analyzed in this experiment. The goal to is to find a economic and environmentally friendly chord that will degrade at quicker rate, enabling crab to escape from derelict traps.

By: Robyn Redekopp, Wendy Fisher, Morgan Neal, Donald Velasquez, Stephan Frenzl
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 15

Restoration of the Native Oyster in Fidalgo Bay Year Four Report

This report outlines the plan for the Skagit County MRC, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, and several other community partners, to re introduce and establish a self sustaining native Olympia oyster bed. Native populations have been decimated by a combination of over fishing and excessive pollution in the Puget Sound.

By: Paul Dinnel, Neil Borman, Ivar Dolph, John Giboney, Erica Pickett, Jim Ramaglia, Paul Sund, Christine Woodward, and Russel Barsh
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Skagit County
Length: 34

Quantification of Peak Season Marine Vessel Traffic Pressures in the San Juan Islands

The surrounding waterways of the San Juan Islands serve as marine highways, vital for inter-island traffic, ferry routes, international commercial shipping, commercial & recreational fishing, and cargo vessels that supply the islands with necessary supplies.

This report examines the environmental impact that this perpetual boat traffic has on the area. There are many contributing factors to this, including pollutants related to boat maintenance, hydro-phonic noises (hinders whale communication), audio-phonic noises (displaces waterfowl), and the release of hydrocarbons into the air and water.

By: Jeffery S. Dismukes
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: San Juan County
Length: 27

Broder's Beach Olympia Oyster Monitoring in Jefferson County

In an attempt to help restore Olympia oyster populations, oyster seed was planted in 2002/2003 on Broder's Beach on Discovery Bay in Jefferson County. In August 2006, the growth of the seeded oysters was monitored via examining different sections of the study grid.

By: Karen Lull, Sharon Schlenter, Varn Brooks
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 9

East Marrowstone Island Eelgrass Survey

Jefferson County Public Utility District wants to construct a desalination plant to create a public water system on Marrowstone Island. The infrastructure to build this would pass through the intertidal region, raising particular concern for  eelgrass beds. This survey mapped eelgrass beds in the area to determine the best location for the proposed site in regards to minimizing eelgrass habitat loss.

By: James G. Norris
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 22

Soft Sore Protection/Structure Removal Blueprint for San Juan County Forage Fish Beaches

This is a report of a restoration prioritization effort that integrates biological data with coastal process analyses and homeowner willingness surveys. The intent of this process was to identify the best beach enhancement projects based on the presence of valuable nearshore habitats, site characteristics that determine project sustainability, and land-owner willingness data.

By: Jim Johannessen & Andrea MacLennan
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: San Juan County
Length: 54