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.
Restoration of the Native Oyster, Ostrea lurida, in Fidalgo Bay, Padilla Bay and Cypress Island Year Fourteen Report
Restoration of the Native Oyster in Fidalgo Bay, Washington - Year Fourteen Report. The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, is native to the Pacific Coast of North America. Populations declined rapidly after the arrival of European settlers and overharvest was apparent in the late 1800’s. In the early 20th century, severe pollution from pulp and paper mills heavily impacted Pacific oyster cultivation and may have had significant adverse effects on native oyster populations, especially in South Puget Sound. In Anacortes, WA, a restoration project began in Fidalgo Bay in 2002, a cooperative project between Skagit County MRC, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, WA Department of Fish & Wildlife and other partners to establish several native oyster beds. Subsequent to successful planting of seed oysters in 2002 and again in 2003, 2004 and 2006, survival rate, growth and natural recruitment have been deemed high, and additional natural recruitment has been seen in Fidalgo Bay at areas outside the seed planting sites, with exceptionally high recruitment in 2015. Monitoring from 2014 to 2016 has shown native oyster recruitment to be exceptionally high in these new plots. Since 2002, the estimated abundance of native oysters in Fidalgo Bay has steadily increased from about 50,000 oysters to about 4.8 million oysters in 2016.
By: Skagit MRC, Paul Dinnel
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location:
Length: 0
Burrowing behavior, habitat, and functional morphology of the Pacific sand lance
The Pacific sand lance spends much of its life buried in the seafloor. This paper examines sediment preferences of the Pacific sand lance and candidacy for habitat-based management.
By: Joseph J. Bizzarro, Ashley N. Peterson, Jennifer M. Blaine, Jordan P. Balaban, H. Gary Greene, Adam P. Summers
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Northwest Straits
Length: 16
Northwest Straits Commission Handbook 2015-2016
This is a reference document for Commission Members that includes meeting dates, contact information for Commissioners, Alternates and Staff, Rules of Procedure, the Strategic Plan, financial information and roles and responsibilities for various elected positions and committees.
By: Northwest Straits Commission Staff
Published:
Benchmark:
Location: Northwest Straits
Length: 34
Northwest Straits Annual Report 2015
Annual report for the Northwest Straits Commission for the year 2015.
By: Northwest Straits Commission
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location:
Length: 0
Three-year Work Plan for MSA
This plan outlines the priorities for the Marine Stewardship Area Plan for San Juan MRC. Priorities include fostering a stewardship ethic, reducing harm to marine habitat and water quality, recovery of bottomfish species, reducing toxins entering food web, reducing risk of large oil spills and improving public access to shorelines.
By: San Juan MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: San Juan County
Length: 4
Assessment and Prioritization for Bioretention Projects in East Jefferson County
This project was undertaken by the Jefferson MRC to identify the highest priority sites in East Jefferson County to retrofit with bioretention to reduce pollution in marine waters. The project area includes all of E. Jefferson County with a focus on developed areas where stormwater reaches marine water in the form of surface water. Each site was assessed for drainage patterns, potential water pollution sources, feasibility and appropriateness for bioretention, available space for bioretention and other considerations. Sites were prioritized as high, medium, or low need for a retrofitting project.
By: Jefferson MRC, Bob Simmons, Darcy McNamara
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 50
Monitoring Protocols for Community-Based Rain Gardens
This document outlines the instruments and protocols used to install rain gardens, including equations for measuring flow rate.
By: Bob Simmons, Associate Professor, WSU Extension; Ani Jayakaran, WSU
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 3
Jefferson County MRC 2015 Annual Report
This is Jefferson County MRC's 2015 annual Summary Report.
By: Cheryl Lowe
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 6
Jefferson County Voluntary Anchor-Out Eelgrass Protection Buoys Permitting Report
This is the permitting report conducted by Marine Surveys & Assessments to install 5 voluntary anchor out eelgrass protection buoys. These buoys will be an addition to the ones already in place off down town Port Townsend's waterfront, which will expand on the existing eelgrass protection zone.
By: Marine Surveys & Assessments
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Jefferson County
Length: 5
Public Speaker Series Summary Report for Whatcom MRC
This report is a summary of the Public Speaker Series held in Whatcom County in 2014-2015. The report includes summaries of each presentation, as well as the presentation material itself. Goals of the speaker series is to increase public knowledge of water related issues, generate awareness and encourage restoration, and to enhance coordination efforts.
By: Whatcom County Public Works-Natural Resources
Published:
Benchmark: Education and Outreach
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 57
Clallam MRC Final Marine Debris Cleanup Report
This report is a summary of Clallam MRC marine debris cleanup efforts in 2014-2015. Some of the highlighted events include the Earth Day cleanup, the International Coastal Cleanup, and the Ediz Hook beach cleanup.
By: Clallam MRC
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Clallam County
Length: 9
Chuckanut Bay Pollution Identification and Correction Project
This is the final report for the Whatcom MRC of the Chuckanut Bay Pollution Identification and Correction Project. The goal of this monitoring project are to restore the recreational shellfish in Chuckanut Bay, identify the sources of bacteria being introduced, and to guide water quality improvement projects to combat bacteria levels.
By: Whatcom County Public Works-Natural Resources
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 6
Fidalgo Bay Day 2015
This is a report of Skagit County MRCs annual public outreach event, Fidalgo Bay Day 2015.
By: Skagit County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Education and Outreach
Location: Skagit County
Length: 12
Water Weeks Summary Report for Whatcom MRC
This is a report of the 2015 Whatcom Water Weeks, an annual community event regarding water resources in Whatcom County. The two week celebration incorporates local sponsors and event host, creating a feeling of communal connection and cooperation protecting and improving water resources in the County.
By: Whatcom County Public Works-Natural Resources
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location:
Length: 51
Olympia Oyster Restoration Project in Sequim Bay
In an effort to restore native Olympia Oyster populations in Sequim Bay, monitoring seed spat distribution has been on going project the Clallam MRC. Population surveys in 2014 showed promising results for increased density of Olympias, prompting the decision to increase the habitat enhancement effort in the bay. This included distributing unseeded cultch bags (oyster shell) across the tidelands, which provides the oyster spat with something to adhere to and grown on. In addition, a spawning pool have been put in place on the tide flat to serve as small scale oyster bed. This leads to an increase in water temperature, inducing more frequent and successful spawning events.
By:
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Clallam County
Length: 7
Clallam MRC Outreach and Education Final Report
This report summarizes Clallam County MRC's public outreach and education evens in 2014-2015. Different training events such as HazWoper and Oiled Wildlife Training were useful learning opportunities for the public wishing to aid in marine conservation and restoration.
By: Clallam MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Education and Outreach
Location: Clallam County
Length: 27
Beach Cleanup Summary Report for the Whatcom MRC
This report is a summary of a beach cleanup effort at Whirlwind Beach over four days (Jan. 3, May 16, July 5, Sep. 20) in 2015. Whatcom MRC co-hosted the event, drawing environmentally conscious citizen volunteers, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, and members from the Surfrider Club at Western Washington University.
By: Whatcom County Public Works- Natural Resources
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 4
Skagit County MRC Operations and Projects Annual Report
This report presents Skagit County MRC's summary of operations and projects in 2015. These include Fidalgo Bay Day, the Shoreline Landowner Workshop, and the Bowman Bay Nearshore Restoration to name a few.
By: Skagit County MRC
Published:
Benchmark: All
Location: Skagit County
Length: 24
Boulevard Park Intertidal Monitoring Summary Report
Located in Bellingham, WA, Boulevard Park recently had a major change to its western shoreline on Bellingham Bay. Shoreline armoring was removed to reduce erosion, and a more natural gradual gradient beach was established. Monitoring was conducted on the beach prior to and following the changes in shoreline structure. The data collected is to be used as a baseline for detection of changes resulting from the modifications of the beach.
By: Whatcom County Public Works
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Whatcom County
Length: 78
Port Susan Marine Stewardship Area Armor Removal Assessment Report for Snohomish County MRC
Snohomish County completed a shore armor removal assessment conducted by Coastal Geologic Services to examine the east side of the Port Susan Marine Stewardship Area. The intent of the project is to identify specific areas of shoreline where armor removal could successfully be executed. A successful removal process is defined by not compromising existing infrastructure, and identifying area where the removal would most effectively restore natural physical processes to benefit the nearshore ecosystem. The study area includes 382 areas across 8.3 miles of shoreline.
By: Andrea MacLennan, Jim Johannessen, Branden
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Snohomish County
Length: 57
Sequim Bay Olympia Oyster Project Brochure
This is an informative brochure of the ongoing restoration effort for Olympia oysters in Sequim Bay.
By: Clallam MRC
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Clallam County
Length: 2
Juvenile Salmon & Nearshore Fish Use in Shallow Intertidal Habitat Associated with Cornet Bay
Following a major shoreline restoration effort in Cornet Bay, juvenile salmon and forage fish monitoring has been conducted annually to characterize the fish population responding the improved habitat. Following the removal 65.1 tons of creosote bulkhead and 79.8 tons of contaminated fill, a healthier, more function marine environment was established to help benefit the small fish that inhabit and migrate through the area. 2015 marked the seventh year of monitoring in Cornet Bay, and the third year since the restoration project.
By: Advanced Environmental Solutions
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County
Length: 33
Effectiveness of Phytoremediation for Removing Contaminates from Water
This report presents the findings of 5 different studies analyzing the effectiveness of phytoremediation with removing harmful contaminants from storm water effluent at a community sewer treatment plant.
By: Dr. Joe Hillers, Dr. Lou Licht
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Water Quality
Location: Island County
Length: 23
Forage Fish Spawn Surveys, Cornet Bay Beach Restoration Project Site
This report presents observation summaries of shoreline at Deception Pass State Park during the summer for 2015, three years after the shoreline restoration project was completed in the area. Forage fish spawning was the focus of the report, specifically to see how the fish are responding to the environment following the modification of the shoreline in 2012. Beach sediment was collected to be analyzed for the presence of forage fish eggs.
By: Daniel E. Penttila
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Species
Location: Island County
Length: 10
Island County MRC Aerial and Underwater Videography Assessments of Eelgrass in Island County
This is a report of a eelgrass beds monitoring project in Island County from June 2014 through August 2015. The goal of the project was to measure the largest eelgrass beds in the region, ones which are susceptible to environmental degradation due to human activity. Monitoring of the beds was carried out via underwater videography as well as aerial photography during low tides. The three core sites showed to have stable eelgrass beds in comparison to previous years.
By: Gregg M. Ridder
Published:
Benchmark: Marine Habitat
Location: Island County
Length: 38