Coastal and Marine Communities

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Current Projects

Christie, Patrick, Principal Investigator

Tribal and non-tribal students co-create digital stories regarding topics such as tribal sovereignty, fishery treaty rights, and tribally-led environmental restoration.

Cordell, Jeffery, Principal Investigator

Researchers provide precise data on the benefits of Seattle seawall enhancements, enabling managers to choose the best elements for improving juvenile salmon survival and adult returns.

Friedman, Carolyn, Principal Investigator

Researchers will assess whether native eelgrass and Pacific oysters can synergistically enhance their environments.

Holtgrieve, Gordon, Principal Investigator

This project uses a new, state-of-the-art technique called compound-specific isotope analysis to examine the ratios of two nitrogen isotopes in archived seal bone collagen. With these data, researchers will be able to address hypotheses about the role of increasing marine predator biomass on coastal ecosystems.

McDonald, P. Sean, Principal Investigator

Researchers will develop an environmental DNA assay tool to identify the invasive European green crab, which will be used by a citizen science program to support monitoring efforts.

Naish, Kerry, Principal Investigator

This project seeks to determine the population structure and the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity in native eelgrass (Zostera marina) populations in Washington State.

Parrish, Julia, Principal Investigator

This project takes a closer look at how oil spills affect different species of Pacific Northwest seabirds so that we can predict the taxon-specific vulnerability to oiling.

Completed Projects

Bae, Christine, Principal Investigator

Regional researchers are calculating the wide range of economic and environmental impacts associated with moorage marinas in Washington and Southern California. Results will provide more reliable coastal development strategies for moorage marina policies.

Barber, Julie, Principal Investigator

Researchers are creating a model to determine the best place to install the first present-day clam garden in the U.S.

Beattie, Jake, Principal Investigator

A low cost curriculum is was developed to improve fishing crew competency in vessel operation, which will reduce the risk of accidents.

Bednarik, Brandi, Principal Investigator

Researchers address the maritime workforce capacity needs by creating Sea School, an initiative that provides vocational training and outreach to inform young people about maritime careers.

Bond, Nicholas, Principal Investigator

Researchers developed a new modeling system that forecasts cyclical and climate-driven changes in regional ocean conditions. The system also has many other potential applications.

Christie, Patrick, Principal Investigator

This research will be the first empirical, multi-method comparative study of a marine protected area (MPA) system in the United States; addressing the growing need for including social dimensions in MPA management strategies.

Dahl, Peter, Principal Investigator

Researchers are refining and testing an underwater sound propagation model, which can be used to protect marine mammals from construction noise.

Callender, Russell, Principal Investigator

The Washington Coastal Resilience Project was a 3-year effort to rapidly increase the state’s capacity to prepare for natural events that threaten the coast and establish the Washington Coastal Resilience Network.

Dolšak, Nives, Principal Investigator

An exhaustive analysis of newspaper coverage and public comments on salmon-recovery efforts revealed extremely low participation by private interests, a significant gap in collaborative salmon management.

Matson, Pamela, Principal Investigator (regional lead); Snover, Amy, Principal Investigator (Washington lead)

With funding from West Coast Sea Grant programs, researchers assist leading scientists and West Coast adaptation practitioners in developing guidelines and potential metrics for measuring successful adaptation to climate change in coastal communities.

Miles, Scott, Principal Investigator

This project models community recovery trajectories for Pacific County, synthesizing current estimates of prospective loses, community input, and computer simulations in order to understand coastal community resilience.

Parrish, Julia, Principal Investigator

Researchers will identify the key elements leading to successful citizen science endeavors using COASST as a model.

Rollwagen-Bollens, Gretchen, Principal Investigator

High school students gather water, plankton and hydrographic data in the Columbia River estuary, to learn about and assess relative effects of cumulative watershed drainage and local factors such as sewage outflows.

Rottle, Nancy, Principal Investigator

Researchers are designing and constructing an innovative, multifunctional stormwater treatment system that may significantly reduce pollution and serve as a model for Puget Sound communities.

Rubenstein, Sarah, Principal Investigator

Project supports an initiative of Port Townsend Schools and marine professionals to integrate maritime skills and at-sea experience into local K-12 educational curricula.

Ruesink, Jennifer, Principal Investigator

Using trained birdwatchers, remote sensors, and seine sampling, researchers determine how fish and seabirds use eelgrass meadows from Willapa to Fidalgo Bay.

Ryan, Clare, Principal Investigator

Researchers are analyzing geoduck aquaculture policies and the associated stakeholder interests to answer concerns regarding the recent aquaculture expansion.

Ryan, Clare, Principal Investigator

Researchers examine legal and policy factors affecting a coastal community’s ability to move vital infrastructure out of the way of tsunamis and other natural hazards.

Scherer, Sarah, Principal Investigator

Seattle Maritime Academy invests in creation of a summer experience that introduces high school students to rewarding ocean-related careers and assists in building Washington’s maritime workforce capacity.

Schumacker, Ervin Joe, Principal Investigator

This project will create a low-cost model nearshore and a shore-based monitoring network that will engage tribal fishers and youth in gathering coastal water-quality information related to ocean acidification.