NEWSWAVE NEWS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR: OCEAN, GREAT LAKES AND COASTS

NEWSWAVE—Winner of NAGC’s 2015 Blue Pencil Award Spring 2017

Secretary Zinke Volcano Firehose Announces 73-Million By Ann Tihansky (USGS) Acre Proposed Lease On January 3, 2017, a "firehose" of Sale in the Gulf of lava began pouring into the ocean at Kamokuna, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Mexico National Park, Kīlauea. The U.S. By Caryl Fagot (BOEM) Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service (NPS) con- On March 6, 2017, Secretary Zinke tinue monitoring this phenomenon announced lease proposals for oil and as the volcano continues to make natural gas development on 73 million new land on the island. acres of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). On January 3, Hawai‘i Volcanoes eruption crew As of April 26, the firehose of lava rangers worked to reestablish a new coastal lava continues to pour into the ocean at viewing area at Kamokuna at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Photo credit: Janice Wei, NPS See Volcano Firehose page 3

Special Feature—Postcards from the Pacific Northwest See story, pages 16–18

Wisdom Hatches Arctic Youth

The Gulf of Mexico hosts most of the oil rigs Another Chick! Ambassadors on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Photo Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild By Ann Tihansky (USGS) credit: BOEM bird, is a mom again! The 66-year old Macy Rae Kenworthy, a native of “Opening more Federal lands and Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) successfully hatched her newest chick at Kotzebue, Alaska, is one of 22 Arc- waters to oil and gas drilling is a pillar Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and tic Youth Ambassadors who were of President Trump’s plan to make the Battle of Midway National Memorial. Mom selected to share her experiences from United States energy independent,” and chick are shown in the photo below her childhood as an Iñupiaq, as well as Secretary Zinke said. “The Gulf is taken by USFWS Volunteer Naomi Blinick. her perspective on the challenges cli- a vital part of that strategy to spur mate change presents to Alaska Native economic opportunities for industry, cultures for the year 2015–16. states, and local communities, to create jobs and home-grown energy “With climate change, the seasons are and to reduce our dependence on shifting. Our spring season is longer, foreign oil.” which means it takes longer for the ice to dissolve, but the period in which The first sale, Proposed Lease Sale the ice is unsafe to travel on is longer. 249, will include about 13,725 un- This impacts our seal hunting, which leased blocks and is scheduled for is a vital source of food for my com- auction on August 16, 2017. The munity, especially with grocery costs Bureau of Ocean Energy Management so high. I finally started paying close See Gulf of Mexico Lease page 3 See Ambassadors page 4 NEWSWAVE • Spring 2017

Connect to Images and Multimedia via Social Media In This Edition LIKE us on Facebook: Proposed Lease Sale...... 1 https://www.facebook.com/USInterioroceanscoastsgreatlakes/ Wisdom Hatches Another Chick!....1 Arctic Youth Ambassadors...... 1 LEARN more about Wisdom! (cover story): https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_1/ Volcano Firehose...... 1 NWRS/Zone_1/Midway_Atoll/Sections/News/ Coastal Conservation...... 4 News_Items/NR%20wisdoms%20chick%20 Coastal Louisiana Erosion Rates.....5 021617.pdf Gulf of Mexico Restoration...... 6 Tumblr: http://bit.ly/WisdomsChick2017 Coastal Barrier Report...... 7 Flickr: http://bit.ly/WisdomPhotos Coastal Erosion and Flooding...... 8 CHECK OUT videos and photos of Wisdom from Sediment Deficits...... 9 Midway Atoll Refuge Renewable Energy Programs...... 9 https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Midway_Atoll/ News/Where_Is_Wisdom.html Sport Fish Restoration...... 10 Watch Wisdom lay her egg: Tsunami Hazards for Coasts ...... 11 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ Minerals Champion...... 11 usfwspacific/11214497125/in/ Law Enforcement Award...... 12 set-72157632891366006 The USFWS Instagram account shared this Invasive Species...... 12 Facebook: Nonnative Fish Species...... 13 image from Blackwater National Wildlife Ref- uge. #WildlifeRefuge #heron #sunrise #sunset USFWS Pacific Region: https://www.facebook. Florida Corals...... 14 Connect to other ocean, Great Lakes and com/USFWSPacific/ eDNA Shares Secrets...... 14 coastal social media accounts across the DOI. FOLLOW Wisdom on Twitter @HawaiiReef Ocean Renewable Energy...... 15 Photo credit: By the Bay Photos @USFWSPacific. West Coast Regional Planning...... 15 Pacific Northwest Postcards...... 16 NEWSWAVE is a quarterly newsletter from the Department of the Interior featuring ocean, Shinnecock Nation...... 19 Great Lakes and coastal activities across the Bureaus. Topobathymetric Mapping...... 19 Visit us online: https://www.doi.gov/pmb/ocean/newswave Delmarva’s Geologic Mapping.....20 Editors: Ann Tihansky (USGS) and Gina Digiantonio Peter Benchley Award...... 22 Technical Editor: Rebekah Davis (USGS); Layout: Suzanne Roberts (USGS) Geoscience Hazards in Alaska...... 22 Contributors: Megan Nagel (USFWS) Pamela Schofield (USGS) Sailing for Science Education...... 23 Sarah Abdelrahim (DOI) Katie Niemi (USFWS) Andrew Stevens (USGS) Youth in Science...... 24 Rebecca Behrens (DOI) Craig Springer (USFWS) Curt Storlazzi (USGS) USFWS Coastal Program Dean Tyler (USGS) U.S Coral Reef Task Force...... 25 Nanciann Regalado (DOI, Gulf Restoration Team) Brian Atwater (USGS) Janet Watt (USGS) Handbook for Coral Managers.....26 Nadine Siak (DOI, Patrick Barnard (USGS) Bruce A. Davis Coral Reefs and Rising Seas...... 26 Gulf Restoration Team) Gabrielle Bodin (USGS) (U.S. Department of OWLS—Sea-Level Rise...... 27 Vanitha Sivarajan (DOI) John Brock (USGS) Homeland Security) Sandra Brosnahan (USGS) Miguel G. Figuerola- Disappearing Beaches...... 28 John Vahey (DOI) Erica Wales (DOI) Danny Brothers (USGS) Hernández (NOAA) Submarine Faults Risk...... 28 Kenneth Henke (BLM) Laura Brothers (USGS) Jhoset Burgos Rodriguez Trawling for Sea Turtles ...... 29 Greta Krost (BLM) Jason Burton (USGS) (National Invasive Species Bob Wick (BLM) Michael Cherkiss (USGS) Council) National MPA Center News...... 29 Heather Dewar (USGS) Kelli Shroyer (Manillaq Handbook for Coastal Parks...... 31 Melanie Damour (BOEM) Caryl Fagot (BOEM) Gary Drew (USGS) Association) The Surfing Bison...... 32 Sara Guiltinan (BOEM) Jennifer Flannery (USGS) Karen B. Thomson (STEMSEAS Jessica Mallindine (BOEM) Neil Ganju (USGS) Instructor) Contribute to NEWSWAVE! Michael Miner (BOEM) Dean Gesch (USGS) Gary Wagner (AGU) If you have any questions, Greg Sanders (BOEM) Helen Gibbons (USGS) By the Bay Photos comments or want to receive Amanda Babson (NPS) Ann Gibbs (USGS) City of Corpus Christi Rebecca Beavers (NPS) Leslie Gordon (USGS) MPA Center NEWSWAVE by email, contact: Kristen Hart (USGS) National Park Trust Ann Tihansky: [email protected] Gary Bremen (NPS) Bryan Everett (NPS) Daniel Hoover (USGS) National Oceanic For more information, contact: Jeffrey Olson (NPS) Autumn Iverson (USGS) and Atmospheric Courtney Schupp (NPS) Margaret Lamont (USGS) Administration Liza Johnson, Ocean, Great Lakes Kris Ludwig (USGS) Program for the Study of and Coasts Coordinator Don Weeks (NPS) Janice Wei (NPS) Kira Mizell (USGS) Developed Shorelines, Office of Policy Analysis, Marianne Aplin (USFWS) Michael Noll (USGS) Western Carolina University 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop 3530 Naomi Blinick (USFWS) Amina Rangoonwala (USGS) ShoreZone.org Washington, D.C. 20240 Steve Delehanty (USFWS) Elijah Ramsey III (USGS) USC Sea Grant Terri Fish (USFWS) Bruce Richmond (USGS) Cole Goco (Illustrator) Telephone: 202–208–1378 Cathy Richter (USGS) James Fatherree [email protected] Steve Hillebrand (USFWS) Brent Lawrence (USFWS) Rex Sanders (USGS) (Photographer)

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Volcano Firehose continued from page 1 Kamokuna where a small delta has been growing since late March. Moni- tor the status here: https://www.nps. gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm Watch the videos: Video: You can watch the “firehose” of lava pouring into the ocean as NPS Ranger Jozie explains this unique phe- nomenon and the challenges for keep- ing visitors safe: https://www.nps.gov/ media/video/view.htm?id=9C24F08A- 1DD8-B71B-0B377D7C71CC9CDC

A close up view of the lava “firehose” and the explosive nature of the lava as it reacts with the seawater. Photo credit: USGS

Video credit: Janice Wei, NPS Gulf of Mexico Lease continued from page 1

Video: Sea cliff collapse: https:// (BOEM) developed proposed lease hvo.wr.usgs.gov/multimedia/uploads/ terms after extensive environmental multimediaFile-1629.mp4 and economic analysis, and the lease Video credit: USGS includes provisions that mitigate adverse effects on protected species Video: Tina Neal, USGS Scientist and other biological resources. The at Hawai‘ian Volcano Observatory, final terms of the lease will be pub- gave a presentation on the lava delta lished at least 30 days before the sale collapse that occurred on January 3, in the Final Notice of Sale. 2017, and created the lava “fire- hose.” https://www.youtube.com/ Read about Lease Sale 249: https:// watch?v=pjs_XSoFO30 www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary- zinke-announces-proposed-73-million- Video: Watch as USGS scientist Matt On February 3, 2017, a "firehose" of lava was acre-oil-and-natural-gas-lease-sale- Patrick narrates a video with maps pouring into the ocean at Kamokuna, Hawaiʻi gulf of geologic features: https://www. Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea. Photo youtube.com/watch?v=Id3G5UOl9lg credit: Bryan Everett, NPS Read about Lease Sale 247: https:// www.doi.gov/pressreleases/successful- Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/ Did you know? gulf-mexico-lease-sale-yields-275- havo/learn/news/20170103pr.htm million-high-bids-913542-acres- Keep up with the latest imagery from Did you know that this area is central the USGS Hawai‘ian Volcano Obser- considered sacred by native vatory here: https://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/ Hawaiʻians? To many Hawaiʻians, multimedia/index.php?display=default molten lava is the kino lau (or body form) of the volcano goddess Pelehonuamea (Pele). When lava reaches the sea, it's where Pele the volcano goddess battles with her sister, the goddess of the ocean. Illustration by Cole Goco.

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Ambassadors continued from page 1 Accomplishments for attention to how much my people Coastal Conservation were struggling, but also on how much they were thriving on the land By USFWS Coastal Program and adapting to all the changes,” said Through the Coastal Program, Kenworthy. USFWS has helped restore more than The Arctic Youth Ambassador pro- 557,790 acres of wetland and upland gram was established by the U.S. Fish habitat, restore nearly 2,625 miles of and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Alaska stream habitat, and protect more than Region, U.S. Department of the Inte- 2,165,855 acres of important wildlife rior (DOI), and U.S. Department of habitat. This program is the USFWS’ State in partnership with a nonprofit primary tool for empowering volun- partner, Alaska Geographic. Changes tary, citizen, and community-based in the Arctic did not happen overnight fish and wildlife habitat conservation and younger generations will play an on both public and privately owned important role in addressing them. coastal lands. Over the course of 2 years, which The Coastal Program provides techni- coincided with the U.S. Chairman- cal and financial assistance to land ship of the Arctic Council, the Arctic managers and a diverse set of conser- Youth Ambassadors program brought vation partners to restore and protect together diverse youth from across coastal habitats throughout the Nation Alaska to serve as ambassadors for and U.S. territories. This includes their communities and country by supporting landscape-scale habitat building awareness at home and conservation and encouraging com- abroad about their lives in the Arctic. munity stewardship through technical Youth ambassadors share their local assistance, outreach, and training. perspective by engaging with partners Some examples: and leaders from around the world, adding their voices and solutions to Arctic Youth Ambassador Macy Rae The National Coastal Wetlands a global conversation about how to Kenworthy has spoken at many events and Conservation Grant (NCWCG) Pro- interacted with the Qikiqtaġruk Iñupiaq sustain communities, cultures, and the gram—Together, the USFWS Coastal Youth Council. Photo credit: Kelli Shroyer, Program and the Wildlife and Sport environment in a changing Arctic. Manillaq Association Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program Changes in the Arctic did not happen administer the NCWCG Program, overnight and younger generations which annually awards between $18 will play an important role in address- politicians and decision-makers. I’ve learned so much. I’ve learned more and $20 million to protect and restore ing them. In 2014, Macy partici- coastal wetlands and associated pated in the Alaska Native Science about my culture and my ancestors while searching for ways to help my uplands that provide valuable habitat and Engineering Program and had a for fish and wildlife. Funding for the month-long internship with the NPS in people adapt to the changes brought on by a warming Earth. Our seasons grant is derived from the Sport Fish Fairbanks, Alaska, where she partici- Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. pated in the NPS’ BioBlitz program in are changing and our permafrost is Bering Land Bridge National Preserve melting. We are working to mend the Nisqually River Delta Carbon Proj- and learned about Dall sheep and how generation gap and the language bar- ect—The Nisqually National Wildlife North Slope communities rely on rier. We are fighting for our way of life Refuge and the Nisqually Indian them for subsistence. because we are a resilient people and Tribe worked together to restore a we know we can bounce back," said tidal wetland in the Nisqually River “Kotzebue, Alaska, was small-town- Kenworthy. See related story, page 8. Delta—one of the largest restoration life with a Native twist. I grew up projects in the Pacific Northwest. This running around with my brother and Read more: https://www.doi.gov/blog/ restored wetland is part of a study making mud pies, but I also had to fighting-our-way-life being completed by the USFWS and learn to hang fish and make seal oil. Follow the Arctic Youth Ambassadors Through this program, I’ve been able on Facebook: https://www.facebook. to do amazing things. I’ve met many com/arcticyouthambassadors/ See Accomplishments page 6

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Higher Erosion Rates in Coastal Louisiana Associated with 2010 Oil Spill By Amina Rangoonwala, Elijah Ramsey III, Gabrielle Bodin, and Jason Burton (USGS) A study by the USGS and the National Aeronautics and Space Administra- tion (NASA) demonstrated a pattern of widespread shoreline loss along the GoM coast associated with the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Oil reduces vegetation biomass and weakens salt marsh soil, which Map showing island fragmentation and changes in the Louisiana shoreline between June 2009 (blue line) and October 2012 (white line) as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and causes sediment to erode more easily. 2012 Hurricane Isaac. Image credit: USGS Researchers compared NASA’s annual maps of shoreline imagery, obtained less oiling. Additionally, the oil spill loss. These patterns were revealed by by Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Syn- and subsequent loss of plant mate- coupling high spatial resolution radar thetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), rial increased the fragmentation of and geographic processing to create a along the upper Barataria Bay before wetlands, which can reduce natural repeatable and quantitative mapping and after the oil spill. They deter- coastal defenses against flooding. method that will promote monitoring mined that although storm-induced The team also compared the ero- of erosion after future oil spills. erosion occurred at isolated shoreline sion patterns after the oil spill to Read more: https://www.usgs. sections, the pre-spill shoreline from land loss caused by severe storms. gov/news/usgs-nasa-study-finds- 2009 to 2010 was largely stable; Hurricane Isaac hit Barataria Bay in widespread-coastal-land-losses-gulf- however, widespread erosion occurred August 2012, causing severe erosion oil-spill the first year after the spill (from June (>12 meters) in isolated areas of the 2010 to June 2011), with the high- bay. The spatially limited erosion pat- est rates of erosion corresponding USFWS Coastal Program tern from severe storms contrasts with 2016 Accomplishments to areas that had moderate to heavy the progressive and extensive loss of oiling. During that year, the length of shoreline from the oil spill. The dif- https://www.fws.gov/ shoreline eroding increased fourfold, ference in storm-driven and oil-driven coastal/: with most of that erosion contained erosion patterns has allowed the In 2016, USFWS Coastal Program within 4–8 meters. The second year researchers to identify the causal rela- projects leveraged $25 for every after the spill, the higher erosion rates tion between oil spills and shoreline Coastal Program dollar. expanded to include areas that had The Approach • Engage willing partners and landowners. • Provide technical and financial assistance to conserve fish and wildlife resources in priority coastal landscapes. 2016 Results • 462 partners and landowners • 280 projects • 16,376 acres of wetlands • 50,410 acres of upland Louisiana marsh shoreline in Barataria Bay during the peak of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill crisis, June 23, 2010. Photo credit: Bruce A. Davis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security • 108 miles of stream habitat

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Big Steps Forward As a part of the global settlement’s provides a framework for making consent decree, the DWH NRDAR decisions on funding projects and for Gulf of Mexico Trustee Council is now responsible activities moving forward. Updates Restoration in 2016 for oversight and coordination for to the plan include commitments to seven newly formed and indepen- advancing large-scale restoration By Nanciann Regalado and Nadine Siak (DOI Gulf Restoration Team) dent trustee implementation groups projects and coordinating with other (TIGs). These TIGs are responsible restoration funding streams. A key In April 2016, a global legal settle- for planning and implementing goal of the plan is to find the most ment with BP, the party primarily almost $9 billion worth of restora- effective ways to collaborate with responsible for the 2010 Deepwater tion projects for geographically the TIGs to maximize the coordina- Horizon oil spill, was approved based restoration areas, one for tion and results of both programs. through a consent decree that added each of the five coastal States, one One of the early projects approved more than $20 billion to State and for the open ocean, and one region Federal efforts over the next two for funding by the RESTORE wide. Thus far, the Louisiana TIG Council is the Strategic Conserva- decades to rehabilitate and improve has approved its first postsettlement the natural resources of the GoM tion Assessment Framework that will restoration plan, and the Mississippi bring together the breadth of con- region. This money is being dis- and Alabama TIGs have released bursed through several channels, two servation plans from State, Federal, draft restoration plans. This work is and nongovernmental organizations of the largest being the Deepwater in addition to five “early restoration Horizon Natural Resource Damage (NGOs) to help identify high value plans” approved before the settle- lands most suitable for conserva- Assessment and Restoration (DWH ment. Together, those restoration NRDAR) Trustee Council and the tion efforts. This is important as plans contain 65 projects with a the USFWS works together with RESTORE (Resources and Ecosys- combined value of $868 million. tems Sustainability, Tourist Oppor- others to connect lands and waters to tunities, and Revived Economies of The RESTORE Council is respon- sustain fish, wildlife, and plants.See the Gulf Coast States) Council. As a sible for approximately $3.2 bil- related story, page 4. DWH NRDAR Trustee and member lion of GoM restoration funding. More information is available at of the RESTORE Council, the DOI In December 2016, the RESTORE https://www.restorethegulf.gov and is playing an important role in GoM Council released a finalized update http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa. restoration efforts. to its 2013 Comprehensive Plan that gov

Accomplishments continued from page 4 in Texas to address coastal flooding Community-Based Sea Turtle Moni- USGS to evaluate how effectively and and sea level rise. By working with toring—The Coastal Program is efficiently wetland sequester carbon. partners, this project is developing working with communities to docu- restoration design criteria for marshes ment Hawaiʻian green turtle (Che- Landscape Conservation Design— to increase wildlife benefits, reduce lonia mydas) nesting and basking Through the Upper Midwest and wave energy, and promote sediment sites along the North Shore of Oʻahu, Great Lakes Landscape Conservation deposition rates equal to sea level rise. Hawaiʻi. Volunteers are recording Cooperative, the Coastal Program and Gulf of Mexico Restoration—One of observations of basking turtles to help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric the most complex and comprehensive better understand turtle behavior on Administration (NOAA) are leading conservation efforts ever undertaken is the main Hawaiʻian Islands. the Coastal Conservation Working following the Deepwater Horizon oil Group to develop Landscape Conser- spill. This effort requires coordination vation Design decision support tools among multiple Federal agencies, five that will guide on-the-ground wetland GoM coast States, hundreds of local conservation to maintain or improve governments, conservation organiza- functional landscapes and ecosystems tions, and citizens. The Coastal Pro- by improving the science, planning, gram provides critical links between delivery, and monitoring of habitat partners who are implementing conservation. landscape-scale conservation projects, Coastal Flooding and Sea-Level as well as providing direct technical Rise—The Coastal Program is pro- assistance and contributing additional Green sea turtles basking along Pacific island viding help for coastal communities project funds. shores. Photo credit: Megan Nagel, USFWS

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USFWS Sends Coastal Barrier Resource System Report to Congress Updated Maps for 65 Units By Terri Fish and Katie Niemi (USFWS) The USFWS has completed a pilot project for updating the Coastal Bar- rier Resources System (CBRS) maps and submitted a report with a final set of recommended maps to Congress on November 29, 2016. The 65 affected units are in Delaware, North Carolina, Aerial view of North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, after Hurricane Ophelia showing homes South Carolina, Florida, and Louisi- in the surf. Photo credit: Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina ana. The revised maps will only take University effect if adopted by Congress through The USFWS administers the CBRA legislation. Read more here: https:// Since 1982, the CBRA has saved and is charged with updating the maps www.fws.gov/ecological-services/ American taxpayers well over habitat-conservation/coastal.html and making recommendations to Congress for appropriate changes to $1 billion by removing Federal The criteria used to complete the the CBRS. incentives to develop and maps for the pilot project are also now redevelop sensitive coastal areas. being used to modernize the maps At the time the CBRA was enacted in for the eight States affected by Hur- 1982, President Ronald Reagan said, ricane Sandy (Connecticut, Delaware, “This legislation will enhance both Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, wise natural resource conservation New York, Rhode Island, and Vir- and fiscal responsibility. It will save ginia). This project and the resulting American taxpayers millions of dol- map modernization will help enhance lars while, at the same time, taking a coastal resiliency and the ability of major step forward in the conservation coastal communities and associated of our magnificent coastal resources.” habitats to withstand future storms and Since 1982, the CBRA has saved reduce the amount of damage to life, American taxpayers well over $1 bil- Aerial view of a breach across Fire Island property, and wildlife habitat. lion by removing Federal incentives National Seashore, New York, caused by Hurricane Sandy. Photo credit: John Vahey, DOI The Coastal Barrier Resources Act to develop and redevelop sensitive (CBRA) of 1982 is a map-based law coastal areas. It continues to save that uses a free-market approach taxpayer money while benefitting fish to natural resource conservation. and wildlife, including migratory birds Development within the CBRS is and species listed under the Endan- allowed; however, most new Federal gered Species Act, and today the expenditures and financial assistance CBRA is more relevant than ever. The that encourage development—such costs of armoring vulnerable shore- as flood insurance—are prohibited, lines, replenishing eroded beaches, meaning developers or other non- rebuilding washed out roads, dredg- Federal parties must bear the full cost. ing channels, and subsidizing coastal This prohibition saves the American flood insurance will only continue to taxpayer money and helps conserve rise with the projected increase in fre- these storm-prone and biologically quency and severity of storms affect- rich areas. ing our coasts. Illustration by Cole Goco.

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Cultural Impacts of fish, inaccessible caribou herds, and a shorter hunting season of bearded Coastal Erosion and seals. To compound the problem, the Flooding meat that residents are able to catch is becoming more difficult to preserve; Iñupiaq Village of Kivalina ice cellars that historically kept meat By Rebecca Behrens and Vanitha Sivarajan frozen well into spring are freezing (DOI) later in the year and are warming The Iñupiaq village of Kivalina is on earlier. a narrow barrier island in the southern The later freeze-up of the Chukchi Sea Chukchi Sea. For hundreds of years, Kivalina has undertaken several erosion also means that the Kivalina village this island has served as an important control measures, such as the rock revetment faces greater damage from fall storms. corridor for nomadic coastal peoples wall installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Extreme flooding from higher fetch connecting Kotzebue Sound with the Engineers in 2010, but will still need to (the distance that wind travels while Arctic Ocean and has been historically relocate. The picture above was taken after generating waves), greater storm used as seasonal subsistence hunting the revetment was put into place. Photo credit: Kotzebue ShoreZone, Creative surges, and a lack of ice threatens the grounds. Today, about 400 people Commons Licensing Attribution 2.0 Generic village. These floods not only dam- reside year-round on the barrier island. age infrastructure on the island, but Kivalina’s economy relies heavily on and a decreased yield from the hunt. consume the island itself. Extreme subsistence hunting and fishing, and The last successful bowman-shale storms in 2004 and 2005 claimed 25 the buildup of sea ice provides a plat- hunt took place in 1994, more than to 30 feet of beach along the shore- form for bowhead whale hunting. 20 years ago. Similar hunting difficul- line, and 20 feet of erosion towards "Seventy-nine percent of our foods ties are seen as thinning ice and earlier their airstrip—the primary way to come from the land and the sea," ice melt has led to fewer walruses and See Cultural Impacts page 9 said Janet Mitchell, Kivalina's city administrator. The thinning sea ice is DOI Plays a Key Role in Managing the Arctic making subsistence hunting more dif- By Sarah Abdelrahim and Gina Digiantonio (DOI) ficult, and causing serious erosion and flooding problems that, in addition Arctic communities are increasingly experiencing coastal erosion, flooding, to overcrowded housing conditions, permafrost degradation, shifting prey resources, changing ecosystems, and other have led Kivalina to plan to relocate. challenges. The DOI Office of Policy Analysis (PPA) coordinates within the DOI Bureaus and between other Federal agencies, international entities, and Alaska Ice thinning in the Arctic has been natives to improve basic science, manage energy development, and preserve clearly documented, and Arctic sea natural and cultural resources for the Arctic. ice has declined by 8 percent in the last 30 years. In addition, the Arctic In order to meet these goals, PPA has taken action to: melt season has lengthened, with the • Under the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, facilitate the sharing of Chukchi Sea exhibiting one of the information and best practices with international partners to adapt to changes strongest trends towards both earlier in the Arctic; spring melt and later autumn freeze. • Coordinate the department’s leadership of an Interagency Working Group for These changes have affected the food energy permitting in Alaska; security of the Iñupiaq people and • Co-chair the interagency Community Resilience Working Group to increase infrastructure of their homes. Alaskan community resilience; Whaling is an important indigenous • Consolidate publicly available Arctic-related climate data and resources that activity that brings the community help communities build resilience; together and gives them pride and a • Compile Federal programs and resources that could be useful for Alaskan reason to push through the hard win- communities seeking to address erosion, flooding, and other challenges; and ter. However, hunters are now forced • Advance a science-based, whole-of-government approach to stewardship and to travel north to find ice thick enough planning in the U.S. Arctic that integrates and balances environmental, eco- to travel on. In addition, the thinner nomic, and cultural needs and objectives. ice allows whales to have a greater Read more about PPA’s work in the Arctic at: https://www.doi.gov/ppa/ range further from shore. These dif- office-policy-analysis-activities-related-arctic#main-content ficulties have led to increased danger

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Cultural Impacts continued from page 8 Sediment Deficits— Renewable Energy get in and out of the isolated vil- The Silent Killer of Salt Programs Update lage. Extreme storms in 2006 eroded 50 feet inland, exposing permafrost Marshes By Melanie Damour (BOEM) and leaving Kivalina increasingly By Neil Ganju (USGS) The BOEM Ocean Science Oct/ vulnerable. In 2007, another storm If coastal salt marshes are like sav- Nov/Dec 2016 issue (https://www. pounded the coast and 250 villagers ings accounts, with sediment as the boem.gov/Ocean-Science-Oct-Nov- were evacuated to nearby Red Dog Dec-2016/) highlights recent updates principal, all eight Atlantic and Pacific Mine and Kotzebue. Repeated storms of the BOEM’s renewable energy coast salt marshes considered in a new in subsequent years continue to affect programs. As a regulatory agency with USGS study are “in the red.” the community. See related story, jurisdiction in Federal waters of the page 1. USGS scientists working on a quick United States, the BOEM is respon- way to predict salt marsh vulnerability Because of the flooding and ero- sible for oversight of conventional were surprised to find that all eight of sion, the village voted to relocate as and renewable energy development the Atlantic and Pacific Coast marshes far back as 1992, yet little progress and marine minerals extraction, while where they field tested their method has been made on relocation. Cost complying with Federal laws enacted are losing ground. Half of them will estimates for relocating Kivalina to protect the environment. To date, be gone in 350 years’ time if they range from $100 million to more the BOEM has issued more than don’t recapture some lost terrain. The than $400 million, and no single 10 commercial wind energy leases in method, already in use at two national agency has the authority to control Federal waters, generating more than wildlife refuges, uses any one of sev- and respond to flooding and erosion $16.4 million in winning bids for the eral remote sensing techniques, such effects. The Stafford Act, which gov- development of 1.18 million acres of as aerial photography, to gauge how erns disaster relief, is limited because submerged bottomlands. much of an individual marsh is open it cannot be used to address coastal “In 2016, we also witnessed the water and how much of it is covered erosion. The Army Corps of Engineers Nation’s very first offshore wind farm by marsh plants. (USACE) completed a rock revetment becoming operational in Rhode Island to protect the community in 2010, but Read more: https://soundwaves.usgs. state waters off the coast of Block this was meant to be a temporary solu- gov/2017/02/research2.html Island in the Atlantic,” said Acting tion for 15 years. Plans are underway https://www.usgs.gov/news/new- BOEM Director Walter Cruickshank. to build an evacuation road and school technique-quickly-predicts-salt- Commercial wind energy is no longer 7 miles from the community; and marsh-vulnerability simply an aspiration for a sustain- much needs to be done to secure all able energy future. Development the needed funds. The lack of authority for relocation, combined with the lack of funding and the limitations of the Stafford Act, leave the Iñupiaq way of life, traditions, and cultural resources of Kivalina at great risk to the powerful ocean. In 2013, DOI was part of an inter- agency working group that prepared this report, “Managing for the Future in a Rapidly Changing Arctic:” https:// USGS scientist Zafer Defne measures water www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/ and sediment movement at Forsythe migrated/news/upload/ArcticReport- National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. Photo 03April2013PMsm.pdf credit: Sandra Brosnahan, USGS Read more: https://toolkit.climate.gov/ The Oct/Nov/Dec 2016 issue of BOEM Ocean case-studies/relocating-kivalina Science provides an update on renewable energy programs, as well as other energy- related studies.

See Renewable Energy page 10

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Renewable Energy continued from page 9 Sport Fish Restoration that laid the path for a user-pay, user- of renewable energy is of critical Grants Make Texas benefit system where the end outcome importance to the Nation and is now is improved public access to hunting, a reality onshore and offshore. The Marina a Showplace fishing, and boating. Block Island Wind Farm may set the By Craig Springer (USFWS) Since 2000, the marina has received stage for a long-awaited and even $1,764,050 in Federal funds through more expansive development of wind Modernization of the popular Texas WSFR grants that were specifically energy facilities on the Federal OCS. boating facility, Corpus Christi targeted to improve marina infrastruc- Because OCS wind is an abundant Municipal Marina, began in 2000 with ture, access for boaters, and sanitary source of environmentally friendly funds provided through seven grants facilities to maintain clean water. The domestic energy, it is well-positioned from the USFWS WSFR Program. grant monies, matched by the City of to contribute to the economic growth Sixteen years later, boaters and Corpus Christi and Texas Parks and and energy independence of the anglers from across the United States Wildlife Department, have built mod- Nation. and around the world come to the ern septic pump-outs, restrooms and Developing renewable energy Texas GoM coast to enjoy a top-notch showers, a laundry, meeting rooms, resources in a responsible manner is marina for boats of all sizes. It’s an a four-lane boat ramp, and more than a priority for the BOEM. The Office excellent launch point for nearshore 80 slips for boats greater than 26 feet of Renewable Energy Programs has anglers, as well as for recreational in length. funded 32 studies (6 in progress) that boaters on long sojourns. The new infrastructures replaced focus on filling technical knowledge “This marina is hugely important to outdated and aged materials and were gaps and informing best manage- both boaters and anglers on the Texas ment practice recommendations. The designed to better withstand future Gulf Coast, and exemplifies how the coastal storms and hurricanes. Other BOEM also funds research through Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration its Environmental Studies Program infrastructure upgrades included inter- Program works in partnership with net systems needed for navigation. to inform decision-making related to others to improve boating access and extraction and development of renew- infrastructures,” said Cliff Schleus- “Boating and angling are to Corpus able energy and mineral resources on ner, Chief of WSFR in the Southwest Christi and the Texas Gulf Coast what the OCS. BOEM Ocean Science is a Region. “Boaters and anglers paid finance is to Wall Street: inseparable,” great way to keep up with these ocean for it in excise tax, and now they and said Schleusner. “The upgrades made resource studies: https://www.boem. others reap the benefits.” to the Corpus Christi Municipal gov/Ocean-Science/. Marina should be a boon to boating The supportive funding made pos- and business.” sible through the WSFR Program stems from two acts of Congress, laws Learn more about the WSFR Program: originally enacted in 1937 and 1950 https://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/

Illustration by Cole Goco. An aerial view of the newly renovated Corpus Christi Municipal Marina is a launch point for both anglers and recreational boaters in coastal Texas waters. Photo credit: City of Corpus Christi

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USGS Experts Assess Deep Sea Minerals Tsunami Hazards for Champion Recognized U.S. Atlantic and Gulf By Kira Mizell (USGS) Coasts In 2016, the International Marine By Ann Tihansky (USGS) Minerals Society (IMMS) awarded its highest honor, the Moore Medal, to ​Tsunamis generated by submarine Dr. James Hein of the USGS Pacific landslides constitute the most frequent Coastal and Marine Science Center in and largest amplitude tsunami hazard recognition of his 43-year scientific to the U.S. Atlantic and GoM coasts, career dedicated to the USGS study of according to the USGS. The technical deep-ocean mineral deposits. letter report, "Tsunami Hazard Assess- Dr. James Hein accepts the Moore Medal ment for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf The IMMS, a professional society award in South Korea on October 11, 2016. Coasts," was prepared in response focused on the study and application Photo credit: USGS to a request from the U.S. Nuclear of marine minerals, esteems Hein as Regulatory Commission (US-NRC) a cornerstone scientist in the field of “Hein has become the worldwide tasking the USGS to evaluate tsunami marine minerals, having a perma- expert in all types of deep- sources and their probability to affect nent effect on the field’s continued ocean mineral deposits, the U.S. Atlantic and GoM coasts. The development. In 2015, Hein was also including manganese nodules, report augments and updates previous recognized with a DOI Distinguished ferromanganese crusts, seafloor Service award, the highest award that USGS reports to the US-NRC: massive sulfides, phosphorites, can be granted to an employee within • “The Current State of Knowledge the DOI. and barites. Dr. Hein recognized Regarding Potential Tsunami the importance of studying The Moore Medal is given to mem- Sources Affecting the U.S. Atlantic land-based mineral deposits to bers of the IMMS who exhibit distinc- and Gulf of Mexico Coasts” (2007), gain insight into these deep-sea tion in the field of marine minerals deposits. The body of his work • “Evaluation of Tsunami Sources and contribute notably to the objec- with the Potential to Impact the tives and initiatives of the IMMS. has focused on the need for U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts” Hein has been a member of the IMMS critical minerals for high-tech, (2008), and for 30 years, has authored and co- green-tech, energy, and military • “NRC/USGS Workshop Report: authored more than 500 papers and applications.” Landslide Tsunami Probability” abstracts, served as an unbiased aca- —from the 2015 DOI Distinguished (2012). demic consultant to numerous studies, Service award citation; read the full Read the report: https://goo.gl/9isR4v and has mentored many students and citation here: https://www2.usgs.gov/ professionals working at marine min- humancapital/pc/documents/2015Con The research was led by Uri ten Brink, eral programs throughout the world. vocationProgram.pdf who was recognized in July 2016 by the American Geophysical Union Read more: https://soundwaves.usgs. (AGU) as a member of the 2016 class gov/2016/12/awards.html of AGU Fellows, an honor given to individual AGU members who have made exceptional scientific contri- butions and gained prominence in their respective fields of Earth and space sciences. The 2016 class of AGU Fellows was recognized during the Honors Tribute on December 14 at the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco.

At right: USGS scientist Uri ten Brink (at left) stands with Margaret Leinen, AGU President, during the Honors Tribute. Photo credit: Gary Wagner, AGU Illustration by Cole Goco.

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Lifetime Achievement includes Idaho, Oregon, Washington, for Law Enforcement Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands. “Gary has been a tireless protector of By Brent Lawrence (USFWS) our wildlife resources,” said Jeff Tran- On March 9, 2017, the National Fish dahl, Executive Director and Chief and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Executive Officer of NFWF. named Gary Young (USFWS) the The prestigious award is presented to 2017 National Guy Bradley Award one State and one Federal agent each winner for his outstanding life- year and is named after Guy Bradley, time achievements in wildlife law the first wildlife law enforcement to enforcement. be killed in the line of duty in 1905. Young’s 34-year career involved wild- “Our wildlife resources have always life and natural resource protection, played an important part in my life. including marine mammal enforce- But this huge honor isn’t about me. After a 34-year career in USFWS law ment along the Alaskan coastline and It’s about all the wonderful people enforcement, Young received the 2017 5 years of upholding fish, shrimp, and I’ve worked with who helped me learn National Guy Bradley Award from the NFWF. Photo credit: USFWS oyster commercial fishing regulations and progress, and it’s about the agents in Corpus Christi, Texas See related who work so many long, hard days in story, page 10. In 2012, Young was the name of conservation. They make Adapted from: https://www.fws.gov/ named Special Agent in Charge for me proud to be a part of the USFWS news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=B8638C4C- the USFWS Pacific Region, which Law Enforcement,” Young said. FFDE-62D1-241F37696F481E83

infrastructure, and increasing wildfire Protecting U.S. Island “Invasive species” means, with propensity. Invasive species such as Territories from the Crown of Thorns starfish (Acan- regard to a particular ecosystem, Invasive Species thasteridae) and lionfish Pterois( voli- a non-native organism tans) are examples of marine species [including seeds, eggs, spores, or By Jhoset Burgos Rodriguez (National that threaten U.S. island territories. other biological material capable Invasive Species Council) of propagating that species] On December 5, 2016, Executive The ecosystems on U.S. island ter- Order 13751, “Safeguarding the whose introduction causes or ritories are particularly vulnerable Nation from the Impacts of Inva- is likely to cause economic or to biological invasions caused by sive Species,” was issued to address environmental harm, or harm to factors such as tourism and substantial invasive species threats. Around the human, animal, or plant health. importation of goods through air and same time, the governments of the —from Executive Order 13751 sea. On island ecosystems, inva- U.S. island territories of American sive species are the leading cause of Samoa, the Commonwealth of the documented extinctions and a lead- Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and protect and restore natural and cul- ing threat to many other species. An the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Fed- tural resources from the effects of estimated 45 percent of species listed eral policy coordination by the DOI invasive species. under the Endangered Species Act and through the Office of Insular Affairs, Currently, USTICC members are about 40 percent of all threatened spe- signed a Memorandum of Understand- finalizing their territorial invasive spe- cies on the International Union for the ing to establish the U.S. Territories cies action plans and are strengthen- Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Invasive Species Coordinating Com- ing or creating local invasive species List are found on islands. mittee (USTISCC). These steps offer councils. By coordinating invasive In addition to causing ecological and promising improvements to address- species management we can fulfill cultural harm, invasive species can ing the challenges of managing inva- the mission of conserving invalu- cost billions of dollars in economic sive species. able natural and cultural resources in damages by threatening water and The USTISCC works to prevent, the U.S. territories, as well as reduce food availability, impairing human eradicate, and control terrestrial potential invasions to the continental and wildlife health, compromising and aquatic invasive species, and to United States.

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Are you prepared for a tsunami? 36th Nonnative Marine Find out here: https://www.ready.gov/tsunamis Fish Species Found in Florida The brain coral boulder, 8 feet in diameter, stands By Pamela Schofield (USGS) 750 feet inland on A citizen scientist spotted and reported Anegada, U.S. Virgin Islands. a nonnative blotched foxface (Siganus Geologists say that the coral was brought ashore, unimaculatus) offshore Dania Beach, along with others, by an Florida. Within 24 hours of the report, unusual tsunami or storm the USGS and Reef Environmental between the years 1200 Education Foundation (REEF) cap- and 1480 (https://www. tured the fish. usgs.gov/news/enormous- caribbean-waves-1492). The blotched foxface is a type of These new findings reinforce rabbitfish that is native to the western precautions against coastal Pacific Ocean. This is the first spot- hazards. Photo credit: Brian Atwater, USGS ting of the blotched foxface outside of its native range, and it marks the 36th nonnative fish found in Florida. The The IUCN Red List rabbitfish is popular in aquariums but is a venomous and voracious fish that http://www.iucnredlist.org preys on marine vegetation such as Over the past 50 years, the IUCN Global Species Programme and IUCN Species seaweeds, algae, and seagrasses. See Survival Commission have created a compilation of species conservation status, related story, page 12. called the IUCN red list. The IUCN red list highlights species that are threatened to determine their relative risk of extinction and share information regarding their “Nonnative fish compete with and distribution. prey on native marine life and can spread diseases,” said USGS Research Fishery Biologist Pam Schofield. “Some can even be harmful to humans.” It is unclear if there are other blotched foxface fish in state waters since only one was found, but early detection and quick capture of nonnative fish is vital to prevent- ing future invasions. The USGS and REEF have collaborated since 2008 by sharing reports of exotic fish between REEF’s online reporting with USGS researchers who maintain USGS’ Nonindigenous Aquatic Spe- cies database. The NPS killed 6,433 Crown of Thorns starfish over 3 weeks in an effort to protect coral reefs “Any organism outside its normal in American Samoa. The starfish, known as alamea in Samoan, can quickly consume a coral range has the potential to cause nega- reef, leaving a field of coral skeletons in its wake. National park divers are killing the alamea tive impacts,” said Lad Akins, Direc- by injecting them with sodium bisulfate, a common chemical used to balance swimming pool pH levels. While toxic to alamea when injected, the chemical is harmless to people or tor of Special Projects for REEF. “If other marine life. Photo Credit: NOAA we wait to see what those impacts are going to be, it’s too late—they’ve already happened.” Together, the Learn more: USGS and REEF have coordinated National Invasive Species Council: https://www.doi.gov/invasivespecies the live capture of 4 nonnative fish from Florida waters, including the “Ecological and Socioeconomic Impacts of Invasive Alien Species in Island blotched foxface. Ecosystems”: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892907003815 See Nonnative Species page 14

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Florida Corals Tell of eDNA Shares Secrets The group has applied eDNA Weather Past and techniques to the invasive Asian By: Gina Digiantonio (DOI) Future carp to determine where the species Environmental deoxyribonucleic is present, locate spawning areas and By Jennifer Flannery and Heather Dewar acid (eDNA) is a new technique times, and estimate relative biomass. (USGS) that uses the DNA from feces, milt, The introduction of Asian carp Boulder corals in the waters of Dry slime, or carcasses that organisms into the Great Lakes would cause Tortugas National Park, 70 miles leave behind as they pass through ecological devastation and has been from Key West, contain evidence that an area. The eDNA technique sheds prevented thus far. The information confirms a centuries-old sea tempera- light on ecological assemblages of a from eDNA provides data on the ture cycle linked to rains, droughts, given habitat and organismal behav- spread of the species and can and hurricanes. Similar to tree rings iors, such as habitat preferences. prepare managers for quick response in the case of range expansion. that document past weather patterns USGS scientist Cathy Richter on land, scientists have determined discussed her work during the DOI Learn More About DOI's that long-lived boulder corals contain PPA seminar on February 13. “Envi- Mission the chemical signals of past water ronmental DNA (eDNA): A tool The PPA seminars are held monthly temperatures. to determine species presence and on the 2nd Monday, 12:15 to 1:15 EST. By analyzing coral samples, USGS abundance” and her collaboration Watch live broadcasts and archived researchers and their colleagues have with the USGS Columbia Environ- talks: https://livestream.com/USInterior found evidence that an important 60- mental Research Center in Missouri. to 85-year-long cycle of ocean warm- ing and cooling has been taking place Nonnative Species continued from page 13 in the region as far back as the 1730s. strontium-to-calcium ratio in corals, scientists can reconstruct past sea Read more: https://www.usgs.gov/ The cycle, called the Atlantic Multi- surface temperatures. Working with decadal Oscillation (AMO) is linked news/blotched-foxface-fish-found- two boulder corals cored by divers florida-waters to rainfall over most of the United in 2008 and 2012, Flannery’s team States, Midwestern droughts, hur- used a dentist’s drill to collect and If you spot this fish or any other non- ricane intensification and landfalls, analyze samples at intervals as short native or invasive aquatic species, and the transfer of ocean heat from as 1 month, going back as far as 1837. please report the sighting to: the tropical Caribbean Sea to the The Dry Tortugas samples precisely USGS’ Nonindigenous Aquatic Spe- North Atlantic Ocean by way of the track major climate phenomena like cies database: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/ Gulf Stream. the Little Ice Age that ended in the default.aspx “The AMO has a huge impact on early 1800s and the lethal Dust Bowl REEF’s exotic species sighting pro- human populations and the economy, drought of the 1930s. gram: http://www.reef.org/exotics mainly through its influence on rain- “The record we obtained from the Dry You can also sign up for USGS Non- fall patterns,” said geochemist Jen- Tortugas coral cores captures several indigenous Aquatic Species alerts: nifer Flannery of the USGS Coastal complete AMO cycles stretching back https://nas.er.usgs.gov/AlertSystem/ and Marine Science Center in St. 278 years. That gives climate mod- default.aspx Petersburg, Florida, who led the study. elers a lot of new evidence to work “Climatologists suspect the AMO is a with as they try to understand past natural climate cycle that has existed AMOs and predict future ones,” said for more than 1,000 years. But until Flannery. recently most of the evidence came from ships at sea, and only went back Read the press release: 150 years or so. That’s where the Dry https://www.usgs.gov/news/ Tortugas coral cores come in.” florida-corals-tell-cold-spells-and- While they are alive, corals take up dust-bowls-past-foretell-weather- strontium and calcium from seawater, come Research paper: https://doi. depositing the two minerals in their org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.10.022 skeletons in a ratio that varies with The invasive blotched foxface rabbitfish water temperature. By measuring the found in Florida waters. Photo credit: James Fatherree

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California Explores share information on all aspects of All presentation materials from the ocean renewable energy including conference, as well as additional Ocean Renewable permitting, technology and potential information, are available at: https:// Energy environmental, and economic effects. www.boem.gov/CORE_Conference/ By Sara Guiltinan (BOEM) On November 1–2, 2016, scientists, engineers, educators, interested mem- bers of the public, and representatives from Federal, State, and local govern- ments gathered at the University of California (UC) Davis to share infor- mation about ocean renewable energy potential offshore California. With California’s ambitious goal to get 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and recent commercial interest in developing wind energy offshore California’s central coast, the California Ocean Renewable Energy (CORE) Confer- ence was a timely event. Conference participants explored both offshore wind energy and wave energy devel- opment potential off the Golden State’s shores. The CORE Confer- ence was sponsored by the BOEM, BOEM Wildlife Biologist Greg Sanders shared a slide from his CORE conference presentation, and the UC Davis College of Engi- “Potential Interactions Between Offshore Renewable Energy Activities, Marine Mammals and neering was a cooperating partner to Sea Turtles.” Image credit: Greg Sanders, BOEM

First Meeting for West Coast Regional Planning Body By Sara Guiltinan (BOEM) The Tribal, State, and Federal representatives of the West Coast Regional Planning Body (RPB) convened for their first official in- person meeting on October 26–27, 2016, in Portland, Oregon. They discussed regional coordination and marine planning on the West Coast. The RPB members were able to look to at both the Northeast Ocean Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan as examples while considering the best planning approach and tools to suit the West Coast. National Ocean Council Director Deerin Babb- Brott participated in the meeting and shared his insights and advice on effective regional planning strategies. RPB members discussed the many facets of marine planning, including the West Coast Ocean Data Portal, ocean assessment, communications and engagement with stakeholders, and a subregional approach for planning in the large and diverse West Coast region. The meeting included opportunities for public comment, during which attendees offered their own valuable insights and recommen- DOI attendees at the 2016 West Coast RPB meeting. From left to right: Keith Hatch (BIA), Yvonne Fish dations. DOI representatives attending the meeting included Joan (BIA), Brian Milchak (DOI), Sara Guiltinan (BOEM), Barminski, Pacific Regional Director for the BOEM, along with staff Chris Swenson (USFWS), Joan Barminski (BOEM), from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), USFWS, and the Office of Allison O’Brien (DOI), and Doug Garcia (BIA). Photo Environmental Policy and Compliance. credit: Sara Guiltinan, BOEM

15 NEWSWAVE • Spring 2017 rs fro ca st th Postcards from the Pacific Northwesto e

A Behind-the-Scenes Perspective of DOI Activities a t Reference animals, like the birds s pictured below, are just one of the By Erica Wales (DOI) ci e fic hw resources the lab has to help stop wildlife I spent 2016 as a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow Nort crime. Photo credit: Erica Wales, DOI in the DOI Office of Policy Analysis (PPA), working with the Ocean, Great Lakes, and Coastal team. Working at the DOI in Washington, D.C., is a great way to see what DOI does at a high level when it comes to the ocean, Great Lakes, and coasts. To get a better sense of the scope of work the Bureaus carry out across the landscape, I toured in the Pacific Northwest to visit with several Bureau offices and facilities (which included driving nearly 2,000 miles across mountains, through snow, and on winding roads that hugged the coast). Through these behind- the-scenes visits, I gained a much better sense of how DOI Bureaus support the DOI mission of protecting and managing our public lands and resources. Wildlife Forensics—USFWS in Oregon The mission of the USFWS is to conserve, protect, and enhance species and habitats. For This haystack many people, this means restoration projects and rock is one of 1,853 rocks and refuges. But in Ashland, Oregon, the USFWS islands and two Forensics Laboratory is the world’s only research headlands in the facility dedicated to crimes against wildlife. Oregon Island Investigators here have pioneered innovative National Wildlife techniques in everything from grizzly bear autop- Refuge. Photo sies to underwater fingerprinting, and today the credit: Erica Wales, DOI lab is a linchpin in the fight to protect endangered species and solve wildlife crimes. While there are only 17 scientists who work on these criminal cases, they analyze 8,000–10,000 items each year to help 200 USFWS special agents enforce 12 laws. They also deal with trade issues, helping to determine if a protected species is being traded ille- gally. For example, scrimshaw (whale bone carvings) are illegal to sell and trade, with some exceptions for items that pre-date 1972 and certain Tribal and Native Alaskan practices. The lab found that this carving, shown at left, had been imported illegally and made to look like a native carving so that it could be traded. The lab uses science and evidence processing to respond to trends in wildlife crime. The lab has around 5,000 tree sam- ples, the world’s largest collection of frozen wildlife tissues, an immense collection of hairs, 60,000 genetic reference samples The lab was able to determine that this scrimshaw from all over the world, a large collection of reference animals, originally had a carving of Lenin and was from Russia and works on a variety of cases ranging from tree oil to whole and was not a Tribal or Native Alaskan carving. animals. Learn more: https://www.fws.gov/lab/ Photo credit: Erica Wales, DOI

Oregon north coast photo at top of page from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under ©CC-SA-4.0 International 16 Pine bough illustration from freevectorarchive.com NEWSWAVE • Spring 2017

Invasive Species Effects—USFWS in Oregon At the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (one of six related refuges in the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex) invasive vegetation is an issue. Invasive species are replacing native grasses growing on rocky outcrops. Many birds, such as puffins and auklets, burrow and nest in these grasses, but the invasive spe- cies make it unsuitable for these nesting birds. Another issue is human disturbance. The Refuge complex hosts 1.2 million nest- ing seabirds—more than the coasts of California and Washington combined. Human disturbance can destroy habitat and cause nest abandonment. Although climbing on the rocks above the high tide line is not allowed, people are getting close to the islands with the increasing use of drones. Finding ways to reduce these aerial disturbances is a new challenge for the complex.

Talking Science at Olympic National Park—NPS in Washington Next, I headed up to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington to meet with Olympic National Park’s (Olympic) coastal ecolo- gist/limnologist and talk science. Olympic is a park for any kind of adventurer. The park has 1 million acres, 95 percent Trees and waterfalls are all part of the resources of it designated by Congress as wilderness. There are three within Olympic National Park. Monitoring the three different ecosystems within the park: lowland temperate rain- distinct ecosystems is a vital part of the science that informs management of the changing conditions forests, mountains, and coasts. There are 650 mountain lakes of the park. Photo credit: Erica Wales, DOI and 2 lowland lakes. Lake Crescent, more than 600 feet deep, used to be a river created by a retreating glacier. An earth- quake collapsed two mountains, trapping fish in the newly formed lake. Olympic’s science program became more robust with the Natural Resource Challenge (https://www.nps. gov/nature/challenge.htm), an NPS initiative to increase understanding of natural resources in national parks. NPS scientists completed research and monitoring, including stock and population assessments, to help inform management. The goal is to inventory NPS units to know what is in the units, as well as to monitor them for changing conditions and related effects on park resources. Olympic has 73 miles of wilderness coastline, the most in the lower 48. This coastline includes rocky beaches, headlands, sandy beaches, cliffs, and cobble beaches, all mixed together. There are 205 intertidal species of algae, 65 intertidal fish species, and 536 intertidal invertebrates. Scientists complete long- term monitoring of the rocky intertidal zone and sandy beach infaunal communities to track bands of species assemblages and numbers. They also monitor temperature, which is critical to track in the intertidal zone because species are experienc- ing changes in air and water temperate as the effects of climate change grow. The park is experiencing ocean acidification at Olympic National Park has 73 miles of wilderness levels other parts of the United States will experience in 30 to coastline. Driftwood and offshore rocks are part of the 50 years. To help the park adapt to these changes, Olympic is part appeal of this rugged coastal park. Photo credit: Erica of a network of parks that is monitoring intertidal ocean acidifica- Wales, DOI tion on the West Coast (other parks in this network are Cabrillo, San Juan, and Channel Islands).

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Managing Multiple Land Use—BLM in Oregon Through my year at the DOI, I learned that the Bureau of Land Manage- ment (BLM) is a multiple use agency, meaning they must balance a lot of competing uses on the lands they manage. Donning a hard hat and boots, I met with BLM staff who took me into the field to seevarious projects BLM-Oregon was carrying out in the Coos Bay/North Bend area. European beach grass is an invasive species on the dunes of Oregon. The grass was brought in because of its ability to hold the sand, which is good if you want to develop the area behind the dunes; however, Part of BLM’s habitat restoration work, chick the grass has drastically changed the dune ecosystem, which was migration corridors help newly hatched adapted to changing shape with the wind. The ecosystem became less Western Snowy Plovers get from the back dune dynamic after the beach grass took over the dunes. to the beach to feed. Photo credit: Erica Wales, DOI The North Spit Area of Critical Environmental Concern is a 725-acre area managed by BLM and the USACE, but one-third of Oregon’s snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) population nests on 175 acres in that area. To help the plover popula- tion, BLM carries out a number of projects to remove the beach grass, spreading oyster shells for camouflage, and monitoring nests with a global positioning system (GPS). Unlike most plovers that nest on the fore dune, the plovers in Oregon nest on the back dune. To help newly hatched plovers over the dune, through the beach grass, and reach the ocean to feed, BLM has created chick migration corridors, small cut-outs in the dune where the plovers can more easily navigate their way to feed. BLM has to balance recreation on the spit (you can drive on the beach and the dunes during certain times of the year), the National Historic Preservation Act (an old railroad also runs through the area), restoring native plants like pink sand verbena (Abronia umbellata), as well as supporting the plover popula- tion…certainly a challenge. Another land use that BLM manages is timber. I went to an active timber sale to learn about the process. At this site, no clear cutting was occurring, but specific trees were being marked and then cut. If a tree is cut that is not marked, the logging company will have to pay the value of the tree. It was pretty amazing to see the whole process. After a tree is cut, it is pulled up to the landing site by a yoder (a machine with cables and pulleys), a second machine cuts off branches and cleans up the tree, and then another places the trunks in a pile so they can be loaded on a truck. Although logging can be a contentious use of land, BLM is committed to following safe and proper procedures. Finally, I visited a stream site where BLM was restoring fish habi- tat, vital for spawning fish, such as the Coho salmon, which is listed under the Endangered Species Act. BLM’s restoration activity included bringing in logs and gravel to restore the stream to a more natural state. The logs create eddies and pools in the bottom sediment where the fish can lay their eggs. The logs must be carefully selected for size and location relative to the stream, and carefully placed (often wedged into place) so that the proper habitat is created. Although putting logs and gravel in a stream may not sound like a particularly hard thing to do, one must be careful in how those logs are placed or a snow melt or storm could wash the logs downstream. From solving wildlife crime mysteries to restoring fish habitat, DOI’s Top: Erica Wales (in blue) at an active BLM timber Bureaus carry out an incredibly diverse array of work to fulfill the DOI site. Photo credit: Greta Krost, BLM. mission. The landscape of the Pacific Northwest is unforgettable, and Bottom: Restoring a stream to a more natural state I will certainly never forget the amazing work the DOI Bureaus do to has helped spawning fish return to the Pacific preserve and protect our lands and resources. Northwest. Photo credit: Erica Wales, DOI

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Healthy Groundwater Advances in for Shinnecock Nation Topobathymetric Information for Resource Mapping Managers By John Brock and Dean Gesch (USGS) By Michael Noll (USGS) In coastal environments, elevation is The Shinnecock Nation, an Algonquin perhaps the most fundamental and tribe on the south fork of eastern Long important variable that determines Island near the town of Southampton, vulnerability to flooding and storm New York, relies on clean ground- effects. Accurate high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) that water for drinking and healthy coastal USGS scientist calibrates an electromagnetic- fisheries. Oyster fisheries and other induction borehole probe as part of the show land and submerged topogra- marine ecosystems in Shinnecock Bay geophysical data collection at monitoring phy (bathymetry) are key to coastal are critical to the livelihood of many wells on Shinnecock Nation Tribal Lands. wetlands mapping and monitoring, Photo credit: USGS residents living on the Tribal Lands. storm surge and sea-level rise model- In addition, about 6 percent of the ing, benthic habitat mapping, coral households on the Tribal Lands use installing 17 new monitoring wells reef ecosystem mapping, and a host of wells that tap the shallow freshwater on and around the Tribal Lands. related activities. aquifer (water table) for their primary The freshwater lens in the aquifer A special issue of the Journal of source of drinkable water. beneath the south fork of Long Island Coastal Research edited by USGS sci- The quantity and quality of ground- resembles a bowl or wedge that floats entists, “Advances in Topobathymetric water being discharged into coastal on top of deeper salty water from the Mapping, Models, and Applications,” waters bodies may adversely affect surrounding Atlantic Ocean and the provides a broad array of recent the health and long-term sustainability Peconic Bay. USGS scientists used of marine flora and fauna. Harmful geophysical techniques to determine algal blooms resulting from nutrient the position of the freshwater-saltwa- enrichment are a substantial threat ter transition zone beneath the Tribal to the fisheries on Long Island and Lands. Understanding where saltwater may be responsible for the decline of is present beneath the Shinnecock oyster yield from the Shinnecock Bay. Nation, and the south fork of Long Rising sea level and saltwater intru- Island in general, is important for sion, infiltration of storm overwash water suppliers that provide drinking (surge) from intense coastal storms, water to residents of the south fork nutrient loading from fertilizers, and and Tribal Nation. septic effluent from wastewater dis- Because contaminants can move at the posal systems have been identified as speed of groundwater, it is important potential sources of contamination to to understand how fast groundwater the surficial aquifer beneath the Tribal moves from within the aquifer to the Lands. Defining the shape of the water coastal waters of Shinnecock Bay. table and the flow of shallow ground- USGS scientists were able to estimate water to Shinnecock Bay is crucial this travel time based on aquifer tests, to identifying sources of potential con- along with the geophysical surveys The image used on the cover of Special Issue 76 of the Journal of Coastal Research tamination and evaluating the status of and water-level data. In addition to features a topographic-bathymetric DEM this water supply. these data and analyses, the monitor- of a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed In December 2016, the USGS pub- ing wells will continue to provide and adjacent areas along the Atlantic coast in the eastern United States. The USGS lished the results of a study with the critical information to the Shinnecock Nation so they have the information Coastal National Elevation Database project Shinnecock Nation and the Suffolk developed the DEM as part of an ongoing County Department of Health Ser- they need to make informed decisions effort to improve elevation information for vices that was designed to provide about managing their water supply, U.S. coastal regions. Learn more: information the tribe needs to man- fisheries, and other natural resources. https://topotools.cr.usgs.gov/coned/ Image credit: Dean Tyler, USGS age their groundwater resources. Read more: https://doi.org/10.3133/ The project began with drilling and sir20165110 See Topobathymetric page 20

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Topobathymetric continued from page 19 Comprehensive characteristics on the Delmarva Penin- research findings on data, processing Geologic Mapping sula’s inner continental shelf. methods, applications, and physical Additionally, the USGS acquired and processes that are critical for increased of Delmarva’s Inner repurposed existing NOAA hydro- understanding of the dynamic coastal Continental Shelf— graphic data and BOEM Wind Energy environment. Now Available! Area geophysical data to optimize The special issue offers current the design of this extensive survey to information for coastal zone resource By Laura Brothers (USGS) produce one of the most data-rich and managers and provides the impetus for The USGS has collected about areally extensive (about 5,100 square future research and advances in data, 10,000 kilometers of new geophysical kilometers) inner continental shelf methods, models, and applications data and 258 sea floor grab samples studies on the U.S. Atlantic coast. for the elevation mapping in a chang- along with video footage at more The Delmarva Peninsula is a ing coastal environment. The issue is than 200 bottom video stations to 220-kilometer-long headland, spit, and available at: http://www.jcronline.org/ describe the geology and sea floor barrier island complex on the coast toc/coas//76 See Geologic Mapping page 21

Examples of Topobathymetric Mapping Applications

Topobathymetric data were used to create a map of minimum and maximum extent of the area vulnerable to inundation after 1.18 meters of sea-level rise (at 95-percent confidence) in the Mobile Bay, Alabama, region. Image credit: Dean Gesch, USGS

Polygonal tundra features at Brownlow Point, along the North Slope of Alaska, are visible in a DEM derived from high-resolution airborne light detection and ranging (lidar). Shoreline positions between 1947 and 2009, digitized from historical maps and satellite imagery, are also shown on the map. Image credit: Ann Gibbs and Bruce Richmond, USGS

EAARL-B (second-generation Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar) bathymetry acquired near Barnegat Bay Inlet, New Jersey, in late 2012, was compiled from data collected immediately before and after the landfall of Hurricane Sandy to reduce the number of data gaps in this area. Image credit: USGS

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Geologic Mapping continued from page 20 mitigation of hazards in the coastal • Informing siting for offshore ocean. Bathymetric data are critical development and general of Del​a​ware, Maryland, and Virginia for developing surge models, whereas marine planning. that was substantially affected by sub-sea floor data inform structural Hurricane Sandy. In response to Hur- These datasets will also contribute and geologic understanding. ricane Sandy, DOI funded an initiative to improving our ability to identify to define the geologic framework of These data and mapping products are coastal areas in the region that are the Delmarva inner continental shelf needed for: most susceptible to effects of large and its role in coastal sediment flux • Identifying sand and cultural storms and sea-level rise. and vulnerability through geophysi- resources; High-resolution geophysical data cal mapping of its offshore areas. The • Delineating benthic habitat; releases: Delmarva Project provides baseline https://doi.org/10.5066/F7MW2F60 datasets and derivative interpretive • Identifying shallow geohazards, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KK3 maps that offer a geospatial frame- such as natural gas and structurally https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141262 work for scientific research and weak sediment units; provide critical information to plan- • Evaluating and selecting optimal Read more: https://woodshole.er.usgs. ners and decision-makers who oversee sites for offshore infrastructure gov/project-pages/delmarva/ the management of resources and placement; and

Left: The USGS conducted surveys on the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula (shown in green) in order to complement related datasets previously collected in the area by partners NOAA and BOEM. The inset map shows location of study area. Image credit: USGS. Right: Hill-shaded bathymetric, backscatter and photographic data collected by NOAA and the USGS on the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula . Backscatter data give indications of sea floor character. In general, low-backscatter intensity (blue) corresponds to finer grained material, whereas high-backscatter intensity (orange) corresponds to coarser substrate. Off the coast of Virginia zones of low backscatter indicate a smoother, sandy sea floor (inset A), whereas zones of high backscatter often indicate a sea floor with abundant carbonate (shell hash) (inset B). Image credit: Laura Brothers, USGS

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Regional Planning STEMSEAS Bodies Recognized with STEMSEAS is designed to Peter Benchley Award (1) increase the number of meaningful shipboard experiences By Ann Tihansky (USGS) for under-graduate students; The Mid Atlantic and the Northeast (2) introduce students to essential RPBs have been recognized along skills and competencies for with the Rhode Island Ocean Special geoscience careers; and Area Management Planning Team (3) expose both STEM and non-STEM with the 2017 Peter Benchley “Excel- students to STEM issues and careers lence in Solutions” award. through transformative experiences. This award recognizes those who help The program leverages scheduled ship transits to provide 6–10 day find or create practical solutions to the on-board exploratory experiences environmental challenges confronting for undergraduates from diverse our seas. backgrounds aboard National Science Bob LaBelle of BOEM and the Fed- Foundation-funded research vessels. eral co-lead of the Mid-Atlantic RPB, Read more about the activities during received the award on behalf of the the R/V Sikuliaq transit. RPB along with the State and Tribal Visit the STEMSEAS blog at https:// co-leads, and the Northeast RPB stemseas.wordpress.com/ or co-leads, on May 11 at the Smithson- Facebook page at https://www. ian’s Sant Ocean Hall in the National facebook.com/stemseas/ Museum of Natural History in Wash- ington, D.C. Read more: http://peterbenchleyoceanawards.org/

AK Students Explore Yakutat North Block America Plate Geoscience Hazards in Gulf of the Gulf of Alaska Alaska CANADA Pacific By Kris Ludwig and Danny Brothers (USGS) Plate In August 2016, USGS scientists col- WA laborated with a new National Science Students on board for science Foundation-funded geoscience educa- and adventure aboard the tion program to share hazards science R/V Sikuliaq. Photo credit: with 10 undergraduates while at the Karen B. Thomson, STEMSEAS same time filling in a critical research Instructor data gap in sea floor bathymetry on the Queen Charlotte Fairweather Fault (QCFF) in the Gulf of Alaska. Onboard the research vessel (R/V) Sikuliaq, 10 students and 4 men- tors sailed from Seattle, Washington, to Seward, Alaska, from August 17 Map of complete bathymetry data showing one of the to 23, 2016, as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math submarine landslide scars along the continental shelf (STEM) Student Experiences Aboard margin near the 2012 M7.5 Ships (STEMSEAS) program to Craig earthquake. Image engage in geoscience, oceanography, credit: Danny Brothers, USGS and career exploration activities. See Geoscience Hazards page 23

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Geoscience Hazards continued from page 22 Sailing for Science The Alaska Maritime National USGS shipboard mentors included Education on R/V Tiglax Wildlife Refuge was established to QCFF researcher Danny Brothers and conserve marine mammals, seabirds scientist Kris Ludwig, who joined the By Steve Delehanty and Marianne Aplin and other migratory birds, and the (USFWS) program to share expertise in hazards marine resources upon which they science and facilitate the collection of Can you imagine a teenager at the rely. The Refuge's 3.4 million acres include the spectacular volcanic “datasets of opportunity” for ongoing helm of a 500-ton research vessel in islands of the Aleutian chain, the the Bering Sea? Or visiting visible USGS research on the QCFF. seabird cliffs of the remote Pribilofs, remnants of an abandoned village that The 10 undergraduate students—most the rich forested soils of the Inside was last occupied by your great-great at sea for their first time—tested their Passage, and icebound lands washed grandparents? These education activi- sea legs and stamina as they learned by the Chukchi Sea, providing ties are offered to local youth through about the deep sea geology of the essential habitat for some 40 million the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Northeast Pacific Ocean. As they stud- seabirds representing more than 30 Refuge’s R/V Tiglax. species. Managing these far-flung ied, the ship’s multibeam bathymetry lands is a challenge that calls for While the R/V Tiglax has been “sail- sound navigation and ranging (sonar) a ship, and the 120 foot R/V Tiglax mapped the sea floor trace of the ing for science” for 30 years, 2016 is a vital platform for science and QCFF nearly 1,000 meters below. was the first year the ship sailed to now increasingly plays a key role in Camp Qungaayux along the Alaska The QCFF is a major structural feature education. Maritime National Wildlife Refuge that extends more than 1,200 kilome- and hosted camp participants on ters from northern Vancouver Island, board. The Refuge’s Youth Conserva- Canada to the Fairweather Range tion Corps enrollees stood at the helm of southern Alaska. Recent seismic with the captain, learned to navigate activity along the QCFF, as well as and control the ship, and worked potential secondary hazards including in skiffs to complete bird surveys. submarine landslides and tsunamis, Teenagers from the village of Atka have sparked an increased interest in embarked on the ship to visit their understanding the fault’s behavior. ancestral home on Amlia Island, now Ludwig and Brothers worked with part of the vast wildlife refuge. In STEMSEAS organizers and the ship’s addition to the science lessons, Refuge crew to shift the planned cruise track staff introduced the students to the to fill in the missing data. work of the Refuge biologists and Pictured on the back deck of the R/V The new bathymetry data collected mariners, and shared cold water safety Tiglax, these students just raced to don onboard the R/V Sikuliaq show the the orange immersion suits that they’re lessons that are very relevant to the wearing. They had fun with the activity, full extent of a submarine landslide. community. but for kids who make their home on the Future research may help improve our At Camp Qungaayux, tribal members North Pacific and Bering Sea, cold water knowledge of potential hazards posed survival is serious business. Photo credit: of the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska by the QCFF. Marianne Aplin, USFWS set up weatherports and tents in a shel- tered cove in Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands on the edge of the Bering Sea. The camp is an annual week- long summer camp for community students in grades 4–12. The students learn cultural traditions such as Aleut language, seal hunting, fishing, weav- ing, bentwood hat making, traditional dance, and cooking. The Refuge provides funding and a staff member R/V Tiglax Captain John Faris takes the to teach science lessons in partnership skiff out on a mission. Photo credit: Steve with the traditional knowledge lessons Hillebrand, USFWS taught by Alaska Native elders of the Illustration by Cole Goco. Qawalangin Tribe.

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NPS Engages Youth in tags on these animals in conjunc- Maritime Culture tion with conservation outreach and In February, fourth grade students Science, Stewardship education. In 2016, OCEARCH open learned a little maritime history and sourced the data on the Global Shark and Maritime Culture took tours of the historic ships that Tracker to 2.3 million users and For the past 2 years, Biscayne are preserved at the NPS San Fran- achieved an annual global reach of National Park has been spearhead- cisco Maritime National Historical more than 6 billion media (including ing an effort to more fully integrate Park (https://www.nps.gov/safr/index. Facebook and Twitter) impressions. national parks into marine science htm). The visit was part of the “Every education efforts nationwide. The NPS also partnered with the Kid in a Park” initiative sponsored by YOCS Expedition at Biscayne Youth Ocean Conservation the National Park Trust, North Face, National Park March 17–19 with and the Outdoors Alliance for Kids. Summit a camping/education/networking As part of the event, the students and By Gary Bremen (NPS) event on Elliott Key, sponsored their families were given year-long by the South Florida National In December, more than 200 people passes to Federally managed lands and Parks Trust. Read more: http:// gathered to celebrate ocean conserva- waters. youthoceanconservationsummit. tion and 100 years of the NPS at the For more information, visit: weebly.com/expeditions.html Fifth Annual Youth Ocean Conserva- https://www.everykidinapark.gov/ tion Summit (YOCS) held at Mote Sign-up for the Youth Ocean Con- Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Flor- servation Team e-newsletter: http:// ida. The event showcased student-led youthoceanconservationsummit. ocean conservation projects (including weebly.com/youth-ocean- nine sponsored by the NPS) and ocean conservation-team.html conservation films produced by young people. The participants networked and shared their ocean conserva- tion projects. Local youth projects included Sophie Meloro, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High, who shared information about lionfish effects at Biscayne National Park, and 7-year old Ryan Moralevitz, who founded the “Fishes Wishes Mangrove Garden” program to supply mangrove seed- Seven-year old Ryan Moralevitz presents lings to restore shoreline areas near information about his “Fishes Wishes Mangrove Garden” program, designed to his home. restore mangrove vegetation near his home. The event began with the Community Photo credit: NPS Ocean Conservation Film Festival with a variety of short films featuring Above: Fourth ocean conservation themes and award- graders visiting winning youth ocean conservation the San Francisco Maritime National films. Biscayne National Park Ranger Historical Park got Gary Bremen and South Florida to visit and tour troubadour Grant Livingston blended the historic floating music and storytelling with “Songs vessels. Photo and Stories of Our National Parks” as credit: National Park Trust a salute to the NPS Centennial. At left: Sophie Chris Fischer, founder of OCEARCH, Meloro shares work shared the story of how and why he she is doing to help founded the organization that tags and address effects from tracks keystone marine species includ- the invasive lionfish ing great white sharks (Carcharodon with participants at the 2016 YOCS. carcharias). OCEARCH uses research Photo credit: NPS

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The 37th U.S Coral Reef Task Force Meeting By Gina Digiantonio (DOI) and Miguel G. Figuerola-Hernández (NOAA) New U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) co-chairs Shawn Buckner (DOI) and Russell Callender (NOAA) convened the 37th USCRTF meeting in Washington, D.C., from Febru- ary 21 to 23. More than 125 coral enthusiasts including Governor David Ige from Hawai‘i, Governor Eddie Calvo from Guam, Attorney General Ale from American Samoa, Federal Members, Federal and local govern- Principal members of the 37th USCRTF meeting. Photo credit: Gina Digiantonio, DOI ment agencies, research/academic institutions, and NGOs reported and Dr. Mark Eakin (NOAA Coral Reef the socioeconomic value of coral discussed ongoing interdisciplinary Watch) summarized present bleach- reefs and the benefits of conservation and interagency efforts to protect and ing observations and expectations for actions. Dr. Mike Beck (The Nature preserve corals. the future. After the 2014–16 global Conservancy) discussed the role cor- bleaching event, the longest and most als play in flood protection by reduc- The Injury and Mitigation Work- intensive on record, bleaching is still ing storm wave energy by as much as ing Group released a comprehensive occurring in the South Pacific (Ameri- 97 percent with a 1-meter reduction handbook for avoiding coral impacts can Samoa, Niue, Fiji, and some parts in coral reef height possibly leading and planning mitigation efforts. See of the Great Barrier Reef) despite neu- to doubled flood costs in the United related story, page 26. The Watershed tral El Niño atmospheric conditions. States. See related story, page 26. Partnership Initiative Working Group As temperatures remain warmer than Dr. Beck’s presentation highlighted is creating programmatic, ecologi- usual, a National Adaptation Forum the importance of green infrastructure cal, and societal metrics to assess the and Caribbean Workshops are being in maintaining coastal ecosystems effectiveness of individual water- coordinated to tackle this issue. while ensuring national safety. shed initiatives. The Education and Outreach Working Group discussed The USCRTF meeting hosted sev- This winter meeting highlighted sev- their plan to generate materials for eral presenters whose work was eral ongoing projects designed to have the International Year of the Reef in focused on actions to build coral a positive effect on coral reef conser- 2018, update the USCRTF website, reef resilience. Presenters identified vation and facilitated communication and create briefing materials for new scientific techniques, effective restora- among members and partners. tion strategies, and interdisciplinary USCRTF members. The USCRTF meeting concluded with efforts that are giving hope to coral The All Islands Committee (AIC) goals and action items to support local conservationists. NGOs are becom- reported on their leadership with on- capacity building through fellow- ing an important collaborative asset to the-ground efforts through the Coral ships and internships, continuing to scale-up NOAA’s lead on restoration Management Fellowship, water- fulfill the current USCRTF work plan efforts with The Nature Conservancy quality monitoring and watershed priorities: enforcement needs in the and Mote Marine Laboratory's goal management in Hawai‘i, research jurisdictions, and developing prod- to plant 1 million corals by 2025. The assistance during Florida's coral ucts or trainings to support the States, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology disease event, and a symposium in the Territories, and Commonwealths in is working on coral adaptation and Marshall Islands. The AIC hosted a addressing local issues. assisted evolution as a means for facil- moment of silence in honor of Carey itating natural evolutionary processes The 38th USCRTF meeting, hosted by Morishige Martinez who will be for better adapted corals. the State of Florida, is scheduled for missed, but whose legacy will con- August 7–11, 2017, in Ft. Lauderdale, tinue to inspire dedication and com- Many speakers throughout the meet- Florida. mitment to the USCRTF mission. ing highlighted the importance of cor- als reefs for their economic, cultural, Visit http://coralreef.gov for more and environmental services such as information on the USCRTF.

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New Handbook for mitigation only when natural resource Coral Reefs Struggle Coral Managers damage is unavoidable. to Keep up With Rising The USCRTF strongly emphasizes By Gina Digiantonio (DOI) avoiding or minimizing impacts to Seas The long-awaited handbook for guid- corals as the best practice, but when Coastal Communities Lose ance on coral reef impacts and mitiga- corals are affected, the handbook is a Protection tion was released by the USCRTF in valuable tool for addressing damage in February 2017 during their 37th Meet- an efficient and effective manner. For In the first ecosystem-wide study of ing in Washington, D.C. See related example, the handbook recognizes the changing sea depths at five large coral story, page 25. importance of coordinating early and reef tracts in Florida, the Caribbean, often with all appropriate agencies and and Hawai‘i, USGS researchers found “The Handbook on Coral Reef the sea floor is eroding in all five Impacts: Avoidance, Minimization, includes a compilation of coral author- ities. It also includes a continuum of places, and the reefs cannot keep pace Compensatory Mitigation and Resto- with sea-level rise. ration” provides resources for coral best management practice options reef managers, responsible parties, for coral reef mitigation and restora- The combined effect of sea-level rise and others with interest in coral reef tion, and a section that shares lessons and erosion means water depths have communities. The handbook contains learned. To measure the effectiveness already increased to levels near to resources and guidelines for avoiding, of mitigation efforts, the handbook what most scientists expected to occur minimizing, and mitigating planned provides evaluation frameworks, per- by the year 2100. As a result, coastal activities that can affect corals such as formance standards, and monitoring communities protected by the reefs harbor improvements, shoreline hard- techniques. are facing increased risks from storms, ening, and unplanned injuries such as The handbook is an important mile- waves, and erosion and are losing ship groundings or exposure to oil. By stone that involved many stakehold- other valuable benefits that healthy addressing physical effects on corals, ers and interagency communications coral reefs provide. The USGS-led reef communities can be more resil- to address numerous technical and study was published in Biogeosci- ient to other stressors such as increas- scientific challenges facing coral reef ences. See related story, page 25. ing ocean temperatures, invasive management. The interagency Coral Read more at: https://www.usgs. species, and ocean acidification. Reef Injury and Mitigation Working gov/news/sea-floor-erosion-coral- The handbook offers a general model Group began crafting the handbook reef-ecosystems-leaves-coastal- for planned and unplanned events in 2002. It addresses specific policies communities-risk that walks users through the process related to conserving and protecting of planning the project or responding coral reefs: USCRTF Resolutions to an incident, analyzing alternatives 16.7 and 25.1 and the National Ocean and project designs or recovery action Policy Implementation Plan. to minimize impacts, implementing The handbook is being shared within appropriate compensatory mitiga- and across USCRTF agencies, as well tion, and postproject monitoring. as with NGOs, interested parties, and Throughout the process, the first goal other stakeholders. It is envisioned is to avoid coral damage whenever to be a living document with regu- possible, minimize new or additional lar updates being made as needed. effects, and resort to compensatory Find the handbook here: http://www. coralreef.gov

Gerry Davis (NOAA), Cindy Barger (Army, Civil Works), and Paige Rothenberger (Contractor), presented the final handbook at the 37th USCRTF meeting. Jennifer Koss with NOAA’s Coral Program (far right) A healthy elkhorn coral reef (inset) compared joined the team after the to one that has died and collapsed, both at presentation. Photo credit: Buck Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands. Photo Ann Tihansky, USGS credit: Curt Storlazzi, USGS

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OWLS—Visualize Storms Have Silver Lining Sea-Level Rise By Patrick Barnard (USGS) Viewers Use Augmented Reality By Rex Sanders (USGS) Visitors to the Santa Monica Pier in southern California in late 2016 were able to see what the beach might look like when future storms and sea-level rise raise coastal water levels. Two virtual-reality viewers, named “Owls” in reference to their appearance of having two large “eyes,” show the projected extent of flooding by a big storm at high tide, by sea-level rise, and by both together. The viewers show projected flooding based on forecasts by the USGS Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS): https:// walrus.wr.usgs.gov/coastal_processes/ cosmos/ On January 12–13, just days after “atmospheric river” storms dropped heavy rain on Santa Cruz, California, scientists from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center In addition to highlighting coastal surveyed local beaches to compile a three-dimensional map of storm-related changes. flooding risks, the viewers show how Dan Hoover was part of a team of USGS scientists that used a laser scanner, GPS-equipped communities can adapt to sea-level backpacks, and a sonar-equipped boat and personal watercraft to measure the beaches rise through nature-based coastal- and sea floor around the mouths of the San Lorenzo River and Soquel Creek. Early results planning projects such as enhanced show the storms washed about 100,000 cubic meters (about 10,000 dump-truck loads) of sand to each river mouth and onto local beaches in Santa Cruz, California. The additional dunes. The City of Santa Monica sediment enhanced local surfing spots by creating temporary bars, and the sand should developed the Owls (one ADA-acces- help protect beaches and developed bluffs and shorelines in the future. The fieldwork sible) in partnership with the USGS, complements twice-a-year surveys from Santa Cruz to Moss Landing. The research results Owlized, and the University of South should assist communities planning for sea-level rise and other coastal hazards. Photo California (USC) Sea Grant program. credit: USGS. See related story, page 19. The Owls operated from Novem- ber 7, 2016, to January 7, 2017, and a public event was held November 16 to coincide with “king” high tides, the highest tides of the year. In January 2017, USGS scientist Juliette Finzi Hart showed images of the prior “king tides,” along with a discussion about the coastal flooding projected by the CoSMoS model at a public forum at the Aquarium of the Members of the public using Owl viewers see Juliette Finzi Hart, USGS, shows how much Pacific. “augmented” images of the coastline to get flooding a large storm combined with future a sense of how coastal flooding could affect sea-level rise would likely cause in the ports Read an interview with Finzi Hart: the beach. Photo credit: USC Sea Grant of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Photo credit: http://www.gazettes.com/news/ USGS long-beach-aquarium-to-provide- forum-for-climate-sea-level/ Video: View her 360° video of Janu- Video: Watch Finzi Hart’s presen- article_9b89d38c-ddb4-11e6-b346- ary 12 king tide in Long Beach: tation on CoSMoS (begins around 0f55bab96a05.html https://www.youtube.com/ the 40-minute mark): https:// watch?v=FQl93W469vI www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtw- GwSV4Z4&feature=youtu.be

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Disappearing Beaches Interconnected interconnected than initially thought. Now, the connection between Hay- Alarming News for Southern Submarine Faults ward and Rodgers Creek faults poses California Beaches Pose Risk in Coastal increased risk of large earthquakes in By Leslie Gordon (USGS) California the San Francisco Bay area, home to nearly 7 million people. The USGS CoSMoS–Coastal One-line Discovery Prompts The Hayward and Rogers Creek Assimilation Tool (COAST) model Preparation was used to predict shoreline change faults are two of the most hazardous caused by sea-level rise and chang- By Helen Gibbons, Janet Watt, and fault lines in the Bay area, and the ing storm patterns driven by climate Rex Sanders (USGS) direct connection makes it easier for change. Although 72 percent of Using a small boat and seismic equip- an earthquake to rupture along both beaches in Southern California show ment called a “chirp,” USGS scientist fault lines at once, with the poten- historical trends of accretion or getting Janet Watt led a group of scientists in tial to generate a greater magnitude larger (because of large artificial beach discovering a previously unrecognized earthquake than the 6.9 magnitude nourishments since the 1930s), future connection between the Hayward and Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. The predictions indicate that nearly all the the Rodgers Creek faults off the coast discovery prompted 1,200 emergency beaches will erode (will get smaller) of San Francisco, California. Chirp responders; and scientists, engineers, because of accelerated sea-level rise. systems use high frequency sounds and politicians to meet in Los Angeles in November 2016 to talk about earth- “Beaches in Southern California are that bounce off the layers beneath the sea floor, creating a detailed view of quake preparation and participate in a a crucial feature of the economy, and coordinated earthquake drill. the first line of defense against coastal the layers from which researchers gen- storm impacts for the 18 million erate three-dimensional fault models. Read more: https://soundwaves.usgs. residents in the region. This study Previously, USGS researchers deter- gov/2017/02/research.html indicates that we will have to perform mined that the Hayward, Calaveras, https://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/ massive and costly interventions to and San Andreas faults were more geohazards/cennorcal.html preserve these beaches in the future under the erosive pressures of antici- pated sea level rise, or risk losing many of the economic and protec- tive benefits beaches provide,” said USGS geologist and coauthor Patrick Barnard. Map of known USGS science makes these coastal active faults hazard assessments possible. These and earthquake probabilities in tools are designed to inform manage- the San Francisco ment strategies and plans. Bay area. When Read more: https://www.usgs.gov/ this map was published, the news/disappearing-beaches-modeling- connection shoreline-change-southern-california between the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults was not known. The 72-percent chance of a large earthquake before 2043 includes both known and unknown faults. Read more: https:// Exposed bedrock on the beach, below the doi.org/10.3133/ campus of University of California, Santa fs20163020 Image Barbara. Photo credit: Daniel Hoover, USGS credit: USGS

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Trawling for Sea Turtles sea turtles away from the dredging location. These actions help minimize New Partnership Boosts the risk of entrainment to threatened Turtle Research in the Gulf of and endangered turtles. During recent Mexico construction as part of the Caminada Headland Beach and Dune Restora- By Kristen Hart (USGS), Margaret Lamont (USGS), Autumn Iverson (USGS), Jessica tion project in southern Louisiana, Mallindine (BOEM), Michael Cherkiss (USGS), BOEM contracted the use of hopper and Michael Miner (BOEM) dredges to excavate and transport sediment to shore. An unexpectedly The BOEM and the USGS Wetland high number of sea turtles, more than and Aquatic Research Center started a 150 individuals by the end of the first new 5-year collaboration that furthers phase of activity, had to be relocated sea turtle research and compliance after being captured by the trawler. with Endangered Species Act regula- tions and recovery goals. These trawling efforts provide unique access to sea turtles that allow sci- Managers of development projects entists opportunistic sampling and are required to comply with the Above and at left: Andrew Crowder releasing tagging that is a first of its kind in the Endangered Species Act. Activities a Kemp’s ridley. Photo credit: USGS United States. like oil and gas extraction, renewable of their lives at sea, but adult females energy installation, and even coastal “We're getting males and subadults, come ashore to nest each year, which restoration in the GoM are required animals other than those we get on makes them readily available for to produce information for decision nesting beaches,” said Kristen Hart, capture. Because of this, research has documents. When specific types of USGS scientist who is leading the been biased toward the adult female dredging occur, BOEM contracts a study along with USGS scientist Mar- life stage; little is known about adult trawler to capture and relocate live garet Lamont. Sea turtles spend most See Trawling for Sea Turtles page 30

National MPA Center News importance of ecological connectivity for populations, ecological communities, By National MPA Center and ecosystems in the marine environ- The Marine Protected Area (MPA) ment. Connectivity is also recommended Federal Advisory Committee (FAC), a as a key design element of MPA net- committee of non-Federal experts that works. The MPA FAC recommendations advises NOAA and the DOI on MPA include design principles for enhancing issues, completed recommendations connectivity as a component of MPA options for external financing for U.S. networks and the report includes recom- MPA programs. mended actions for NOAA and the DOI Recognizing that MPA programs need to incorporate connectivity principles additional resources beyond those pro- and connectivity guidelines for all MPA vided by their home institutions, the MPA programs. FAC reviewed potential options for exter- Two new reports highlight recom- nal sources and mechanisms for accessing mended options for external financing external funds. The MPA FAC also made and enhanced connectivity for U.S. MPA recommendations regarding future steps programs. http://marineprotectedareas. NOAA and the DOI can use these funds noaa.gov/) to support the MPA mission. • http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/ In a separate report, the MPA FAC fac/products/mpa-fac-external-finance- provided guidance on incorporating report-jan-2017.pdf ecological spatial connectivity into the • http://marineprotectedareas.noaa. design and management of MPAs. Recent gov/fac/products/connectivity-report- research increasingly highlights the combined.pdf Image credit: National MPA Center

29 NEWSWAVE • Spring 2017

Trawling for Sea Turtles continued from page 29 the likelihood of future turtle captures and dive patterns, the researchers males and juveniles because catching in other dredge operations. “Once we can determine how much time turtles them in water can be difficult. “Work- determine where turtle high-use areas spend within the first 2 meters of the ing with actively permitted dredge and overlap with dredging sites, we can surface, which can help inform popu- trawl operations gives us access to assess risk to turtles and characterize lation estimates gathered from aerial habitat preferences. By tracking the and visual surveys. turtles captured in the water, a sample turtles, we can inform decisions about that includes males and subadults of You can follow the turtle tracks here: how far it may be prudent to move both sexes,” said Hart. http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/ them to be a ‘safe’ distance away from index.shtml?project_id=1205 For 32 days in May–July 2016, the active dredge/trawl operations” said USGS team made the most of the Hart. In addition to providing infor- opportunity by joining the trawlers’ mation related to turtle movements crews and tagging 26 turtles with depth-logging satellite tags at two sites: Ship Shoal (Louisiana) and an area about 4 miles offshore of Pen- sacola Beach (Florida). The team captured 10 Kemp’s ridleys (Lepido- chelys kempii; listed as threatened) and 2 loggerheads (Caretta caretta; listed as endangered) at the Ship Shoal site, and 14 loggerheads at the Pensac- ola site. Turtles were also tagged with internal passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and blood and tissue sam- ples (for genetic and isotope analyses) were collected from all individuals. The map shows her location over Both subadult and adult turtles were 133 days of tagging. You can follow her movements at the project site (http://www. captured, including seven males. Sea turtle with depth-logging satellite tag. seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_ Through the use of biologging PIT Photo credit: USGS id=1205&dyn=1470255546). Map credit: USGS tags, USGS researchers are obtaining data on turtle dive profiles and move- ment patterns. While captured, the team gathers additional data to assess available diet and benthic composition of bottom habitat for habitat modeling efforts. “Gathering fine-scale informa- tion on dive profiles can provide key data on turtle use of preferred thermal zones of the water column and time spent on the bottom within the vicinity of dredging activities, which will aide BOEM in evaluating mortality and entrainment risk at project sites,” said Jessica Mallindine, who co-leads the BOEM project with Michael Miner. Currently, tracking data is still trans- mitting, and so far every turtle has stayed near to where it was captured. Dive results show that tagged logger- heads are diving slightly deeper and longer than tagged Kemp’s ridleys. An adult female loggerhead turtle, nicknamed Savanna, was captured during BOEM trawling These results help the team to predict operations and satellite tagged. Photo credit: USGS

30 NEWSWAVE • Spring 2017

New Handbook for unit length of constructed features What is the Difference (such as seawalls, beach nourishment, Between Kemp’s Ridley and Coastal Park Managers and nature-based features). One key Loggerhead Sea Turtles? By Courtney Schupp, Rebecca Beavers, message is that managing for change Amanda Babson, and Jeffrey Olson (NPS) may require working at a larger land- Although Kemp’s ridleys and scape scale than a single park, such loggerheads both use similar habitat A new NPS publication supports man- as working with adjacent refuges and in the northern GoM, there are agement of park sites that are affected with partners such as the Landscape differences between the two species. by sea-level rise and climate change, Conservation Cooperatives. Kemp's ridleys are considered the including 88 ocean, coastal and smallest sea turtle in the world, Great Lakes parks, and an additional Rebecca Beavers and co-editors with adults reaching about 2 feet 35 parks subject to coastal influence. Courtney Schupp and Dr. Amanda long and weighing as much as 100 Babson compiled contributions from pounds. They nest exclusively on The Coastal Adaptation Strate- more than a dozen NPS authors and GoM beaches in northern Mexico and gies Handbook (https://www. partners with expertise in natural southern Texas and forage in the GoM nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/ and cultural resources management and the Atlantic seaboard, primarily coastalhandbook.htm) was released and science, infrastructure, planning, on crab species living on the sea floor in October 2016. This web-based communication, and policy. “Those in shallow waters. Kemp’s ridley sea guidance document is a compilation turtles are listed in the United States authors have decades of experience in of experience and best management and internationally as endangered managing park resources and provid- practices for parks in the coastal zone. throughout their range because of ing context for addressing current park Though written primarily for NPS dramatic population declines in the challenges with new strategies from managers, it can be a useful resource 20th century. the field of climate change adapta- for DOI partners and other practitio- tion,” said Schupp. Loggerheads nest throughout the ners in exploring and implementing world. In the U.S. waters of the GoM, climate change adaptation and learn- The handbook also outlines decision- nesting beaches extend primarily ing from park examples. It summa- making processes that NPS managers from southern Florida to Alabama with limited nesting in the western rizes existing strategies for climate can use in protecting parks threatened GoM. Loggerhead sea turtles are adaptation in coastal areas, and high- by diverse coastal climate change primarily carnivorous and feed mostly lights processes and tools that parks challenges. Babson said, “we are mov- on shellfish that live on the bottom can use for storm response, hurricane ing forward with strategies and taking of the ocean, such as horseshoe recovery, and development of NPS action in parks so, as the climate crabs, clams, mussels, and other management plans. changes and affects parks, we can invertebrates. Mean average adult continue to serve visitors and provide The handbook chapters focus on mass is 250 pounds, and once they stewardship and protection of natural policy, planning, cultural resources, reach sexual maturity, females nest and cultural resources.” every 2 to 5 years, depositing 2 to natural resources, facility manage- 6 clutches of 75 to 120 eggs about ment, communication, and education. The Coastal Adaptation Strategies every 2 weeks during the nesting One chapter includes a case study Handbook complements an earlier season. After nesting, they migrate of Hurricane Sandy response and compilation of 24 case studies (https:// back to distinct foraging sites. recovery strategies, such as changes www.nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/ Loggerheads nesting in the United to infrastructure. Another chapter coastaladaptationstrategies. States are listed as a threatened features practical coastal infrastruc- htm) of coastal parks affected by species. ture information including cost per climate change.

Infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural resources are all vulnerable to climate change effects at Point Reyes Historic Lighthouse, Point Reyes National Seashore, California. Photo credit: Don Illustration by Cole Goco. Weeks, NPS

31 The Surfing Bison

Explore BLM’s Coastal Units

https://www.blm.gov/programs/ national-conservation-lands By Erica Wales (DOI) Photo credit: BLM

Did you know that the BLM California Coastal National Monu- does more than manage grazing, ment—In January 2017, the existing timber harvesting, energy devel- California Coastal National Monu- opment, and mining on public ment was expanded by 6,230 acres lands? They also manage millions to include six new coastal areas. of acres of national monuments, Read more: https://www.blm.gov/ outstanding natural areas (ONAs), nlcs_web/sites/ca/st/en/prog/nlcs/ historic trails, wild and scenic California_Coastal_NM.html Photo credit: Bob Wick, BLM rivers, national conservation areas Florida (NCAs), wilderness areas, and fish habitat. BLM manages many of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse ONA—Estab- these public lands so that you can lished in 2008, this ONA is 120 acres hike, bike, fish, camp, and enjoy the and the only National Conservation great outdoors. See related story, Lands unit east of the Mississippi page 16. River. Visitors can tour the light- house, watch for manatees, or explore Here are a few coastal examples coastal and upland habitats. Read Photo credit: Bob Wick, BLM of BLM coastal lands: https:// more: https://www.blm.gov/programs/ www.blm.gov/programs/ national-conservation-lands/ national-conservation-lands eastern-states/jupiter-inlet-lighthouse

California Oregon Piedras Blancas Light Station Yaquina Head ONA—This 100-acre ONA—Since 2008, the 476 acres ONA was established in 1980. The of public land at this ONA has rocky cliffs are home to nesting sea-

Photo credit: Bob Wick, BLM provided visitors with lighthouse birds, and waters around the headland tours and views of the rugged, are home to gray whales and harbor rocky shoreline filled with seabirds, seals. Find colorful sea life in the tide sea lions, and elephant seals. In pools like orange sea stars, purple just the 19 acres around the light- urchins, and green anemones. Read house, 70 native plant species can more: https://www.blm.gov/nlcs_web/ be found. Read more: https://www. sites/or/nlcs/yaquina.html blm.gov/nlcs_web/sites/ca/st/en/ Washington prog/nlcs/PBLS.html San Juan Islands National Monu- King Range NCA—Created in ment—Established in 2013, more than 1970, this 68,000 acre conserva- 450 islands, rocks, and pinnacles make tion area allows hiking, camping, up the 1,000 acre national monument. biking, fishing, surfing, hunting, Landscapes range from forests to sandy

Photo credit: Kenneth Henke, BLM and more. From mountains to sea- beaches, and snow-capped peaks in scapes, King Range offers coastal the distance provide the backdrop. In Photos from top to bottom: San Juan Islands National Monument, King wilderness in an area too rugged the islands, you can fish, crab, shrimp, Range NCA, California Coastal National for highways: https://www.blm.gov/ hike, kayak, and camp. Read more: Monument, Yaquina Head ONA, and nlcs_web/sites/ca/st/en/prog/nlcs/ https://www.blm.gov/nlcs_web/sites/or/ Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse ONA. King_Range_NCA.html nlcs/sanjuan.html 32