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Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan 2016-2020 This page is intentionally blank. Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan 2016-2020 Prepared by: Padilla Bay NERR 10441 Bayview-Edison Road Mount Vernon WA 98273 (360)428-1558 www.padillabay.gov Acknowledgements Thanks to all the Padilla Bay NERR staff that participated in the revision. Thanks to Suzanne Shull for the maps and to Tim Davenport for the map of the historical river del- tas. Thanks to Craig Miller for the cover photography and to Cathy Angell for her photo editing skills. We also thank Bree Turner, Coastal Management Specialist at NOAA, for her guidance. Financial support for this publication was provided, fully or in part, by a grant under the - ment, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, administered by the Office for Coastal Manage Copies of this publication are available from the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 10441 Bayview-Edison Road, Mount Vernon, Washington, 98273 or online at: www.padillabay.gov (Publications). Suggested Bibliographic Citation: Stevens, T.S., J.A. Apple, G.A. Alexander, C.A. Angell, and S.R. Riggs. 2016. Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan. Washington State Department of Ecology, Shorelands and Environmental Assis- tance Program, Padilla Bay NERR, Mount Vernon, Washington. This page is intentionally blank. Table of Contents Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................ vii Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................................xi Chapter 1 - Introduction Introduction to the National Estuarine Research Reserve System ...............................................1 NERRS Strategic Goals .....................................................................................................................................2 Biogeographic Regions and Boundaries of the NERRS ......................................................................3 NERR Administrative Framework ..............................................................................................................3 Introduction to the Padilla Bay NERR .......................................................................................................4 Local History ........................................................................................................................................................4 Historic Uses ........................................................................................................................................................5 Proposals for Development ...........................................................................................................................8 Designation of the Reserve ............................................................................................................................8 Ecological Attributes ........................................................................................................................................8 Key Habitats and Species .............................................................................................................................10 Social Attributes ..............................................................................................................................................18 Ecosystem Services ........................................................................................................................................22 Threats and Stressors ...................................................................................................................................23 Padilla Bay NERR Boundary .......................................................................................................................27 Chapter 2 - Padilla Bay NERR Strategic Plan Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................33 A Focus on Coastal Management Issues ................................................................................................33 NERRS Guiding Principles ...........................................................................................................................34 NERRS Vision and Mission ..........................................................................................................................34 Washington State Department of Ecology Vision and Mission ...................................................34 Padilla Bay NERR Vision and Mission ....................................................................................................35 Padilla Bay NERR Policies ...........................................................................................................................35 Strategic Plan Terms ......................................................................................................................................38 Padilla Bay NERR Performance Measures ...........................................................................................38 Padilla Bay NERR Goals, Objectives and Actions ...............................................................................30 Chapter 3 - Research and Monitoring Plan Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................49 NERRS Research and Monitoring Program..........................................................................................49 NERRS Research Programs .........................................................................................................................50 NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program ..........................................................................................50 Management Plan - i Padilla Bay NERR Research Program Context ....................................................................................51 Padilla Bay NERR Research Program Capacity ..................................................................................58 Padilla Bay NERR Program Delivery .......................................................................................................61 Current Research and Monitoring Efforts ........................................................................................... 63 Biomonitoring Efforts at Padilla Bay ..................................................................................................... 63 Student Research at PBNERR ................................................................................................................... 67 Cooperative Research with Other Scientists ...................................................................................... 68 Volunteer-Based Research and Monitoring ........................................................................................ 68 System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) ...................................................................................... 68 Cooperative Monitoring Projects ............................................................................................................ 71 Information Dissemination ....................................................................................................................... 71 Integration with Other Sectors ................................................................................................................ 72 ............................................................................................................ 73 Research Impacts and Outcomes ............................................................................................................ 73 ResearchProgram EfficacyProgram and Needs Evaluation and Opportunities .................................................................................... 74 Research and Monitoring Objectives and Actions ........................................................................... 76 Chapter 4 - Education Program Plan Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 83 NERRS Education Program ........................................................................................................................ 83 Padilla Bay NERR Education Program Context ................................................................................. 84 Padilla Bay NERR Education Program Capacity ............................................................................... 92 Padilla Bay NERR Education Program Delivery ................................................................................ 95 Padilla Bay NERR Education Program Needs and Opportunities ............................................. 98 Education Program Objectives and Actions ....................................................................................... 99 Chapter 5 - Coastal Training Program Plan Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................103 NERR Coastal Training Program