Conserving special places in our coastal and marine environment is a great way to balance the often competing and occasionally conflicting demands of coastal resource use, economic development, and conservation. Programs such as NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System enable communities to come together to study, discuss, and find solutions to a broad range of pressing problems in specific regions around the nation. These special places are focal points that encourage partnerships in science, education, technology, management, and community.

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Coastal intelligence refers to information that is used by governments, businesses, and citizens to make decisions that support healthy ecosystems, strong economies, and resilient communities along our coasts. NOS and partners support this decision-making process by translating science—coastal and ocean observations, data, and research—into information that people can use.

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Resilience is defined as "the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens." This ability to overcome, or bounce back, is a concept that applies to individuals, to communities large and small, to our infrastructure, and to the environment. Here at the National Ocean Service, we are focused on coastal and ocean resilience because we recognize that communities that live near our coasts are increasingly vulnerable to disasters while also facing many other powerful long-term environmental changes.

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Hypoxia and Dead Zones

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Recreational Boating

• NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, the nation's nautical chartmaker, provides a suite of products to help make maritime transportation safe for all users. These products, while keeping commerce safely moving through our nation's waterways and ports, provide valuable information to the recreational boating community as well. Explore the free NOAA nautical products available to help make your next trip an enjoyable one:


• NOAA BookletCharts contain all the information of the full-scale nautical chart but is reduced in scale and divided into multiple pages for convenience. The BookletCharts help recreational boaters locate themselves on the water. Boaters like to put each page in a sheet protector and keep them handy. They are updated weekly and printable at home for free.


• The United States Coast Pilot expands on the information on nautical charts and provides sailing directions for U.S. coastal and intracoastal waterways and the Great Lakes. Within its nine volumes of supplemental information, the Coast Pilot provides information from channel and wharf descriptions to weather and ice conditions. Coast Pilot updates are continually posted on its website.


• On the water and need information in near real-time? NOAA's nowCOAST, a web mapping portal, provides access to observations, forecasts, imagery, and geo-referenceed layers for all regions of the U.S. NowCOAST is updated at regular intervals throughout the day so boaters can stay aware of the ever-changing environment.


• Understanding nautical charts is critical to navigating waterways. The U.S. Chart No. 1 provides descriptions for the symbols, abbreviations, and terms found on both paper and electronic navigational charts.


• It’s fun to learn the history of where you’re sailing, and studying old charts sometimes reveal histories you never suspected. Our Historical Map & Chart Collection has over 35,000 images, covering offshore and onshore sites. They include some of the nation’s earliest nautical charts, bathymetric maps, city plans, and even a special collection of Civil War maps, charts and sketches.


• You got an App for that? We sure do! Currently in beta form, MyNOAACharts is a tablet application that allows users to download NOAA nautical charts and editions of the U.S. Coast Pilot. Usable on land and water, this app will help in your trip planning and while sailing.




• Teach kids about nautical charting or even learn more yourself with NOAA’s Educational Activities and Videos. Travel the Seas, an animated primer on nautical charts, is a great way to get started!

Tides and Currents

• What are tides and currents? Tides. If you live near the coast or have ever visited the beach, you are probably aware of tides. But did you know that tides are really big waves that move through the ocean in response to the forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun? Tides start in the ocean and move towards the coast, where they appear as the regular rise and fall of the sea surface. How much the water level changes over the day varies depending on where you are and what day it is. Currents. Currents put motion in the ocean! Tides involve water moving up and down; currents involve the movement of water back and forth. Currents are driven by several factors. Tides are one of these. Wind, the shape of the land, and even water temperature are other facts that drive currents.


• Why Study Tides and Currents? We need accurate tide and current data to aid in navigation, but these measurements also play an important role in keeping people and the environment safe. A change in water level (due to tides) can leave someone stranded (or flooded). And knowing how fast water is moving—and in what direction—is important for anyone involved in water-related activities. Predicting and measuring tides and currents is important for things like getting cargo ships safely into and out of ports, determining the extent of an oil spill, building bridges and piers, determining the best fishing spots, emergency preparedness, tsunami tracking, marsh restoration, and much more.


• How Do We Measure Tides? NOS has been measuring and predicting tides since the early 1800s. We've come a long way since the days of sticking a rod into the water to determine water level. Today, we use engineered air acoustic and pressure systems to automatically detect and record changes in water levels. All data are recorded electronically, transmitted via satellite every six minutes, and made available online. At the backbone of this system is a network of long-term, continuously operating water-level stations known as the National Water Level Observation Network.


• How Do We Measure Currents? The two main components of currents are speed and direction. To measure a current, toss an object into the water and time how long it takes to get to a certain point a known distance away. Granted, technology allows us to be a little more accurate and sophisticated in our measurements. For example, the object in the water might be a buoy that is equipped with Global Positioning System technology or satellite communications that relay data and information.


• High Tide, Low Tide Want to know the high and low tides for locations around the United States? Visit the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services Web site. You'll find tidal predictions for more than 3,000 water-level stations around the United States. Some of the stations (called "reference stations") include full daily predictions while others (called "subordinate stations") require you to do a little math to apply differences between the times and heights of tides at subordinate stations and at specified reference stations.


• Tidal Datums If the level of water is constantly changing, how do we know how much water levels have risen or fallen from "normal?" To define "normal," scientists use a reference, or datum, as a starting point from which all measurements are made. The numbers that appear on a nautical chart represent water depths measured relative to such a datum. Mean lower low water, or the average of all observed lower low waters (the lower of the two low waters of any tidal day), is known as chart datum in most areas. Mean high water, or the average of all observed high-water levels, is the datum used to represent shoreline on charts. Tidal datums also provide baseline determinations for the Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as boundaries between private, state, and federal ownership and jurisdiction.


• Clearing a Bridge When a ship passes under a bridge, it is best if the ship doesn't hit the bridge…right? Might sound like a no brainer, but ships are getting bigger, and the space underneath bridges is staying the same, making for a potentially tight squeeze. Knowing how much space is available under a bridge requires knowing what level the water is at any given time. NOAA uses microwave "air gap" sensors that mount on bridges over navigation channels. The sensor sends microwave signals downward to measure the position of the water's surface. This information provides ship captains with a direct measurement of the clearance under bridges, helping them determine if it is safe to pass. Cool, huh?


• Navigating a Busy Port What's going on in a busy port is much like what's going on at a busy airport. Just as aircraft flying in and around an airport need current weather and ground conditions, ships coming into port need to know exactly what's going on in the water and in the air in real time. Enter the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS®. PORTS provides mariners with real-time information such as water levels, current speed and direction, winds, air temperature, and water temperature and salinity. This stream of data is freely available online and ship captains can also access the data via the phone.


• Monitoring Sea Level Climate change has certainly generated a lot of buzz. A shift in climate doesn't just mean changes to air temperatures or weather patterns…it could also impact the ocean. A warmer climate could mean higher sea levels, from both melting sea ice and expansion of seawater. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services maintains a record of long term water levels, which can be used to determine the rate that local sea levels are changing. With more than half of us living in coastal states, that's news many of us will want to know.


• Search and Rescue Efforts When someone is lost at sea, time is of the essence. Knowing the speed and direction of currents can help the U.S. Coast Guard conduct search and rescue operations with greater accuracy. The Integrated Ocean Observing System uses high frequency radar systems to develop maps of surface currents for the Coast Guard to use in their operations. These maps may also be used to support other scientific work, such as oil spill response, harmful algal bloom monitoring, and water quality assessments.

Marine Navigation

• Supporting U.S. Imports and Exports. Our marine transportation system includes 25,000 miles of navigable channels transited by more than two billion tons of freight each year. Waterborne cargo contributes more than \\$742 billion to the nation's economy and creates jobs for more than 13 million people in our country.The connection between the system and coastal communities and maritime industries is probably pretty obvious. But did you know that even communities located in our nation's heartland rely on the marine transportation system? For example, consider that, in 2009, the U.S. exported more than \\$100 billion worth of agricultural products. Whether it is wheat grown in Stanley, North Dakota, or cotton produced in Pinal County, Arizona, rural communities and family farms need efficient maritime highways to move their product to overseas markets. NOAA tools – such as nautical charts, accurate positioning services, and ocean and weather observations – play a key role in ensuring that shipments move swiftly and safely along our marine highways.


• Producing Nautical Charts. When planning a road trip, you probably grab a map. Mariners have their own special 'road maps' – nautical charts. NOAA updates and maintains a suite of over 1,000 of these charts using sonar, aerial photographs, and other remote sensing technologies. Much like road maps, nautical charts provide basic navigation information, such as water depths and the locations of hazards. Going beyond traditional charting products, NOAA is also using advanced technology to add more layers of data, for instance outlining sensitive marine sites and noting fisheries habitat. Using all of these tools, mariners plan efficient routes and avoid dangerous or ecologically sensitive areas.


• Delivering Real-Time Data. Today's massive ships push the depth limit of many ports and harbors. NOAA delivers tools and information to help mariners select the safest routes through shallow waterways. For example, the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or 'PORTS,' operates in 20 ports around the country, providing up-to-the-minute information on tides, currents, salinity, water and air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and wind (speed, gusts, and direction). This information helps mariners time the movement of their vessels – from the smallest recreational craft to the most massive oil tankers – through more than 50 U.S. seaports and waterways. Port authorities, local officials, and marine pilot associations also use PORTS to determine if a waterway is open and safe for navigation.


• Building a Spatial Framework. When a ship is passing under a bridge or moving through a channel, it can be a pretty tight fit. To avoid collisions and ensure safe passage, mariners rely on NOAA positioning information. NOAA's National Spatial Reference System and National Water Level Observation Network provide a highly accurate, precise, and consistent geographic reference framework throughout our country. Such a framework is imperative to determining land and water elevations, to help mariners safely move around obstructions in our nation's busy waterways.


• Responding to Disasters. When disasters strike along the coast, movement in and out of ports can grind to a halt. Given that waterborne commerce is the lifeblood of our nation's economy, this is a bad thing. NOAA moves quickly to help reopen ports, getting goods and services moving again. Following a disaster such as a coastal storm, NOAA navigation response teams may be called in to survey ports and channels, searching for submerged debris and identifying alternative routes for commercial and military ships. NOAA aerial photography helps the public, decision makers, and insurance adjusters assess the extent of storm damage. Real-time NOAA data also helps federal, state, and local officials make post-disaster response decisions.


• Understanding the Land-Water Interface. Water rises and falls. And so does land. Planning the use of ports, protecting communities from flooding, and responding to human-made and natural disasters requires knowing the relationship between water levels and land features. NOAA provides geospatial and temporal information to help coastal managers better understand this land-water interface. This information includes geodetic data, seafloor surveys, and tide and current information. These tools are not just benefiting marine navigation; they are also helping to keep coastal communities safe.


• Locating and Removing Marine Debris. You might not think of a floating plastic bag as something that keeps a ship from reaching its destination. However, marine debris, such as plastic bags, lost fishing nets, and other trash, can in fact interfere with navigation safety. Marine debris can also harm shipping and coastal industries, clogging up and polluting waterways. Trash in the water is also a threat to our health and the health of critters that live in the marine environment. NOAA's Marine Debris Program works in the U.S. and around the world to research, reduce, and prevent debris in our oceans and coastal waterways.

Hydrographic Surveying

• Why survey our coasts? Did you know that most of the things you buy in the store probably traveled, at some point, on a ship? Our nation's marine highways carry more than three-quarters of all U.S. goods and supplies. Each year, ships move two billion tons of freight in and out of our nation's ports. Keeping our marine transportation system functioning in a way that is safe, efficient, and environmentally sound requires information about water depth, the shape of the sea floor and coastline, the location of possible obstructions, and other physical features of water bodies. Hydrography is the science behind this information, and surveying is a primary method of obtaining hydrographic data.


• A little history. In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed a mandate ordering a survey of our young nation’s coast. And so began the history of the Survey of the Coast, an organization that would go through changes to its name and structure, but not its fundamental mission: providing nautical charts to the maritime community for safe passage into American ports and along 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline. Today, as it did in Jefferson's day, the Office of Coast Survey conducts the hydrographic surveys that are the fundamental component of nautical charts. Depending on the charting requirement, NOAA uses two kinds of sonar to survey the sea floor: multibeam and side scan.


• Using sonar to survey. Multibeam sonar measures the depth of the sea floor by analyzing the time it takes for sound waves to travel from a boat to the sea floor and back. It provides amazing detail of the sea floor, especially in rocky and rough terrain, where it gives a complete picture of the bottom. Multibeam sonar is very useful in areas such as the Northeast U.S. and Alaska, where the sea floor is complex and often strewn with thousands of rocks. However, in relatively shallow, flat areas, like the mid-Atlantic coast, the multibeam is not very efficient. So, NOAA uses another tool called side scan sonar. This kind of sonar creates an image of the sea floor, but does not determine depths. If surveyors find a wreck or obstruction using side scan sonar, NOAA will investigate the item and determine the depth with a multibeam sonar or with divers.


• Determining Positions. The other essential ingredients to charting are accurate positioning and tides or water levels. Until the 1970s, hydrographers determined positions of water depths by using a sextant. Today’s modern Global Positioning System provides accuracy and efficiencies never dreamed of only a few years ago. Measuring and predicting the rise and fall of tides, and accurate positioning, are critical to mariners as they guide large ships in and out of our ports. In many cases, ships are less than three feet off the bottom and within inches of clearance below a highway bridge. Today’s technology gives pilots and mariners the knowledge to maneuver along America’s coastline and into our ports and harbors.


• Data Processing. Once hydrographic data has been collected using sonar, it is put into context, or referenced to the location at which it was collected. The raw soundings are adjusted to a standard or absolute water level (datum) using predictions from tidal observations collected at water-level stations. Horizontal positions (latitude and longitude) are recorded using Differential Global Positioning System equipment and need no further adjustment. Information about the coastline is compared extensively to recent coastal survey maps to identify new features and modifications. Eventually, the sounding data are re-processed to produce the final soundings.


• Nautical Charts. The Office of Coast Survey uses collected hydrographic data primarily to update NOAA’s suite of over 1,000 nautical charts. A nautical chart is kind of like a map for navigating a waterway and is one of the most fundamental tools available to the mariner. The numbers on a nautical chart are depth measurements – obtained via hydrographic surveys. Charts also include other information critical to safe navigation and ecological protection. Symbols tell ship captains or recreational boaters if an area is too shallow or too dangerous to operate their vessels or if they are approaching sensitive marine sites.


• Survey Parties. Hydrographers, from centuries ago until today, have developed nautical charts to tell mariners where waters are safe. Back in the 16th century, charts showed the location of ghoulish "monsters," ready to devour complete vessels. Today, NOAA hydrographers search for modern monsters—undiscovered underwater geologic formations and other dangers to navigation. There are nearly 3,500,000 square nautical miles of our nation’s waters to monitor, understand, and chart. The Office of Coast Survey evaluates the 500,000 square nautical miles that are navigationally significant. Then, each spring, hydrographic field parties set out to survey sections of the 43,000 square nautical miles deemed to be critical by the Coast Survey's evaluation. Sometimes teams break loose from normal surveying to respond to disasters such as hurricanes.


• Disaster Response. Following hurricanes or other types of coastal disasters, navigation response teams, part of the Office of Coast Survey, conduct hydrographic surveys of the ocean floor, looking for changes in depth or debris from storms below the surface of the water that could pose great danger to vessel traffic above. Six navigation teams are strategically located around the country, ready to collect data needed to inform officials of navigational hazards and to help the U.S. Coast Guard find alternative routes for commercial and military ships.


• Other Applications. In addition to generating the data needed to update nautical charts, hydrographic surveys support a variety of activities such as port and harbor maintenance (dredging), coastal engineering (beach erosion and replenishment studies), coastal zone management, and offshore resource development. Detailed depth information is also useful in determining fisheries habitat and understanding marine geologic processes.

Height Modernization

• Shifting Elevations. What is Height Modernization? Sea level rise, subsidence, earthquakes, and even oil and gas extraction, can all cause the elevation of an area to change. State and local governments can spend tens of millions of dollars each year adjusting engineering projects such as roads and buildings that are affected by these shifting surfaces. Enter the need to determine elevations better, faster, and cheaper—and enter Height Modernization.


• Shifting Elevations. What is Height Modernization? Sea level rise, subsidence, earthquakes, and even oil and gas extraction, can all cause the elevation of an area to change. State and local governments can spend tens of millions of dollars each year adjusting engineering projects such as roads and buildings that are affected by these shifting surfaces. Enter the need to determine elevations better, faster, and cheaper—and enter Height Modernization.


• GPS Fueled. Going vertical Appearing on the scene in the 1980s, GPS revolutionized surveying. However, the vertical accuracy of GPS measurements (elevations) has not been as good as the horizontal accuracy (latitude and longitude). To address the problem, the National Geodetic Survey developed the Height Modernization program. "Height Mod" identifies standards, specifications, and techniques for using the Global Positioning System to obtain accurate elevation measurements. Sounds easy, right?


• Testing the Process. Scaling up Although faster and cheaper than traditional survey methods for determining elevations, implementation of Height Modernization is still evolving. The National Geodetic Survey, in cooperation with the surveying community, is working to develop and test more effective ways to improve elevation data. As standards and techniques are developed, more states can adopt and reap the benefits of Height Modernization.


• If it's Better ... ... Why isn't everyone using it? Height Modernization techniques are not yet widely practiced by the surveying community. A major effort known as "technology transfer" is currently underway to introduce these techniques and foster their widespread use around the nation. In addition, the existing geodetic reference framework that supports height measurements is outdated in many locations and must be modernized. The National Geodetic Survey is working to enhance the existing framework with a newer network designed to support and utilize the technological advances of the Global Positioning System.


• Aircraft Aid. Hitting the Runway When your plane is approaching the airport runway, wouldn't you like to know that the pilot knows exactly where the ground is? Reliable elevation data can be collected in real time because of Height Modernization. With accurate heights measured at the airport through Height Modernization techniques, approach-and-landing procedures are safer. How's that for peace of mind?


• Recovering. Rebounding from disasters In the aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, time is of the essence in reestablishing water and electricity infrastructure and reopening damaged roadways and bridges. By allowing elevations to be determined quickly using GPS, Height Modernization improves disaster preparedness and recovery and infrastructure projects. GPS is especially useful when local infrastructure has been largely destroyed; when a construction, public works, or transportation project involves large-scale coverage; and when difficult, rugged terrain lies between survey points.


• Water Runs Downhill. But which way is 'downhill?' Water runs downhill, right? Well, because our Earth's surface is constantly changing, the direction of "downhill" is changing as well. Because Height Modernization precisely pinpoints the rise and fall of land surfaces, it helps us understand which direction water will flow. This knowledge increases the efficiency of water delivery and drainage systems and helps reduce urban and agricultural runoff and water pollution. For the same reason, Height Modernization allows more precise modeling of storm-surge and pollution trajectories during extreme weather and hazardous spill events, even in very flat terrain.


• Saving Time. and Money! In economic terms, a state-of-the-art National Spatial Reference System, which includes elevation data, saves state and local governments vast sums of money. It replaces expensive, labor-intensive field surveying projects (including flood-plain and other mapping activities) with new, more timely and cost-efficient Global Positioning System technology. It reduces engineering errors and disasters caused by land surfaces changing due to subsidence, movements of the Earth's crust, floods, earthquakes, and other natural phenomena. The time and money saved by Height Modernization means that, all in all, it's a pretty good investment.

Global Positioning

Global positioning is fundamental to navigation, communication systems, mapping and charting, and much more. The National Geodetic Survey is responsible for the development and maintenance of the National Spatial Reference System, a national coordinate system that allows surveyors and others to accurately position points of interest and ensure that their coordinates match up with those determined by others.

• NOS & Positioning. At NOS, we've been building a consistent and accurate group of interconnected survey points – or a reference system – for mapping and charting for over 200 years. As this system has grown and evolved, so too has the organization responsible for its management. Enter today's National Geodetic Survey, an office within the National Ocean Service.


• The NSRS. If you want to determine where you are, you need a known starting, or reference, point. Take a bunch of these points, and you have a spatial reference system. In the United States, the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) includes more than 1,500,000 survey points, a network of continuously operating reference stations, and geophysical models. The NSRS is defined and managed by the National Geodetic Survey to ensure that all U.S. positioning information, including every map made by any government agency, fits together.


• Survey Marks. The earliest component of the National Spatial Reference System is a network of precisely located, in-the-ground survey marks that provided the framework to conduct surveys in the United States. In recent decades, reference points using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology have augmented and begun superseding the historical marks. So while GPS may have revolutionized the science of positioning, the National Geodetic Survey was laying the foundation for precise measurements before the space age.


• GPS. Want to know where you are on the Earth's surface with centimeter-level accuracy? Tap into the Global Positioning System (GPS). This constellation of satellites, operated by the Department of Defense, transmits radio signals for positioning. The most common way to obtain precise measurements from GPS requires at least two receivers: one receiver whose exact location is known and one at the site in question. The receiver with known coordinates is a reference point for pinpointing the unknown location.


• CORS. The National Spatial Reference System includes a network of more than 1,350 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS). Managed by the National Geodetic Survey in collaboration with over 200 partnering organizations, each CORS is a stationary, permanent Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. With positional data from the CORS serving as a reference, users need only deploy one GPS receiver to position points with accuracies to within a fraction of an inch in all three dimensions.


• Applications of Positioning Data. While knowing where we are on the Earth's surface is certainly a personal bonus, it is essential to building roads and bridges; ensuring safe and efficient transportation; or laying out infrastructure such as utility, energy, or communication systems. From hand-held devices that help you find your way home to planning roads to improve traffic flow, assessing the integrity of buildings, making sure that airplanes land safely on the runway, or measuring a millimeter per year rise in sea level, the applications of positioning data are pretty much limitless.

Aerial Photography and Shoreline Mapping

• A Bird's Eye View. What better way to monitor the approximately 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline than from a bird’s eye view? Since the early 1900s, the National Geodetic Survey has been doing that—taking photographs from airplanes to capture the Earth below. Today, the capture of these aerial photographs is controlled by Global Positioning System techniques and the photos are used to define the national shoreline, create maps and charts, and monitor environmental change.


• Aerial Photos: The Basics. Aerial photographs are a little different than the photos you might take with your own camera. The primary aerial photographic product is a 9x9-inch color photograph, usually at scales from 1:10,000 to 1:50,000. Other types of photographs include panchromatic, false-color infrared, and black-and-white infrared. The National Geodetic Survey is transitioning from film-based aerial photography to digital aerial photography. More than 500,000 photo negatives, dating from 1945 to the present year, exist in NOS archives and are maintained by the National Geodetic Survey. Surveys are conducted on varying time cycles, depending on the amount of change caused by human or natural forces. Photography is acquired when weather conditions, the sun angle, and water levels are optimal to capture the right shot.


• A Basis for Nautical Charts. Aerial photographs are the primary source material used to create coastal survey maps. These data sets, in turn, provide information for producing NOAA nautical charts. Combining information from aerial photographs with hydrographic data helps to ensure that nautical charts are accurate. Nautical charts are one of the most fundamental tools available to mariners for planning voyages and navigating ships using the shortest, safest, and most economical routes. Therefore, it is especially important that the information displayed on charts is correct.


• Boundary Definitions. Ever wonder who marks where one property line stops and another starts? What about when that boundary is in the water? The shoreline—where water and land meet—is commonly referenced as a boundary component in legal descriptions, as the point of origin for jurisdictional boundaries, and as the boundary between public and private ownership. One of the tools used to define the boundaries between private, state, and federal ownership and jurisdictions, including the territorial sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone, is aerial photography.


• Coastal Change Assessment. Changes in the shape of the shoreline can be analyzed by measuring differences in past and present shoreline locations. Comparison of ‘before’ and ‘after’ aerial photographs is one way that scientists determine shoreline change. By looking at data over a period of time, scientists can even determine how fast the coast is changing, which can help with planning for the future.


• Disaster Response. Just hours after a hurricane hits a coastal area, the National Geodetic Survey begins flying photo survey missions to assess storm damage. The digital photos often are made available over the internet within 12 hours after the survey mission. The data contained in these photos provide emergency and coastal managers with information needed to develop recovery strategies, facilitate search and rescue efforts, identify hazards to navigation and HAZMAT spills, locate errant vessels, and provide documentation necessary for damage assessment through the comparison of before and after imagery.


• Benthic Mapping. Scientists use the term ‘benthic’ to refer to anything associated with or occurring on the bottom of a body of water. Understanding benthic habitats is necessary for development and implementation of a wide variety of resource management policies. Benthic habitats are mapped and studied using a variety of tools and techniques. Aerial photography is one such tool. Scientists use aerial photographs to identify different habitats along the shore and in shallow water.


• Elevation Mapping. Knowing the elevation of a coastal area is important for conservation, development, planning, and safety. The NOAA Coastal Services Center collects high-resolution elevation data using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IfSAR or InSAR) technologies. Coastal elevation maps provide important information for coastal communities, as in coastal areas a change in elevation of one foot can make huge differences in habitats and human safety.

Arctic Navigation

• Why are we concerned about Arctic navigation? As multi-year sea ice continues to disappear at a rapid rate, vessel traffic in the Arctic is on the rise. This is leading to new maritime concerns, especially in areas increasingly transited by the offshore oil and gas industry, cruise liners, military craft, tugs and barges, and fishing vessels.Keeping all of this new ocean traffic moving smoothly is a growing concern for safety's sake. It's also important to the U.S. economy, environment, and national security. That's why NOAA is striving to update Arctic nautical charts, add new tide and current monitoring stations, and conduct geodetic surveys in the region.


• What do we know now? Commercial and recreational vessels depend on NOAA to provide navigational charts and the U.S. Coast Pilot. These tools supply mariners with the latest information on depths, aids to navigation, accurate shorelines, and other features required for safe navigation. Many of these tools, however, are unavailable or outdated for areas in the Arctic. Why? Until recently, most of this region was relatively inaccessible by ship due to the presence of thick, impenetrable sea ice. Added to this, most Arctic waters that are charted were surveyed with obsolete technology, dating back to the 1800s, before the region was part of the United States. Most of the shoreline along Alaska’s northern and western coasts has not been mapped since 1960. As a result, confidence in the region’s nautical charts is low.


• How are we establishing the geospatial foundation? Creating charts and other tools that depict spatial relationships requires a geospatial foundation—or consistent reference system—that describes the location of everything. Many areas of Alaska lack the geospatial foundation that is needed to fully support marine transportation and maritime domain awareness. For example, one percent of the Alaskan shoreline is updated annually using aerial and satellite imagery, compared to five percent elsewhere in the United States. The Arctic region especially needs the gravity data necessary for a modern vertical reference system, so NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey is collecting airborne gravity data in Alaska. National Geodetic Survey also manages a network of GPS receivers that monitor three-dimension land movement over time. The Continuously Operating Reference Station network is critical for activities requiring precise positioning. NOAA is working with partners to fill in the gaps that exist in Arctic coverage, to improve the precision of survey positions and the measurement of land movement.


• How is NOAA improving the nautical charts ships need? Modern U.S. navigational charts are a compilation of the best data available. Nevertheless, many of the soundings on the charts are from as early as the 1800s. As transportation pressures mount in Arctic seaways, NOAA is now working to update outdated Arctic nautical charts to meet modern needs. In June 2011, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey issued the Arctic Nautical Charting Plan after consultations with maritime interests and the public, as well as with other federal, state, and local governments. Based on stakeholder discussions and vessel traffic patterns, Coast Survey will improve the existing charts and create new charts covering the expanding northern maritime routes.


• What about hydrographic surveying for navigation? Of the 568,000 square nautical miles (SNM) in the U.S. Arctic Exclusive Economic Zone, less than half is what NOAA considers “navigationally significant.” Surveying over a quarter of a million SNM would take decades, so NOAA has designated 38,000 SNM as survey priority areas in the Arctic. Estimates range up to 25 years for surveying those priority areas, if resources remain at their current level. NOAA began acquiring hydrographic data to support these emerging Arctic priorities in 2010 with a hydrographic survey of the Bering Strait and Port Clarence, Alaska. In 2011, NOAA will survey approximately 400 SNM in the approach to Kotzebue Sound to update navigational charts and address a request for bathymetry to support navigation and installation for an offshore lightering facility used for heating and fuel oil. The Office of Coast Survey updates hydrographic priorities annually.


• Do we have good information on tides and currents for navigation? NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services' (CO-OPS) National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) provides the reference system of tidal and water level datums. CO-OPS operates 10 longterm NWLON tide stations in the Arctic region of Alaska and 16 others throughout the rest of the state. There are 27 identified gaps in watel level observation coverage in Alaska, and 19 of those are located within the Arctic region. The gaps encompass most of the Arctic. Longterm plans include establishing new NWLON stations in these harsh environments, ideally co-located with National Geodetic Survey’s CORS stations, to simultaneously provide measurements of local sea level change and land movement from the same position. In many Arctic locations, tide and current predictions have never been calculated. For many other locations, tide and current predictions have not been measured since the early 1950s when only a few days of data were collected. Today we know that accurate predictions require at least 30 days of continuous data collection.


• Are we working with the other Arctic nations? On October 6, 2010, NOAA led a U.S. delegation that formally established a new Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission (AHRC) with four other nations known — together with the U.S. — as “Arctic coastal states.” The commission, which also includes Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the Russian Federation, promotes cooperation in hydrographic surveying and nautical charting. The establishment of the Commission will allow better collaboration to ensure safety of life at sea, assist in protecting the increasingly fragile Arctic ecosystem, and support the maritime economy. The agreement to form the AHRC is an historic event. Since the International Hydrographic Organization was formed in 1921, 15 regional hydrographic commissions have been established worldwide. The Arctic Ocean remained without such a commission until now.


• Where did we get the information we have now? In 1867, George Davidson, head of the Coast Survey on the West Coast, accompanied the Revenue Cutter Lincoln in its inspection of Russian Alaska prior to the purchase of "Seward’s Icebox." In November, Davidson submitted his report: "The general coast map, not yet finished, is compiled from the maps of Tebenkoff, from manuscript maps, kindly furnished me by Prince Maksoutoff, governor of the late Russian colonies, and from examinations of my own. I also propose a plan of carrying on the work in this new region, where the refined methods of more favorable coasts must be modified, and instruments improved to obtain observations rapidly with our usual precision." Since 1867, charts of the coast have been updated with sparse depth measurements acquired by Coast Survey and by commercial ships transiting the region.


• Do we have the capability to meet Arctic challenges? As NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco pointed out in her June 2011 Arctic Symposium address, NOAA must tackle substantial hydrographic, cartographic, and geospatial tasks in Alaska. These tasks include: improving geospatial infrastructure; correcting meters-level positioning errors; increasing tide, current, and water-level coverage; updating shoreline and hydrographic data; and producing new nautical charts. NOAA has the capability to tackle these major navigation challenges. However, NOAA's ability to deliver the technical and scientific information for the coming Arctic maritime traffic may be limited by available resources.

Training

From 1970 to the present year, the number of people living in U.S. coastal counties rose 46 percent. Today, more than half of the nation's total population lives in just 673 coastal counties. By mid-century, this coastal population is expected to increase by another 7.1 million people. Fifty-seven percent of our nation's gross domestic product is generated just within these coastal counties along our oceans and Great Lakes. Our nation's ports that drive our economy are in these areas. Our fisheries and most popular tourist destinations are here. So how are our coasts holding up under this unprecedented human pressure? How do increasing populations and heavy economic use along our coasts relate to water quality, pollution, invasive species, and coral reef health? What effects might climate change pose to these vulnerable areas? The National Ocean Service is dedicated to answering these questions and finding solutions that work by partnering with state and local coastal resource managers—the men and women who work on the frontline around the country to protect our fragile coasts. A key way that NOS supports coastal managers is through formal training.

• Building Skills Many people in the field of coastal resource management are trained scientists whose management skills were developed on the job. The NOAA Coastal Services Center offers formal training in a wide range of areas, including project design, conflict management, needs assessments, and negotiations.


• Coastal Management Coastal managers need a basic book of knowledge to successfully perform their jobs. The NOAA Coastal Services Center offers courses on topics such as the Public Trust Doctrine, visitor use impacts, and community planning and development to help build baseline skills. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System also offers a Coastal Training Program for individuals who make decisions that affect coastal resources. Courses offered by the reserves focus on issues such as stormwater management, community development, restoration science, and land use planning. A calendar of training opportunities is available online.


• Geospatial Technology Technology-oriented classes from the NOAA Coastal Services Center focus on geographic information systems and remote sensing. Courses range from seminars for managers on the technologies that make the most sense for their organizations to courses geared towards the technologist who wants to learn how to apply spatial technologies to coastal management issues.


• Emergency Response The NOS Office of Response and Restoration provides workshops for spill responders, contingency planners, and coastal managers. Through these courses, NOS shares its knowledge and capabilities in effective spill response that it has learned while working with other federal and state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private sector partners. In addition to these workshops, emergency responders and planners can build their knowledge of spill and chemical accident response at their own pace with OR&R's Self-Study Resources.

Natural Resource Restoration

• What is natural resource restoration? Marshes, forested wetlands, oyster reefs, seagrass beds, beaches, and tidal streams are vital habitats for fish, birds, and animals—and for humans, too! We depend on our coastal areas and estuaries for everything from food to storm protection to recreation and jobs. When these areas are damaged by events like hurricanes or oil spills, NOAA scientists explore restoration options to help return these fragile areas to how they were before the damage occurred.


• Monitoring and Assessment In order to restore damaged coastal and estuarine habitats, it's necessary to know what these areas were like before any damage occurred. One way NOS scientists figure this out is through the use of geographic information systems — sophisticated digital mapping tools — to monitor changes in coastal and estuarine habitats over time. For example, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System-wide Monitoring Program tracks short-term variability and long-term changes in estuaries to better understand how human activities and natural events can change these ecosystems. Data collected at each of the nation's 27 estuarine reserves include water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and precipitation. Scientists also carefully study specific habitats in our coastal areas such as seagrasses, coral reefs, and salt marshes. Understanding these systems and their relationships to one another before and after natural or manmade damage occurs helps researchers determine the best restoration options for recovery.


• Natural Resource Damage Assessment After an oil spill or hazardous substance release, agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the U.S. Coast Guard respond immediately to clean up the substance and eliminate or reduce risks to human health and the environment. But these efforts may not fully restore injured natural resources or address their lost uses by the public. NOAA's Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration Program conducts studies to identify the extent of damage, the best methods for restoring those resources, and the type and amount of restoration required.


• Critical Water Level Data There are several key components essential for restoration projects to be properly designed and engineered. Because wetland vegetation is sensitive to how long and how often it is inundated or flooded, it is important for scientists and managers to understand the hydrodynamics of individual estuarine systems. The COASTAL Program (Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services of Tides And Lakes) was designed to meet the need for accurate water-level information and vertical datums. With this data, researchers can evaluate any rise in sea level throughout the restoration process.


• Restoration in Action NOAA's Office of Response & Restoration plays a central role in responding to oil and chemical spills, chronic releases from Superfund sites, and damage to resources in our nation's marine protected areas, estuarine reserves, and sanctuaries. For example, restoration work is now nearing completion in Chalk Point, Md., where 140,000 gallons of fuel oil was spilled from a pipeline in 2000. The spill resulted in lost recreational use, damage to wetlands and beach shorelines, and injuries to muskrats, birds and waterfowl, fish and shellfish, diamondback terrapins, and benthic (bottom-dwelling) plants and animals. While there is still work to be done, NOAA and partners have completed a wide range of projects that have not only helped to restore the ecological health of the area, but have opened up new venues for recreational use such as canoeing and kayaking.


• NOAA Restoration Day/strong Beyond NOAA's formal natural resource restoration activities, NOAA employees at the agency's headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., also take part in an annual 'Restoration Day.' This special day has grown over the years into one of the largest voluntary federal employee-sponsored environmental stewardship events in the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. This annual field event is an opportunity for staff to get out from behind the desk and put NOAA's mission to work by helping to restore the largest estuary in the nation.

Coastal Hazards

Do you live on or near the coast? The odds are better than 50-50 that you do. In 2010, 52 percent of us lived in one of the nation's 673 coastal counties (excluding Alaska). It's no secret why so many of us choose to live in coastal regions. These are areas of great bounty and beauty. The downside? These areas are also prone to many natural hazards such as erosion, harmful algal blooms, big storms, flooding, tsunamis, and sea level rise.

Local and state governments are on the forefront of the effort to minimize the environmental, social, and economic havoc these hazards can wreak. And NOS is there to provide tools, information, and training to help these agencies keep communities safe and resilient.

Want to dig a little deeper? Check out NOAA's State of the Coast for interactive, data-driven maps about our coastal areas.

• Adapting to Climate Change What can we expect from the climate in the coming decade? In the next century? How about hundreds of years from now? Scientists at NOAA and agencies around the world are actively researching these questions, but one thing is clear. We are experiencing the effects of climate change today — particularly in coastal communities. One of the National Ocean Service’s key roles is to help coastal communities develop strategies to prepare. NOS experts are working directly with state decision makers and planners to share knowledge, talk about issues, and help identify climate change-related risks and vulnerabilities in their communities. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Sea Level Rise. With the majority of us living in coastal states, one impact of climate change many of us should be concerned about is sea level rise. How do scientists keep track of these changes in sea level in the U.S.? NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) maintains a National Water Level Observation Network of 200 stations around the country. Monitoring the rate of sea level rise is an important component to helping us adapt to this change. NOS is also measuring and helping people understand the magnitude of sea level rise on a local scale. CO-OPS provides a service called Sea Levels Online that serves up local rates of sea level rise for all U.S. coasts to help coastal decision makers understand and quantify risks. After all, we can’t plan for something if we don’t know what to expect!


• Coastal Storms. The high winds, flooding, and erosion associated with coastal storms such as hurricanes and nor’easters pummel coastal communities every year. And scientists estimate that the frequency and intensity of these storms is only going to increase. That’s kind of scary. NOS is helping communities get ready for these storms so they will incur less damage and bounce back more quickly in the aftermath. For example, NOAA’s Coastal Services Center leads the Coastal Storms Program. This program brings together local, state, and federal organizations to deliver the specific tools, training, data, and other products to reduce the loss of life and other impacts from storms on communities and the environment. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Erosion. While it might be nice to have a house that is close to the ocean, there is such a thing as being too close. Erosion—caused by storms, flooding, sea level rise, or the alteration of the shoreline—can cause beaches and coastal bluffs to wear away. And that can be bad news for our homes and infrastructure. How bad? Today, erosion is responsible for around $500 million in coastal property loss each year. As required by the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Office of Coastal and Ocean Resource Management works with state coastal management programs to not only minimize loss of life and property caused by erosion, but to do so while protecting natural coastal resources. Accomplishing both things requires the development of shoreline management policies, regulations, and plans. The office, in partnership with NOAA’s Restoration Center, offers a Shoreline Management Technical Assistance Toolbox to help coastal managers and local decision makers manage their shorelines. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Harmful Algal Blooms. Coastal threats come in many forms. Harmful Algal Blooms—commonly referred to as ‘red tides’—are a good example of this. Economic impacts of harmful algal blooms in the United States average $75 million annually including impacts on public health costs, commercial fishing closures, recreation and tourism losses, and management and monitoring costs. When these events occur, NOS is there to help coastal states. For instance, the NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System provides alert bulletins to help predict HAB landfall for the states that border the Gulf of Mexico. How? NOS scientists can locate blooms by assessing surface chlorophyll concentrations detected by satellite imagery and verified by data from ships or along the shore. They then apply their understanding of the biological and physical aspects of bloom dynamics and transport and the conditions that are conducive for HAB development to predict when and where HABs will impact coastal communities. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Hypoxia & Eutrophication. Have you ever heard of the phrase 'dead zone?' No, we're not talking about a B-movie horror flick. We're talking about a phenomenon called 'hypoxia,' which refers to a reduced level of oxygen in the water. Less oxygen dissolved in the water is often referred to as a "dead zone" because most marine life either dies, or, if they are mobile such as fish, leave the area. Habitats that would normally be teeming with life become, essentially, biological deserts. NOS is involved with many activities to study, monitor, and predict hypoxic zones to help natural resource managers restore and protect coastal ecosystems. The Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research is at the forefront of this effort. This office, part of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, administers the nation's only federal-level hypoxia programs. The goal of these efforts involve collecting vast amounts of sampling data from our hypoxia-prone coastal waterways, synthesizing this information, and producing complex computer models to understand how these zones are forming—and how they may form in the future. Knowing how these zones form in different parts of the country is also key in helping decision-makers target which activities on land need to curbed to best reduce this threat. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Tsunamis. Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases. The speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean depth rather than the distance from the source of the wave. NOS' primary role in tsunami warning is to provide real-time coastal water level data to NOAA's Tsunami Program and the public, which is critical to issuing warnings and forecasts during an event. High-frequency water level information is also important to tsunami modeling, both during and after an event, to refine the forecasts as the event progresses, and to better understand tsunami science for future improvements to the National Tsunami Warning System. Read more (redirect to original article)

National Estuarine Research Reserve System

• What is an Estuarine Reserve? The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 28 estuarine areas — places where freshwater from the land mixes with saltwater from the sea — established across the nation for long-term research, education, and coastal stewardship. The reserves are a partnership between NOAA and the coastal states. NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management is responsible for administrating the reserve system. Each reserve is managed on a day-to-day basis by a lead state agency or university, with input from local partners. The mission of the reserves is to practice and promote coastal and estuarine stewardship through innovative research and education, using a system of protected areas.


• National Network. The reserve system was established by Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to be a network of estuaries that represent different biogeographical regions of the United States. Currently, reserves are located in 20 of the 35 U.S. coastal states. The sites within the reserve system protect more than 1.3 million acres of coastal land and waters from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Reserves range in size from 365,000-acre Kachemak Bay, Alaska, to 571-acre Old Woman Creek in Erie County, Ohio.


• Partnerships/Extensions. There are several programs and partnerships that provide the national framework for training, education, research, and monitoring carried out at the reserves. For example, the System-wide Monitoring Program collects data on the health of the nation’s estuaries to understand how human activities and natural events can change ecosystems. Also, the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology, a partnership between NOAA and the University of New Hampshire, supports many academic researchers throughout the reserve system with other experts in the field to develop and apply new environmental technologies.
• Hands-on Research. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System Graduate Research Fellowship Program is one of the largest graduate programs supported by NOAA. Fellows conduct their research within a reserve and gain hands-on experience by engaging with reserve staff and participating in their host reserve's research, education, stewardship, and training programs. Fellows use reserves as living laboratories to address natural and social science priority issues based on the local coastal management needs. One of NOAA's goals is to provide the science that coastal managers and decision makers need. The fellowship program is one way that the reserve system fulfills managers' needs for relevant information.


• Education. Estuarine reserves serve as "living classrooms" for educators, students, and the public. The reserves take a local approach in advancing estuary literacy and generating meaningful experiences for all kinds of people interested in learning about, protecting, and restoring estuaries. Reserves provide adult audiences with training on estuarine issues of concern in their local communities; offer classes for K-12 students; support teachers through professional development programs in coastal and estuary education; and provide public education events. One education program at the Padilla Bay Research Reserve, the Planet Stewards Program, trains the local community on climate change and in turn, citizens volunteer to reduce their carbon footprint at home, work, or in the community.


• Living Laboratories. The reserves are a network of living laboratories and classrooms where scientists, students, and the public can explore biological, physical, and social issues of coastal communities and habitats. The reserve system is coordinating its diverse resources to help coastal managers, residents, and the nation understand complex coastal issues such as climate change and collaborate to find effective ways to protect coastal habitats and communities. Reserves will be on the front lines of impacts from climate change including land loss associated with rising sea levels and habitat changes from differing water temperatures, salinity, and storm energy.


• Benefits of Estuaries. Estuaries are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world and are home to many different plants and animals. The reserves are designed to protect these areas and the species that inhabit them. For example, Hope Island, part of the Narragansett Bay Reserve, is a major rookery for colonial nesting wading birds. Estuaries are also crucial spawning areas for many commercial and recreational fish and shellfish, and buffer upland areas from flooding and shoreline erosion. At the Sapelo Island Reserve, staff developed a sediment retention structure, for their Living Shorelines Project, that is environmentally friendly because it provides critical oyster reef habitat. Estuaries are important parts of our lives -- connected to our economy and culture. Estuaries support the U.S. economy in the form of seafood sales, jobs, and recreational activities such as fishing and boating. Estuaries offer cultural importance to Americans because they are often city and trade centers, are an important source of food, and have a long history of use by Native Americans.

Harmful Algal Blooms: Simple Plants With Toxic Implications

Ranging from microscopic, single-celled organisms to large seaweeds, algae are simple plants that form the base of food webs. Sometimes, however, their roles are much more sinister. A small percentage of algal species produce toxins that can kill fish, mammals, and birds, and may cause human illness. Other algae are nontoxic, but clog the gills of fish and invertebrates or smother corals and submerged aquatic vegetation.  Others discolor water, form huge, smelly piles on beaches, or cause drinking water and fish to taste bad.

• HAB Impacts Are Far Reaching.

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) events can be very bad for us. People who eat shellfish from waters experiencing toxic blooms can become very ill and can even die. Does that mean that the seafood you eat may be unsafe? Not at all. Rigorous state shellfish monitoring programs insure that legally harvested seafood is safe for human consumption. HABs also have economic and cultural implications, especially in coastal communities dependent on harvesting seafood and tourism. They frequently disrupt the commercial, recreational and subsistence seafood harvesting and cause some to cancel beach vacations.

As a result HABs cost coastal communities a substantial amount. Coastal HAB events have been estimated to result in economic impacts in the United States of at least $82 million each year. These impacts stress the importance of understanding HABs and developing tools to mitigate their impacts and ultimately to control or even prevent them.

• A Legislative Mandate.

  In December 2004, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-456) was signed into law.

  This Act, originally passed in 1998, reaffirms and expands the mandate for NOAA to advance scientific understanding and detection, monitoring, assessment, and prediction of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia (low oxygen).

  The Act calls for development of programs to research methods of prevention, control, and mitigation of HABs and establishes an interagency task force to follow progress on these issues.

  Tools and technologies being developed under the Act are helping coastal managers lessen or prevent impacts on human health and coastal resources.

• Understanding HABs Where They Occur.

  Although all coastal states experience harmful algal blooms, different organisms live in different places and cause different problems. Other factors, such as the structure of the coast, runoff, oceanography, and other organisms in the water, can also change the scope and severity of HAB impacts.

  To address these differences, NOS takes a regional approach in developing strategies for HAB management.  By developing specific tools and information for areas of the country, including the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast, and Caribbean/Pacific Islands, NOS is able to advance management capabilities in dealing with all major HAB threats.

• HABs and Climate Change.

  Climate is always changing. Because the growth, toxicity, and distribution of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species are all tied to the environment, changes in climate can change the occurrence, severity, and impacts of HAB events.

  Climate change will largely manifest as regional changes, which closely aligns with NOS’s regional approach to its HAB research. This knowledge will be critical to developing strategies for management of HABs in already vulnerable coastal and marine areas into the future.

  To understand how future climate changes may impact HABs, NOAA supports a wide variety of research. The Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, for example, supports projects addressing the impacts of climate change on HABs in estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems.

  NOAA's Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI) also supports HAB research related to climate change. At OHHI's West Coast Center, researchers are studying human health impacts related to environmental variability and climate change — factors that impact the severity, transport, concentration, and dispersion of HABs.

• Research to Combat HABs.

  The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) is leading NOAA efforts to research and understand harmful algal blooms (HABs), to develop tools to combat these toxic tides.

  For example, NCCOS’s Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms Research Program is producing new methods to detect HABs and their toxins, to understand HAB dynamics, to develop HAB forecasts, and to predict and reduce impacts on people and ecosystems.

  The NOAA Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms Research Program  is expanding efforts to monitor waters and shellfish, to help more coastal communities know when they are at risk and how to respond.

  While most HAB programs in NOAA fall within NCCOS, HAB research, management, and response efforts span across many offices. NOAA's Oceans & Human Health Initiative, for example, supports a wide range of HAB research with a focus on public health.

Disaster Response Center

Construction of the Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) is slated to be completed in 2011. Due to the high degree of vulnerability to natural disasters in the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA is designing the DRC to be resistant to hurricane force winds. The 15,000 square foot building, located in Mobile, Alabama, is scheduled to receive a silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, whose LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program sets the standard for environmentally sensitive design in the U.S. 

What is the DRC?

Over the past decade, the greater Gulf of Mexico region has been battered not only by hurricanes and oil spills, but by numerous natural and human-caused events such as tornadoes, droughts, harmful algal blooms, dead zones, and wildfire. The impacts from these events have lasting effects on vital economic drivers such as fishing, boating and tourism. 

NOAA contributes a variety of services before, during, and after response events including severe weather forecasts and surge predictions, navigation surveys to open waterways for recovery of boating and fishing, models and assessments of the impacts of oil spills and hazardous releases, and real-time atmospheric and marine observational data critical to local and regional decision making. 

While we often can’t prevent these severe events, we can help reduce the impacts by helping to prepare federal, state, and local decision makers for a variety of threats. We can also use cutting-edge science and up-to-date information to assist in making coastal communities more resilient. The Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) will deliver state of the art science and information to emergency managers and other critical stakeholders to assist them in making timely decisions using the best available information to protect and restore the Gulf Coast’s communities, economies, and valuable natural resources.

Gulf Coast Hub

The Disaster Response Center will focus on the needs of federal, state, and local partners who rely on NOAA scientific support in times of emergency and serve as a central coordination point in the Gulf of Mexico for access to these products and services.

The Center will increase interactions with stakeholders ranging from federal, state, and local emergency managers to coastal zone managers, public health officials, port officials, and local municipalities. These close interactions under one roof will help to streamline the delivery of NOAA services that address regional emergency preparedness and response issues while also identifying unmet operational and science application requirements.

Regional Understanding

Federal responders and Gulf Coast emergency managers look to the agency to provide data, decision support, and targeted scientific services.

Federal responders and Gulf Coast emergency managers look to the agency to provide data, decision support, and targeted scientific services.

Once operational, the DRC will engage state and local emergency managers on appropriate use of NOAA scientific support before, during, and after an incident. Examples of such support include environmental response mapping applications; oil spill and marine debris models; HAB prediction and warnings; custom data access channels; timely and accurate tide, current, geodetic and navigation data; shoreline aerial imagery; toxin and pollutant trajectory; and impact information.

Through the DRC, NOAA will work to improve regional understanding of the coastal risks and vulnerabilities to all hazards by applying assessment and mitigation tools, and adopting risk-based planning and policies.

The DRC will also serve as a central coordination point for training and outreach efforts for critical regional issues like risk communication on coastal flooding and storm surge evacuation, seafood safety, oil and chemical spills, marine debris, and impacts to wildlife and sensitive habitats.

Training & Readiness

The DRC will build close relationships with federal, state and local emergency managers in the Gulf of Mexico.   One way that the DRC will improve regional readiness and training will be as a mechanism to provide training to constituents during actual response activities.  For instance, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill proved that many federal and state personnel were not properly trained in the operations of the Incident Command System (ICS) and had to be trained on the fly to integrate with the Unified Command.  The DRC will establish a permanent staging area and coordination point for all NOAA personnel along the Gulf Coast to prepare for and respond to coastal hazards. Read more (redirect to original article)

About the Facility

Due to the high degree of vulnerability to natural disasters in the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA is designing the Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) to be resistant to hurricane force winds.  Opening in spring 2011, the 15,000 square foot building, located in Mobile, Alabama is scheduled to receive a silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, whose LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program sets the standard for environmentally sensitive design in the U.S. Read more (redirect to original article)

Ecological Forecasting

What is Ecological Forecasting?

Forecasts are a part of our everyday lives. Weather forecasts help businesses make plans. Economic forecasts help individuals and businesses navigate the uncertainties of the financial world. Similarly, ecological forecasts allow people to answer the "what if" questions in coastal management. Why do we need this? Because our coasts and oceans are constantly changing!

Just as a weather forecast may help you decide if you need to pack an umbrella, different types of ecological forecasts help coastal managers and scientists make better decisions based on what may lie ahead for a local beach, a large Bay, or even an entire coast.

This knowledge can help us respond to extreme natural events like hurricanes or human activities like wastewater runoff. And it can help us solve resource management problems, such as how to best manage an important fishery. Improving ecological forecasting capabilities is one of NOAA's top priorities.

Local, Short-term Ecological Forecasting

Many of the ecological forecasts produced by NOS are short-term and localized, similar to weather forecasts.

Example: Sea Nettles in the Chesapeake Bay. A type of jellyfish called the sea nettle seasonally infests the Chesapeake Bay. During this period, vacationers avoid the water to avoid painful stings. Sea nettles are more than just a nuisance to beachgoers, though. They're voracious predators that devour copepods (tiny crustaceans), fish eggs, larvae, and comb jellies. This predation can impact the food web in the Bay, leading to a reduction in the abundance of fish in the bay. As you might imagine, knowing where and when to expect this nuisance may help people better plan their activities and reduce the problems they experience. To meet this need, NOAA and partners produce daily forecasts of probable sea nettle presence. This framework is also being adapted to help predict harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Chesapeake Bay. Read more examples (redirect to original article)

Long-term Ecological Forecasting

Some ecological forecasts focus on longer-term or broader issues, such as year-to-year variations in fish stocks or predicting hypoxic 'Dead Zones.'

Example: Sea Grass Restoration Suitability and Recovery Rates. Sea grass beds are valuable ecosystems that provide refuge and food for wildlife, fish, shellfish, and the food webs that support them. NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science has developed forecast models that identify the best areas for sea grass restoration based on the probabilities that beds will not be lost in severe storms. Other models forecast rates of sea grass recovery so planners can set realistic restoration milestones. NOAA's work to identify suitable sites and to forecast recovery rates increases restoration project success. These methods also provide a basis for habitat damage assessments. Read more examples (redirect to original article)

Goal for the Future

While NOAA and partners produce a wide range of ecological forecasts today, there is still much more work to be done—not only in producing new short- and long-term ecological forecasts for locations around the nation, but also in improving existing forecasts.

It's important to stress that these efforts only work because of partnerships at all levels—with universities, local and state governments, and other federal agencies. Our strong partnerships help decision-makers identify what is needed to develop the forecasts and support the capability to respond to those needs.

Ecological forecasting is a new and challenging science that ties together a wide range of research and observations. Forecasts integrate physical, chemical, biological, economic, and social data about the present condition of the coastal environment and predict future conditions, based upon different management strategies.

Ultimately, these forecasts allow managers to evaluate what future conditions are acceptable to us as a society and to take appropriate actions to make those conditions reality.

Contaminants in the Environment

Our ocean and coastal areas provide us with a lot – from food, places to boat and swim, and wildlife to enjoy…the list goes on. So when these areas become polluted and unhealthy, it isn’t just bad for the environment, it’s also bad for us. At NOS, scientists, economists, and other experts are busy monitoring, assessing, and working to clean up contaminants in the environment.

• What's the Source? Contaminants in the environment can look and smell pretty nasty, and but their impacts go beyond just aesthetics. Some pollutants resist breakdown and accumulate in the food chain. These pollutants can be consumed or absorbed by fish and wildlife, which in turn may be eaten by us. Chemicals can also get into sediments, impacting large coastal areas, threatening human health, and reducing the economic well being of regions that depend on a healthy coastal environment.


• What's the Impact? Development, erosion, and other forces can alter the face of the coastal landscape. These changes can have implications for conservation, recreation, development, planning, and even safety. NOS uses a range of tools to monitor changes in the shape of the coast. For example, NOS uses Light Detection and Ranging (or LIDAR) technology to determine changes in coastal elevations. Aerial photography is another tool used by the National Geodetic Survey to survey and create maps of our nation’s shoreline.


• Monitoring: National Status and Trends. You might not think of mussels and mud as key tools for monitoring contaminants, but at NOS, these tools have helped scientists track the status and trends of the environmental quality of our nation’s coastal waters for more than two decades. The Mussel Watch Program analyzes sediment and mussels for contaminants at over 300 locations around the country. The Bioeffects Assessment Program conducted more than 30 studies to examine the distribution and concentration of over 100 chemical contaminants in sediments, measure sediment toxicity, and assess the condition of bottom-dwelling biological communities.  
• Evaluation Tools. Being able to clean up and restore areas that have been impacted by contaminants requires tools tailored to the needs of specific regions. NOS has developed a range of tools to help coastal communities meet their needs. For example, following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident in the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA worked with partners to launch geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse, a public website that delivers near-real-time information about the response to the spill. The site uses the Environmental Response Management Application, a web-based geographic information system platform developed by NOAA and the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Response Research Center. NOS also provides sediment screening tools and guidance to help coastal decision makers understand the implications of contaminated sediments.


• Testing Toxicity. Harmful chemical pollution and excess nutrient runoff are serious threats to the coastal environment. NOS scientists are conducting research to help detect and predict how this pollution will impact coastal resources. For example, at the Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Bimolecular Research, scientists are evaluating the effects of single contaminants and contaminant mixtures, conducting toxicity-testing with single species, and conducting research in controlled conditions to assess contaminant impacts on biological communities. Scientists are also looking at how environmental and human stressors impact bottlenose dolphin populations.


• Responding to Contaminants. When contaminants threaten or harm aquatic species, make them unsafe to eat, or degrade their habitat, NOS experts work with partners to evaluate risks and injuries, develop strategies to reduce contaminant loads, and reduce the risk to species. The experts also monitor the effectiveness of cleanup actions and design and implement projects to restore natural resources. At larger waste sites and after oil spills, NOS scientists and economists conduct natural resource damage assessments to determine the nature and extent of harm to natural resources and restoration necessary to bring the resources to a healthier state. NOS works with the parties responsible for the contamination to ensure that injured coastal and marine resources are restored.


• Nonpoint Pollution Program. When pollution comes from a source that can't be tied to a specific location, we call it “nonpoint source pollution.” This kind of pollution occurs when leaking septic tanks or stormwater runoff that has picked up things like sediment, fertilizer, pet waste, or oil drain into streams and rivers that empty into our estuaries and coastal waters. To address this polluted runoff, NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency jointly administer the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. Under the program, all states and territories with approved coastal zone management programs are required to develop and implement coastal programs to reduce the amount of nonpoint source pollution entering our waterways.<


• What You Can Do. Did you know that YOU could be contributing to some of the pollution that reaches our waterways? There are many things all of us can do to reduce contaminants in our environment, including:
  
  * Plant grass, trees, and shrubs in bare areas to reduce and absorb runoff, reduce erosion, and improve habitat.
  * Properly dispose of pet waste, motor oil and household chemicals.
  * Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly on lawns and gardens.
  * Keep trash out of storm drains, where it will clog up the drain or end up in the nearest stream or lake.
  * Organize neighborhood cleanups.
  * Maintain your car to prevent oil leaks.
  * Consider purchasing and using less-toxic household chemicals.
  * Recycle plastic, glass, and paper.
  

Monitoring Oceans and Coasts

Our planet is constantly changing in ways that impact every facet of our society. To keep coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems healthy requires keeping track of ocean and coastal areas—monitoring and assessing how these areas are changing. From tracking contaminants in the water, assessing environmental change, monitoring sea-level rise, or surveying the coastline and coastal sea floor, NOS physical, chemical, and biological observations help coastal communities make the best decisions for them and for the environment.

• An Integrated System.Scientists all over the globe are monitoring how our planet is changing. They use tools, such as satellites, thermometers, and tide gauges, to collect observations. However, not all collected observations are in the same format, meaning they cannot be easily used together. Also, there are gaps in the information that is collected. Enter the Integrated Ocean Observing System, or IOOS®. Led by NOAA, IOOS brings together federal and non-federal people and technology, building a network to fill observing gaps. IOOS is also establishing standards for data collection, so that data can be used together and be more accessible to users. All of this means more information, which means a more comprehensive understanding of our planet.


• Changing Landscapes. Development, erosion, and other forces can alter the face of the coastal landscape. These changes can have implications for conservation, recreation, development, planning, and even safety. NOS uses a range of tools to monitor changes in the shape of the coast. For example, NOS uses Light Detection and Ranging (or LIDAR) technology to determine changes in coastal elevations. Aerial photography is another tool used by the National Geodetic Survey to survey and create maps of our nation’s shoreline.


• A Rising Sea Level. With the majority of Americans living in coastal states, rising water levels can have potentially large impacts. Scientists have determined that global sea level has been steadily rising since 1900 at a rate of at least 1 to 2.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.1 inches) per year. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services has been measuring sea level for over 150 years, with tide stations operating on all U.S. coasts through the National Water Level Observation Network. Information collected at tide stations is helping coastal managers analyze and plan for future impacts of sea-level rise. Accurate sea-level information is also critical for informed coastal planning, management, and decision making.
• Estuarine Habitats. Estuaries are some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world, supporting everything from fish, birds, and otters to mussels and plants. To monitor the health of these important habitats, NOS partners with 28 state-managed National Estuarine Research Reserves, which serve as living laboratories. One NERRS program is the System-Wide Monitoring Program. As part of this program, scientists collect information such as temperature, salinity, pH, biodiversity, and population characteristics at reserves across the country. Collected information helps changing reserve conditions in both the short and long terms and provide an important baseline for evaluating similar habitats outside reserve boundaries.


• Oil Spill Response. Thousands of incidents occur each year in which oil or chemicals are released into the coastal environment. Spills into our coastal waters, whether accidental or intentional, can harm people, the environment, and the economy. To help, the Office of Response and Restoration has developed more than 3,300 Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps. These maps cover the majority of the U.S. coastline and include information on shoreline shape and biological and socioeconomic resources.  The maps are used to rank sensitivity to oil impact, but can also be used in evaluating coastal-erosion potential and coastal-storm vulnerability and in monitoring coastal change.


• Safe Navigation. America’s ports are our lifelines for commerce, trade, and the economy. As more goods travel along our marine highways in increasingly larger ships, the risk of accidents and environmental harm increases. To ensure safe travels, the Office of Coast Survey conducts hydrographic surveys to measure water depth and emphasize elements that affect navigation. NOS also provides environmental observations and forecasts through programs such as the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System to help mariners safely navigate in to port.


• Benthic Habitats. Benthic habitats support a wide variety of marine life, from corals and fish to clams, plants, and bacteria. These organisms play important roles in ecosystem system health, from being members of the ocean food web to helping filter pollutants out of the water. They also play an important economic role, providing food, protection from erosion, and tourism. To map these habitats and assess how they are changing, NOS uses satellite and airborne sensors, acoustic imaging, photography, and benthic community analysis. Aerial photographs are also used to create maps of coral reefs and other habitats important to the coastal economy.


• Protecting Health. Our health is intricately connected to the health of the ocean. When water quality is poor, beaches dirty, or seafood tainted, communities, economies, and ecosystems all suffer. Projects such as the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Mussel Watch program, which measures concentrations of various contaminants in sediments and mussels around the country, bring together environmental monitoring, assessment, and research to determine water quality along our nation’s coasts. NOS also produces advance warnings of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and then provides science to monitor bloom development. HABs produce potent toxins, which can cause illness or death in humans and marine organisms.

Managing Our Coastal Zone

• Did you know that America's coasts stretch along more than 95,000 miles? That’s a lot of ground (and water) to cover. And each area of the coast is unique…the coast of Florida is a lot different than the coast of Maine or Alaska. Because we rely on coastal areas as places to live (more than half of us live along the coast), visit, get food from, and transport goods through, we need to manage and protect these areas. That’s a pretty big job.


• NOS's Role. When it comes to managing our nation’s coasts, it’s a team effort. NOAA works closely with federal, state, and local partners to address a variety of coastal issues. Within NOS, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) plays a key role, administering and coordinating a range of federal-state programs and giving technical and financial help and training to states working to manage coastal areas. The NOAA Coastal Services Center also provides training and technical tools and advice for state and local managers looking to protect and make wise use of coastal resources. These and other NOS offices are also involved in activities such as coastal and marine spatial planning and the development and delivery of tools to help coastal communities address challenges such as sea level rise.


• The Coastal Zone Management Program One mechanism for managing our nation’s diverse coastal regions is the National Coastal Zone Management Program. This voluntary federal-state partnership was created by the Coastal Zone Management Act to protect, restore, and responsibly develop our nation’s coastal communities and resources. The Program takes a comprehensive approach to problem solving—balancing the often competing and occasionally conflicting demands of coastal resource use, economic development, and conservation. Thirty-four of 35 eligible states, territories, and commonwealths currently participate in the Coastal Zone Management Program.

Tackling Issues

State and territory coastal management programs address a wide range of issues, including:

• Climate Change. As the Earth’s climate warms, sea levels are rising, having a significant impact on coastal populations, economies, and natural resources. Coastal zone management can help coastal communities prepare for and adapt to a changing climate. NOS is creating sea level rise inundation models and supporting the development of climate change adaptation plans, regulations, and policies at the state and local levels.


• Energy Facility Siting. Whether it is for oil and gas or renewable sources such as wind or wave power, a lot of energy exploration, production, and transport takes place along the coast. Coastal zone management helps ensure that energy facilities are constructed in places and ways that protect the national interest in energy production and coastal resources, while minimizing conflicts with other coastal uses such as fishing and navigation.


• Public Access. More than 180 million Americans annually visit coastal areas to swim, boat, fish, or just relax; however, sometimes getting to the beach isn’t so easy. Coastal zone management can help provide public access to coastal areas. In addition to creating new access opportunities and enhancing existing sites, the program helps provide public education and outreach to make sure the public knows where they can access the coast.


• Habitat Protection. Our coasts have habitats that are economically and ecologically valuable. Unfortunately, many coastal habitat areas face intensified pressure from human activities. Coastal management encourages habitat protection through land-use planning, habitat restoration, and state and local permitting programs that regulate development impacts to coastal habitats. OCRM also administers programs such as the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, which awards funding to states and local groups to acquire coastal land for permanent conservation.


• Water Quality. Nonpoint source pollution, such as runoff from streets or lawns, poses the largest threat to the nation's coastal water quality today. To help combat nonpoint source pollution, OCRM administers the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. Jointly run by NOAA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the program's role includes establishing and encouraging states to use management measures to control polluted runoff.

Coastal Ecosystem Science

• Why 'Ecosystem' Science? Within any given area, living and nonliving interact with each other. Together, these things form an ecosystem. Because all of the elements within an ecosystem are interrelated, these systems can be quite complex. Changing even one element can impact the entire ecosystem—for good, or for bad. We rely on coastal and marine ecosystems, for food, recreation, transportation, and more. And yet, our use of these resources can upset the balance of the entire ecosystem if we aren't careful. NOS is working to understand the science of ecosystems, so that coastal managers and decision makers have the information to make coastal-use decisions that benefit us and do not harm the environment.


• What Impacts Ecosystems? Because ecosystems are intertwined webs of living and nonliving things, even the smallest change can impact the entire ecosystem. Things such as climate change and associated changes like increases in sea level and ocean temperature, as well as extreme natural events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and harmful algal blooms, can all impact ecosystems. WE can impact ecosystems, too, by causing pollution, introducing invasive species, or irresponsibly using land and water resources.


• How Does NOS Study Ecosystems? NOS uses research, monitoring, and assessments to better understand, and manage, things that stress coastal ecosystems. The programs and projects that support this effort are lengthy. They span from broad ecosystem-wide and watershed-scale projects to microbiological and analytical chemistry projects that delve into DNA analysis and bio-chemical reactions. To synthesize the array of many science investigations on an ecosystem scale, NOS develops integrated assessments. These describe the ecosystem, assess its current condition or health, forecast future ecological health based on current management, and evaluate alternative management options and their consequences.


• Coastal Oceans. The coastal ocean encompasses a broad range of saltwater ecosystems, from estuaries and coral reefs to rocky shores and mangrove forests. NOS works to understand and anticipate changes in coastal ecosystems as they become stressed. For example, scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) are studying the warmer bottom water temperatures found along the continental shelf off North Carolina and how these temperatures are affecting the area's species composition. NCCOS is also evaluating different habitat restoration techniques for seagrass beds, oyster beds, and coral reefs.


• Coral Reefs U.S. coral reef ecosystems cover less than one percent of the Earth's surface, yet are among the most diverse and productive communities on Earth and we rely on reef ecosystems for food, shelter, tourism and recreation. Despite the importance of reefs, these ecosystems are in trouble. NOS coastal ecosystem science is working to understand the extent of and reasons for the decline of coral reefs and to provide managers with more effective ways to protect them. From providing data and models help coastal managers predict the impacts of alternative management decisions regarding marine protected areas, fishing regulations, recreation use, pollutants, and coastal development, to performing inventories, developing maps, and monitoring coral reef ecosystems using computer and remote sensing technologies that inexpensively map coral reef ecosystems with increased speed and accuracy, NOS scientists are helping decision makers respond to changing environmental conditions.


• Estuaries. Estuaries, places where rivers meet the sea, are among the most productive environments for supporting commercial fisheries around the world and are vital to the economy. This makes the protection and restoration of these complex ecosystems particularly important. NOS is working to identify the link between human activities and ecological disturbances in estuarine environments. For example, researchers at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science are using remote sensing and physical observation to provide coastal managers with the tools needed to protect public health, restore damaged habitats, and improve community interactions with surrounding ecosystems.


• National Estuarine Research Reserves. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 27 protected areas established for long-term research, education, and stewardship. The sites within the estuarine reserve system protect more than 1.3 million acres of land and water in 23 states and Puerto Rico. These living laboratories are places to conduct long-term research, and monitoring, education and also serve as reference sites for comparative studies. Reserve field staff work with local communities and regional groups on natural resource management issues, such as non-point source pollution, habitat restoration and invasive species.


• National Marine Sanctuaries. The Office National Marine Sanctuaries manages a national network of underwater marine protected areas. Designated by Congress, these special ocean and Great Lakes areas are designed to protect natural and cultural resources, while allowing people to use and enjoy our oceans and coasts. Within the nation's marine sanctuaries, NOS conducts research to help understand the status and trends of sanctuary resources on local, regional, and national scales; the nature, level, and trends of human uses within each sanctuary; and the nationally significant themes at the sanctuary level such as essential habitat identification, biodiversity, and conservation.

Coastal Decision-making Tools

• Is this area vulnerable to erosion and therefore not a safe place to build a road? What would be the most effective way to restore this coastal marsh back to its original state? How can we grow our community without hurting water quality? Balancing the use of resources in coastal areas with their protection requires good tools and information to make good decisions. To help state and local coastal resource managers make the best decisions, NOS provides training, data and information, management strategies, and technology.


• Going Coastal. Live near the coast? You aren't alone. Over half of all Americans live in coastal states. And each year, more people flock to our nation's coast. With them comes more development—new homes, businesses, roads. These things enrich the economy, but they also place pressure on the environment, potentially diminishing the aesthetic and economic value of living in a coastal area. NOS works to deliver tools to help balance the health of our coasts with the health of our economy.


• Educating New Leaders. The students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. NOS invests in training these future leaders through programs such as the Coastal Management Fellowship Program. Under the Program, postgraduate students in the field of coastal resource management spend two years working for a state coastal management program. The students bring new expertise to the state efforts, and the fellows receive valuable work experience.


• The Written WordThe sharing of ideas is fundamental to any innovation. Coastal Services, a bimonthly trade magazine for coastal managers, showcases innovative ways in which state coastal programs address the many issues that confront them, bringing new ideas to coastal resource management programs. Online newsletters, such as MPA Connections or Coastal Management News, are other ways in which NOS brings information directly to the people who need it, keeping them informed and engaged.


• A View from Above Remote sensing involves the use of satellites, aircraft, and other devices to gather information about land and water. NOS provides remote sensing data, including land cover, topography, and ocean-floor habitat data, to state coastal programs. NOS scientists also use remotely sensed data to develop other tools and services, such as coastal maps, disaster response, harmful algal bloom analysis, coastal ecosystem monitoring, and nautical charts.


• Map it Out. Geographic information systems (GIS) are mapping tools used to integrate, store, edit, analyze, share, and display geographic information. NOS provides a variety of GIS data products to the coastal management community, ranging from digital shoreline data, hurricane information, and watershed mapping projects. Other GIS tools include environmental sensitivity index maps, which help assess contamination risk, and data used to characterize coastal zone habitats.


• Smart Growth Bounded by water, coastal communities must make use of limited land while protecting natural resources from the effects of population growth and development. NOS, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, the International City/County Management Association, and Rhode Island Sea Grant, developed a guide and Web site to help officials make coastal “smart growth” decisions that balance use and enjoyment of coastal areas with conservation.

Marine Debris: 10 Things You Should Know

• Our waterways are littered with trash. Plastic bags, cigarette butts, fishing nets, sunken vessels, glass bottles, abandoned crab traps...the list is endless. Some of this marine debris comes from human activity at sea. Some of it is carried by the wind or is carried into our waterways from land. While we know that marine debris is bad for the environment, harms wildlife, and threatens human health and navigation, there is much we don't know. How much marine debris is in our environment? How long does it last? How harmful is this trash? How long does it take to break down in the water? The NOAA Marine Debris Program is finding answers to these questions.


• 1. It doesn't stay put. While a lot of trash sinks, much also floats. Once this marine debris enters the ocean, it moves via oceanic currents and atmospheric winds. Factors that affect currents and winds (for example, El Niño and seasonal changes) also affect the movement of marine debris in the ocean. Debris is often carried far from its origin, which makes it difficult to determine exactly where an item came from.


• 2. It comes in many forms.. Marine debris comes in many forms, ranging from small cigarette butts to 4,000-pound derelict fishing nets. Plastic bags, glass, metal, Styrofoam, tires, derelict fishing gear, and abandoned vessels are all examples of trash that often ends up in our waterways.


• 3. It's your problem, too.Marine debris is a problem for all of us. It affects everything from the environment to the economy; from fishing and navigation to human health and safety; from the tiniest coral polyps to giant blue whales.


• 4. NOAA is fighting this problem. The NOAA Marine Debris Program works in the U.S. and around the world to research, reduce, and prevent debris in our oceans and coastal waterways. Much of this work is done in partnership with other agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, industry, and private businesses. The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act, signed into law in 2006, formally created the Marine Debris Program. The Act directs NOAA to map, identify, measure impacts of, remove, and prevent marine debris.


• 5. Some debris is being turned into energy. Abandoned and lost fishing gear is a big problem. It entangles and kills marine life and is a hazard to navigation. Based on a model program in Hawaii, the Fishing for Energy program was formed in 2008 to tackle this problem with creative new ideas. The program is a partnership between NOAA, Covanta Energy Corporation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Schnitzer Steel. This program offers the fishing community a no-cost way to dispose of old or derelict fishing gear. Once removed from the environment, the gear is transported to the nearest Covanta Energy-from-Waste facility. About one ton of derelict nets creates enough electricity to power one home for 25 days!


• 6. Marine debris can hurt or kill animals. Marine debris may be mistaken by some animals for food or eaten accidently. Often, larger pieces of trash like nets, fishing line, and abandoned crab pots snare or trap animals. Entanglement can lead to injury, illness, suffocation, starvation, and even death. NOAA is working with many partners to tackle this problem by reducing and preventing marine debris in our oceans and waterways.


• 7. There's a lot to learn about this problem. We know that marine debris is a big problem, but there's much we need to learn. NOAA funds projects across the country and works with scientists and experts around the globe to better understand how marine debris moves, where it comes from, and its effects on the environment. This knowledge will help us find better ways to tackle the problem.


• 8. You can help us get the word out! The NOAA Marine Debris Program offers a heap of creative products to get the word out about marine debris. Looking for brochures, posters, fact sheets, or guidebooks? We've got those. Like videos? We've got those, too. We even have a blog! You'll find it all online.


• 9. This is a global problem. Marine debris is a global problem that requires global solutions. NOAA experts work with scientists and organizations around the world to share lessons learned, discover what programs work best, and map out future strategies to fight this problem.
• 10. Small steps lead to big results. Fighting the marine debris problem begins at home.
  
  

  - Try to cut back on the amount of trash you produce.
  - Opt for reusable items instead of single-use products.
  - Recycle as much of your trash as you can.
  - Join local efforts to pick up trash.
  - Keep streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and storm drains free
  of trash—they can empty into our oceans and waterways.

Oil and Chemical Spills

• Scientific Expertise. Each year, there are thousands of oil and chemical spills in coastal waters around the nation. These spills range from small ship collisions to fuel transfer mishaps to massive spill events like the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The release of oil and chemicals into our coastal waterways is a major problem. Spills can kill wildlife, destroy habitat, and contaminate critical resources in the food chain. Spills can also wreak havoc on the economies of coastal communities by forcing the closure of fisheries, driving away tourists, or temporarily shutting down navigation routes. And these environmental and economic damages can linger for decades. When dealing with oil and chemical spills, there are many questions that need answered. What was spilled? Where is the spill likely to travel in the water? How is the local environment affected now—and how might it be affected down the road? What's the best way to clean up the spill? How will balance be restored to the environment after the damage has been done? NOAA brings scientific expertise to the table to help answer these questions.


• Response & Restoration.NOAA is charged with responding to oil spills, hazardous material releases, and marine debris, primarily through the Ocean Service’s Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R). This office’s Emergency Response Division is often first on the scene, providing scientific expertise to predict where the spill is going and what impacts it might have, identifying resources at risk, and recommending clean-up methods.
  NOAA scientist and Coast Guard technician in helicopter over Gulf of Mexico Regional NOAA scientific support coordinators organize NOAA resources in support of federal and state response efforts and work with scientists from other public agencies, academia, and the private sector to support operations when an oil or chemical spill occurs. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Tracking Contamination. When a disaster like a major oil spill occurs, one of NOAA’s important jobs is to measure and assess the impact on coastal and marine ecosystems so that measures can be taken to attempt to restore them to pre-spill conditions and to provide information for natural resource damage assessment.
  Dr. Terry McTigue, Mussel Watch scientist, holds a sieve to retrieve burrowing animals from a sediment sample. NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) plays a central role in this process by tracking contamination and its effects on the animals and plants that live in the areas impacted by a spill. Read more (redirect to original article)


• View from Above. For major spills, often the best perspective is from high above. NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) deploys to the scene of major spills to collect aerial images to capture a bird’s eye view of spill and coastal areas. NGS uses NOAA aircraft outfitted with state-of-the-art mapping sensors. Data acquisition typically focuses on the land-water interface, in high-priority areas in an effort to protect wildlife and the shoreline. NGS also provides remotely sensed imagery from previous mapping projects to help response personnel assess shoreline features that were present prior to the spill. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Ocean Observing. The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) is a coordinated network of people and technology that compiles and distributes data on our coastal waters, Great Lakes, and oceans. It includes partners at all levels of government, academic institutions, and the private sector. Following a major spill, responders need information such as water levels, current speed and direction, wind speed and direction, and wave heights. This information is collected by a variety of organizations (including NOS) using satellites, buoys, tide gauges, radar stations, and underwater vehicles. IOOS helps bring this information together, so that it can be coordinated and made available to those who need it. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Delivering Data. Determining where oil or chemicals will move following a spill requires knowing how the water and wind are moving. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) operates and maintains an extensive network of hundreds of coastal measurement systems around the nation that collect and provide this verified information. The collected data are important to helping mariners safely navigate in and out of ports and harbors, so CO-OPS operates these systems year round, not just following an oil spill. However, in support of major oil spill response efforts, CO-OPS may modify existing products to better meet the needs of responders and communities. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Charting the Way. To help mariners safely navigate following major spills, the Office of Coast Survey (OCS) produces regular updates to nautical chart products that display spill zone forecasts based on the best-available projections. The charts depict the 48-hour forecast for oil location, juxtaposed against the standard safety fairways that lead to port approaches. These electronic and raster charts alert ship captains to the location of the forecasted spill area, so that captains can take efforts to avoid the spill. The U.S. Coast Guard also uses the chart information to develop instructions for vessels transiting U.S. waters. Read more (redirect to original article)


• Delivering Data. NOAA's Coastal Services Center and Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management help communities prepare for and adapt to the impacts of major spills. The Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) also helps states prepare for potential impacts of significant oil and chemical spills. Read more (redirect to original article)

Oceans and Human Health

• Our Blue Planet. Our oceans and coasts affect us all—even those of us who don't live near the shoreline. Consider the economy. Through the fishing and boating industry, tourism and recreation, and ocean transport, one out of six jobs in the U.S. is marine-related. Coastal and marine waters support over 28 million jobs. U.S. consumers spend over $55 billion for fishery products annually. Then there's travel and tourism. Our beaches are a top destination, attracting about 90 million people a year. Our coastal areas generate 85 percent of all U.S. tourism revenues. And let's not forget about the Great Lakes—these vast bodies of water supply more than 40 million people with drinking water. Our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes serve other critical needs, too—needs that are harder to measure, but no less important—such as shoreline protection, climate regulation, nutrient recycling, and maritime heritage. Last but not least, healthy oceans and coasts provide us with resources we rely on every day, ranging from food to medicines to compounds that make our peanut butter easier to spread! So what does all of this have to do with human health?


• Ocean in Distress.When we think of public health risks, we may not think of the ocean as a factor. But increasingly, the health of the ocean is intimately tied to our health. One sign of an ocean in distress is an increase in beach or shellfish harvesting closures across the U.S. Intensive use of our oceans and runoff from land-based pollution sources are just two of many factors that stress our fragile ecosystems—and increasingly lead to human health concerns. Waterborne infectious diseases, harmful algal bloom toxins, contaminated seafood, and chemical pollutants are other signals that, just as we can threaten the health of our oceans, our oceans can also threaten our health. And it is not just public health that is threatened; our coastal economies could also be at significant risk. So what are we doing about it?


• NOAA's Oceans and Human Health Initiative. NOAA's Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI) is a national research program focused on improving understanding and management of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes to enhance benefits to human health and reduce public health risks. The OHHI is comprised of NOAA 'Centers of Excellence for OHH' located in Washington, South Carolina, and Michigan, coupled with strong interdisciplinary partnerships through OHHI-funded external grants, distinguished scholars, and consortia for graduate training. Scientists at these institutions use cutting-edge technology to explore the relationships between environmental stressors, coastal conditions, and our health. Through sustainable research, these scientists are finding ways to maximize health benefits from the ocean, improve the safety of seafood and drinking waters, reduce beach closures, and detect emerging health threats.


• Closing the Safety Gap. Throughout the U.S., there are thousands of beach and shellfish closures or advisories each year due to the presence of harmful marine organisms, chemical pollutants, or algal toxins. To address public health threats and benefits from the sea, NOAA scientists and partners are developing and delivering useful tools, technologies, and environmental information to public health and natural resource managers, decision-makers, and the public. These products and services include predictions for harmful algal blooms and harmful microbes to reduce exposure to contaminated seafood; and early warning systems for contaminated beaches and drinking water sources to protect and prevent human illness.


• Emerging Health Threats. Whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals eat much of the same seafood that we consume and swim in shared coastal waters. Unlike us, however, they are exposed to potential ocean health threats such as toxic algae or poor water quality 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These mammals, and other sentinel species can shed important light on how the condition of ocean environments may affect human health now and in the future. As the principal stewardship agency responsible for protecting marine mammals in the wild, NOAA's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program supports a network of national and international projects aimed at investigating health concerns. One projects is an assessment of the health conditions of dolphins in coastal waters in areas where contaminants may be of concern. These assessments involve a veterinary examination, medical sampling, and attachment of radio transmitters that track dolphin movements and help determine contaminant sources. This research can not only warn us about potential public health risks and lead to improved management of the protected species, but may also lead to new medical discoveries.


• Cures from the Deep. Keeping our oceans healthy is about more than protecting human health—it's also about finding new ways to save lives. The diversity of species found in our oceans offer great promise for a treasure chest of pharmaceuticals and natural products to combat illnesses and improve our quality of life. Many new marine-based drugs have already been discovered that treat some types of cancer, antibiotic resistant staph infections, pain, asthma and inflammation. For example, NOAA and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers recently found that a fish-killing toxin has the potential to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells, even at very low concentrations. Preliminary studies have demonstrated the toxin to be highly effective against renal cancer, one of the most challenging cancers to treat. NOAA and its partners are involved in many studies like this to seek out potential new benefits to make us healthier.

Maritime Heritage

• What do historic shipwrecks, archaeological resources, whaling, and native cultures all have in common? They are all components of our maritime history. Maritime heritage includes not only physical resources such as historic shipwrecks and prehistoric archaeological sites, but also archival documents, oral histories, and the stories of indigenous cultures that have lived and used the oceans for centuries.


• Our National Marine Sanctuaries.From shipwrecks to archaeological resources to studies of indigenous cultures, did you know that there is a maritime heritage component to each of our nation's 13 national marine sanctuaries and our one national monument? In fact, the first sanctuary ever created was USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Located off the coast of North Carolina, this sanctuary protects the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, best known for its battle with the Confederate ironclad Virginia in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on March 9, 1862. Sanctuaries such as Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, located at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, are designated to protect natural resources and to preserve maritime heritage. For centuries, Stellwagen Bank has proved to be a rich and productive fishing ground, particularly for groundfish species like cod, haddock, and flounder. During the second half of the 20th century, the area gained fame as a whale watching destination.


• Preserve America Initiative. NOAA's heritage resources include everything from photographs to books, charts, maps, scientific instruments, and other artifacts – some centuries old. Whether it's a nautical chart plate engraved in the 1850s, a tidal computer developed in the 1880s, or an original hurricane bulletin issued in the early 1900s, each artifact tells a story about the evolution of NOAA and our nation. Signed by the president on March 3, 2003, the Preserve America Executive Order established federal policy to provide leadership in preserving America's heritage by actively advancing the protection, enhancement, and compatible use of the historic properties owned by the federal government. The order also encourages agencies to seek partnerships with state, tribal, and local governments and the private sector to make more efficient and informed use of these resources for economic development and other recognized public benefits.


• Maritime Archaeology.Maritime archaeology is the study of past human cultures, with an emphasis on how we interacted with the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers in the past. This science is used to interpret the material remains of past cultures including ships and small craft, their crews and cargoes, and their shore-based facilities. While maritime archaeology is best known for its focus on shipwrecks, it is really the study of everything connected to seafaring and coastal living, including submerged prehistoric sites. Maritime archaeology is one of three research topics that NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Maritime Heritage Program is focused on. Sanctuary archaeologists use satellites to help reconstruct ancient shorelines and use side-scan sonar to peer miles underneath the ocean's surface. Submersibles carry passengers to places where divers cannot go, and remotely operated vehicles are allowing scientists to study even further below the ocean's surface.


• Our History. Throughout history, people have always been drawn to the ocean, for food and other resources and as a means to travel. NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Maritime Heritage Program works to explore these many human connections to the sea. These research efforts include supporting, understanding, and learning from diverse maritime histories and experiences. Also important is gaining a greater appreciation of indigenous maritime cultures, traditional seafaring, host culture perspectives, and traditional marine environmental knowledge. Our understanding of the true human dimensions of our protected marine areas is incomplete without an awareness and recognition of the special cultural ties these areas have to indigenous seafaring cultures. Gaining an awareness of the great variety of human connections to the sea can help us all become better stewards of our ocean resources.


• Human Connection to the Sea. The history of American whaling is a significant part of our national maritime heritage because it is a topic that includes seafaring traditions and historic voyages. These voyages had political, economic, and cultural impacts. Whaling was both a successful and yet unsustainable industry, decimating the ocean’s marine mammals. Historical whaling was a major industrial effort—dirty, dangerous, and necessary. For the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the study of historical whaling is larger than any single wreck site and broader than any one sanctuary. Several of our national marine sanctuaries are connected to a number of different past whaling cultures and whaling vessel wreck sites. NOAA and partners work to improve our understanding of whaling heritage by exploring the effects of human activities and natural environmental changes on our living marine resources.



• Preserving Resources. Natural activities such as storms, currents, and corrosion, as well as human activities such as anchoring, looting, and careless diving practices, can impact maritime heritage resources. And, unlike living resources, maritime heritage resources are not renewable. Therefore, it is especially important that we make decisions on how to manage these resources, so we can protect these important links to our past and ensure they are around for current and future generations to enjoy. Our national marine sanctuaries are one mechanism to protect our nation's maritime heritage. The careful recovery, study, and conservation of artifacts are also helping to preserve these artifacts in museums for future generations.

National Marine Sanctuaries

• What's a sanctuary?National marine sanctuaries are special areas that protect important marine ecosystems around the nation. Some sanctuaries are breeding and feeding grounds for endangered whales, others contain thriving coral reefs or kelp forests, and many are home to historic shipwrecks and other archaeological treasures. NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries manages a national network of such places, encompassing more than 150,000 square miles of U.S. ocean and Great Lakes waters. The goal of the sanctuary system is to protect important natural and cultural places, while still allowing people to enjoy and use the ocean. In total, NOAA manages thirteen national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument.


• Marine Life.Sanctuaries protect many species that are threatened or in danger of extinction. Through the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, regulations at each sanctuary specify the types of activities that are compatible with stewardship of marine life and habitats. Sanctuary staff also conduct education programs to teach responsible behavior as a way to prevent harmful impacts. Marine species in these special areas are monitored so that best management decisions for their protection can be made. For example, in 2008 the staff of Stellwagen Banks National Marine Sanctuary, in cooperation with other NOAA agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard, convinced the International Maritime Organization to shift Boston's shipping lanes to reduce the risk of collisions between vessels and endangered whales.


• Science and Exploration. Sanctuaries are dynamic, constantly changing places where diverse marine ecosystems are affected by both natural and human-caused events. NOAA scientists and resource managers closely monitor water quality, living resources, and habitats within the sanctuary system to better understand ecosystem health and detect trends over time. Each sanctuary conducts research and monitoring activities tailored to the specific needs of site. Research expeditions are frequently launched to gather more data to help protect these fragile areas. For example, the 2009 Gray's Reef Expedition focused on acoustic fish tagging and tracking, monitoring marine debris, and mapping the seafloor. Most of these expeditions combine research with education by also including teachers or students.


• Maritime Heritage .Many of the sanctuaries harbor historic shipwrecks or artifacts from indigenous cultures. Protecting this heritage is a critical mission of NOAA's sanctuary system, but the mission doesn't end there. Sanctuary staff also work to preserve documents, oral histories and traditional knowledge encompassing our historical connection to the sea. Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is an example of a site that was specifically created to preserve maritime heritage. This sanctuary is home to the wreck of the USS Monitor, a Civil War Ironclad that lies off the coast of North Carolina. Researchers there continue to monitor the deterioration of the wreck, stabilize the hull, and restore artifacts collected from the site—all to better understand and preserve the history of this important vessel.


• Education. Through diverse education and outreach programs, sanctuary staff teach people of all ages about the importance of marine conservation and stewardship. Using hands-on field experiences like the LiMPETS program and MERITO Watershed Academy, engaging exhibits and visitor centers such as "Lost on a Reef" at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, and ocean science-themed classroom visits, sanctuary education efforts bring the ocean to life for students across the nation. In addition, teacher training programs like Down Under, Out Yonder at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and a wide array of volunteer programs help improve ocean education and involve citizens in ocean stewardship in communities throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System.


• Management. The National Marine Sanctuary System exists to protect and preserve natural and cultural treasures, but sanctuaries are open to many activities compatible with resource protection. Balancing public use and conservation is a challenge that requires careful planning. For example, in 2008 Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary updated its management plan, which addressed key issues specific to the region like vessel traffic and its potential threats to wildlife. The plan included a provision to expand the sanctuary by 775 square miles to include the Davidson Seamount—one of the largest known underwater mountains in U.S. coastal waters—and modified regulations for the region to better protect white sharks, prohibit discharges from cruise ships and reduce the potential for invasive species.

Marine Protected Areas

• What is a Marine Protected Area?Did you know that nearly 40 percent of U.S. marine waters are protected in some way? If you have ever gone fishing in central California, diving in the Florida Keys, or boating in Thunder Bay, you have visited one of these marine protected areas (MPA). MPAs are areas of the oceans or Great Lakes that are protected for a conservation purpose. In the United States, there are over 1,600 MPAs spanning a range of habitats, including the open ocean, coastal areas, inter-tidal zones, estuaries, and the Great Lakes. Nearly all of these areas allow multiple uses. About one percent of U.S. waters are highly protected in "no-take" MPAs to protect sensitive species and habitats.


• National System of MPAs. With different federal, state, tribal and local agencies managing the more than 1,600 marine protected areas (MPAs) located all over the U.S., what is going on in each can get a little disjointed and opportunities to coordinate or share lessons learned can be missed. So wouldn't it be nice if there were some system to coordinate planning and management of our nation's MPAs? Guess what? There is! Managed by the federal government, the national system of MPAs brings work together at the regional and national levels to achieve common objectives for conserving the nation's important natural and cultural resources. The MPAs in the system are still managed independently, but they now have a framework to tie them all together. There are currently 254 members of the national system of MPAs. Over time, the MPA Center will continue to work with existing U.S. MPAs to increase membership in the national system.


• Restrictions. One question many people have about marine protected areas (MPAs) is whether or not there are restrictions associated with the use of these areas. The answer is that...it depends. MPAs are established for the conservation of their natural or cultural resources. While there can be restrictions on certain activities in MPAs, nearly all U.S. MPAs allow multiple uses, including fishing. Some areas, such as marine reserves, are a little more restrictive, limiting the catching of fish, collection of shells, or other activities where something may be removed from the area. Marine reserves are sometimes referred to as “no take” MPAs, and occupy about 1 percent of U.S. waters.


• Classifying MPAs.Because marine protected areas (MPAs) vary widely, the National MPA Center developed a system to help describe these areas using characteristics that are common to most MPAs. The characteristics include conservation focus, level of protection, permanence of protection, constancy of protection, and ecological scale of protection. The end result is a common vocabulary for MPA managers, something that comes in handy when exchanging ideas and lessons learned or working to identify additional areas that should be protected.


• MPA Inventory. Interested in finding out if there are marine protected areas (MPAs) where you live or have visited? Check out the Marine Protected Areas Inventory. This online tool lets you use an interactive map to view the MPA Inventory sites and associated data, query sites by specific conservation attributes, or to search and view sites by region. Managers can use the Inventory for marine management and conservation planning. In fact, the primary purpose of the Inventory is to maintain baseline information on MPAs to the assist in the development of the National System of MPAs.


• NOAA's National MPA Center. The National MPA Center was established in 2000 following Executive Order 13158. The executive order was issued to help protect the significant natural and cultural resources within the marine environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The order directs the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and other federal agencies to work closely with states, territories, tribes, fishery management councils, and groups with an interest in marine resource conservation to develop a scientifically-based, comprehensive National System of MPAs representing diverse U.S. marine ecosystems. The MPA Center is located within NOAA's National Ocean Service and is a division of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.


• Science and Stewardship. The MPA Center uses science to assess the nature of MPAs and how they are used to sustain healthy marine ecosystems. The MPA Center focuses its objectives on enhancing MPA stewardship by strengthening capacity for planning, management, and evaluation. The California Ocean Uses Atlas Project is one example of a science and stewardship focused project of the MPA Center. The Atlas fills a critical information gap in ocean management by mapping the full range of significant human uses of the ocean in state and federal waters. Data and maps from the California Ocean Uses Atlas workshops are available online.


• Science and Stewardship. There are many different types of MPAs including national marine sanctuaries and national estuarine research reserves.

  Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, designated as a sanctuary in 2000 to protect the many shipwrecks of the region, is an example of a marine protected area aimed at conserving cultural resources.

  Another example of a marine protected area is South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. Since the creation of the reserve, management plans have sought to restrict the most intensive commercial uses and restore natural processes, while ensuring that South Slough is available for public recreational use.

  The 13 national marine sanctuaries, managed directly by NOS, and the 27 national estuarine research reserves, managed by states in partnership with NOS, are part of the National MPA Center inventory. Additionally, all 13 national marine sanctuaries and five national estuarine research reserves are members of the national system of MPAs.

Five Things You Should Know About Coral Reefs

• Coral Reefs are some of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Did you know that, per unit area, coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment? Reefs also rival rainforests in the amount of biodiversity they support. Thousands of creatures rely on coral reefs for their survival. Hidden beneath the ocean waters, reefs are also some of the oldest ecosystems on the planet, reflecting thousands of years of history. Although individual coral polyps are tiny, they create the largest living structures on earth—some reefs are visible from space!


• Healthy coral reefs are valuable. About 500 million people worldwide depend upon them! In fact, 30 million are virtually totally dependent upon reefs. Coral ecosystems are a source of food for millions; protect coastlines from storms and erosion; provide habitat, spawning and nursery grounds for economically important fish species; provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism; are a source of new medicines, and are hotspots of marine biodiversity. These values contribute approximately $29.8 billion to world economies each year. Continued decline of reefs will have alarming consequences for people worldwide.


• Humanity's actions are threatening coral's survival. An estimated 20 percent of the world’s reefs are damaged beyond recovery and about half of the remaining coral reefs are under risk of collapse.  The top threats to coral reefs—climate change, unsustainable fishing, and land-based pollution—are all due to human activities. These threats—combined with other threats like coral disease; tropical storms; tourism and recreation; vessel damage; marine debris, and aquatic invasive species—compound upon each other, sometimes making conservation efforts more difficult.


• NOAA is working to conserve coral reefs around the world. Through the activities of the Coral Reef Conservation Program, NOAA is doing its part to address key threats to reefs. In order to manage and protect coral reef ecosystems, NOAA conducts research, coral mapping and monitoring activities, and uses a variety of coral conservation tools. This program also serves as the Secretariat for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, a body of twelve federal agencies and seven states and territories that are responsible for preserving and protecting reefs around the country. Both of these groups also work to protect international reefs since reef ecosystems are not limited by international boundaries.


• You can help conserve coral reefs, too! Even if you don’t live near a coral reef, you can still have an impact on them.  Awareness is a big step towards changing behaviors that threaten reefs, and ensuring your impact on reefs is a positive one.  Therefore, we all need to be aware of the importance of, and threats to, coral reefs. Visit NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program Web site to learn about some of the actions—both little and big—that you can take to help conserve coral reefs.  You will find that even small changes in your daily routine can make a difference. 

International Collaboration

• The Ocean Knows No Bounds. While NOS focuses efforts on the communities, economies, and ecosystems situated and dependent on America's 95,000 miles of shoreline and 3.5 million square miles of coastal, Great Lakes, and deep-ocean waters, the world ocean itself, of course, knows no human-made bounds. The President’s Ocean Policy Task Force calls for the United States to cooperate and provide leadership internationally in the protection, management, and sustainable use of the world’s ocean and coastal regions. NOS’s International Program Office (IPO) coordinates NOS’s International Coordination Council, which promotes multidisciplinary and integrated engagement to foster economic prosperity, protect marine biodiversity, and safeguard food supplies, both at home and abroad.


• NOAA International Coral Grant Program. IPO and NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program co-manage the NOAA International Coral Grant Program. This program supports the development of national marine protected area (MPA) networks, capacity building for MPA and watershed management, and socioeconomic assessments and monitoring in four main regions – the Wider Caribbean, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific, and the Coral Triangle (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste). In recent years, the program supported socioeconomic monitoring in the Caribbean, studied the impacts of land-based pollution sources on coral reefs in Southern Belize, improved watershed management in Mexico and Brazil, and strengthened MPA networks in Colombia.


• Coordinating in the Caribbean. NOS’s International Coordination Council developed a new regional strategy to lead its extensive Caribbean portfolio in the U.S.’s “third border.” As part of an ongoing partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, IPO is facilitating watershed management to address land-based sources of marine pollution in 13 countries throughout the region – at national, regional, and/or local scales. IPO and NOS’s Office of Coastal and Ocean Resource Management recently conducted a workshop on coastal management in Trinidad and Tobago, and IPO and other NOS offices periodically offer MPA training for resource managers across the region. IPO, together with NOS’s Office of Coast Survey, National Geodetic Survey, and Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, are collaborating with other NOS offices and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center to establish an observation framework for the region. The Inter-American Development Bank is funding the project.


• Watershed Management in Asia. NOS’s International Program Office (IPO) is leading NOAA’s collaborative effort with various governmental and nongovernmental partners in China to develop watershed management solutions. IPO assisted colleagues from the State Oceanic Administration of China, Xiamen University, and the Xiamen Ocean and Fisheries Bureau to develop a draft strategic action plan for watershed management in the Xiamen Bay-Jiulong River Basin. A regional committee led by the mayors of three key cities will soon meet to further discuss the plan. NOS also helped establish a work plan to advance ecosystem management in Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin region, where many people depend on the water for their livelihoods. IPO has had a longstanding partnership with the Republic of Korea as well, and is developing an emerging relationship with Vietnam. Read more (redirect to original article)


• An Informed Ocean Community Back on the home front, IPO and other NOS offices represent NOS at major international conferences and events and partner with other U.S. federal and state agencies, international organizations, and academia. IPO also helps prepare personnel from other NOS offices when their jobs require them to travel abroad. All of NOS’s work supports an informed community that understands the role of the ocean, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem -- making it possible for people beyond our national borders to make the best decisions not only for “their” ocean, but for everyone else’s, too.