NOAA PILOT WATER LEVEL PROJECT
TO BENEFIT COASTAL MANAGERS IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will install two one-year tide and water level stations as part of a $125,000 project to bring NOAA’s observational capabilities to Alabama and Mississippi coastal managers. The two new stations, to be placed in locations chosen by the state coastal managers, will supplement NOAA’s National Ocean Service’s (NOS) National Water Level Program and deliver data to the managers, helping them in making management decisions. NOAA is an agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“This project will provide Alabama and Mississippi coastal managers with tide and water level data for sound management decisions,” said Eldon Hout, director of NOS Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. “It is part of NOAA’s continuing effort to enhance our partnerships with state and local decision-makers.”

Traditionally, tidal datums derived from NOAA’s tide and water level stations have been used for navigation and shoreline boundary purposes. However, this project will highlight other beneficial applications and services including accurate water level information required for successful wetland restoration projects and for assessing long-term sea level trends. This data can also be used for storm surge monitoring and planning effective evacuation routes during hurricanes and other severe weather events.

“The Alabama Coastal Zone Management Program is extremely excited about the opportunity to work with NOAA,” said Phillip Hinesley of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Habitat restoration projects in the Mobile Bay and the Tensaw Delta will greatly benefit from this accurate water level data.”

This fall, state managers will assess their needs for water level data and decide where the two stations should be deployed. NOAA will install and maintain the stations. The two new stations will collect data for at least 12 months and transmit the data hourly over the Internet (http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov). The data will be transmitted every 18 minutes when triggered by coastal storm events. NOAA will compile the results of the project into a report and hold a technology transfer workshop to determine how best to use the data collected, and provide assistance to other states considering similar projects.

“The Mississippi Coastal Zone Management Program is very eager to work with NOAA,” said Jan Boyd, of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. “This worthwhile project will provide our coastal managers with reliable decision-making factors regarding tide and water level data.”

NOAA's National Ocean Service is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. It balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA National Ocean Service: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov

NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management: http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/