Rapid Response to Invasive Green Crab Threat

While teaching a class at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the reserve educator found a crab noticeably different from crabs typically seen in the area. Upon further investigation, the reserve determined it to be an invasive European Green Crab, which is classified by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as one of the world’s worst invasive species.

This find put in motion a rapid-response program between local partners that has since set out 192 traps at 31 sites in Padilla Bay to get a better idea of how many green crabs were in the bay. So far, three more crabs were found, leading partners to believe that without the early detection and efficiently executed rapid response, this situation could have been much worse. “It’s a really tragic but exciting opportunity for us to be at ground zero,” says Jude Apple, the Padilla Bay Reserve’s research coordinator. “We are set up to monitor and investigate a potential invasion.” (2016)

More information: kiro7.com/news/local/invasive-green-crabs-found-in-puget-sound/453005143

Partners: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Sea Grant

Coastal Hazards Resilience Network

Despite Washington’s rich history of progressive policies that promote balanced shoreline management, the state’s diverse programs were not optimized to help local planners develop long-term strategies for coastal hazards. Through a NOAA grant, the Washington Coastal Management Program and Washington Sea Grant developed the Coastal Hazards Resilience Network to focus on the state’s critical need for multi-hazard planning, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The network brings together over 50 key coastal management experts from state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. Information sharing is one of the network’s primary functions. Thus far, increased communication has resulted in greater awareness and discussion about existing projects, transfer of technical knowledge, identification of statewide priorities, and partnerships and funding opportunities that leverage expertise and resources. (2016)

Partners: NOAA, Washington Coastal Management Program, Washington Sea Grant

Climate Trainings Started Here Impact other Coastal States

Climate change is perhaps the leading environmental issue of our time, but local officials often need help understanding potential impacts on the local level and which adaptation strategies make the most sense for their situation.

Working with partners, the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve developed a workshop for local planners focused on the greater Puget Sound area. The first workshop happened in 2009, a time when many planners in the state were somewhat familiar with “global” information but less familiar with local data and potential consequences. From that first workshop, the reserve worked with a planning team to create a workshop series that included local scientists, data from local research, and regional examples of implemented climate adaptation strategies.

The series was very successful with more than 90 percent of the attendees said they better understood the topic and will apply what they learned in their work. Workshop materials were shared with other research reserves. To date, at least eight have customized the workshop for their locations. Offshoot activities include classes on climate communications, reserve assistance with climate adaptation planning and vulnerability assessments, and new grants and coalitions offering climate-focused community training and planning support. (2016)

More information: www.coastaltraining-wa.org

Partners: King County, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, Washington Sea Grant, Washington State Department of Ecology

Invasive Cordgrass Eradicated in Padilla Bay

Spartina, often known as cordgrass, provides critical coastal habitat along the Gulf and East Coasts. On the West Coast, it’s a different story. Here this nonnative aquatic grass is an invasive species. Spartina overcrowds mudflat habitat used by the oyster industry, thus affecting the livelihoods of oyster farmers, and causes sediment build-up that contributes to coastal flooding.

Significant patches of Spartina thrived within Padilla Bay—17 acres of it—in 1997. The Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve conducted extensive studies and implemented numerous eradication approaches over the years. In 2015 victory was finally declared, as Spartina was eradicated from Padilla Bay. Natural resource managers throughout the region now look to this reserve for information and guidance for invasive species removal methods and control. (2016)

More information: padillabay.gov/stewardshipinvasive.asp

Partners: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Skagit County Noxious Weed Board, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Agriculture

Supporting High School Environmental Clubs and Inspiring Future Leaders

Each year a regional Youth Earth Summit (YES) for high school students is sponsored by and held at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The goal is to engage young people in climate change action and support high school environmental clubs.

YES gives students a chance to interact, meet adults who work in environmental fields, and learn about local and national research and issues. Participants gain academic knowledge, community involvement skills, and positive experiences in environmental stewardship. Communities benefit from projects undertaken by YES attendees. YES encourages students to start environmental stewardship projects at their schools. (2016)

More information: nerra.org/how-we-work/education-for-an-informed-public/washington-high-school-students-say-yes-to-environmental-stewardship

Partners: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Youth Earth Summit

Volunteer Storm Team Elevates Water Quality Issues

An elite group of volunteers quickly mobilizes during heavy rain events along the Samish River in Washington State to collect important water quality data. This information is used by the coastal officials who make decisions about commercial shellfish harvesting and moniter water quality in the area.

“There is a fecal coliform problem in the Samish River,” says Susan Wood, for the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. “The problem was difficult to understand because agencies had limited time and money for sampling, especially on short notice when storm events create dramatically different results.” The all-volunteer Storm Team fills this void and does it well. Members use Padilla Bay’s volunteer lab, where fecal coliform tests are run, and the reserve provides 10 to 12 hours of annual training for the volunteers. Reserve staff members say that having more people out in the watershed who are aware of what’s going on has been very helpful in focusing attention on water quality issues. (2016)

Partners: Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Comparing Differences in Tsunami Sensitivity along the Coast

Historical geological evidence shows that the coast of Washington is vulnerable to high-magnitude tsunamis. To understand the potential impacts, state and local leaders sought help developing local risk-reduction strategies.

In cooperation with the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, the U.S. Geological Survey studied the Washington coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Determining the current land use characteristics was a critical part of data collection. For this effort NOAA’s coastal land cover data (available from the Digital Coast) was used to better understand the location and extent of developed areas, natural land, and other surface components from which vulnerability indicators could be measured and compared.

Armed with this information, the team was able to describe risks to public safety, local and state economies, and infrastructure. In turn, local policy makers and coastal managers were able to develop tsunami risk reduction strategies. (2016)

More information: coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/stories/tsunami-wa

Partners: U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division