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National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (CCMA)

Weekly Report – February 20, 2008

Research in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands will Inform Management Actions for Invasive Species
Scientists from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA)initiated a partnership with the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to conduct research on invasive species in the Monument.  Unlike the main Hawaiian Islands, the Monument has relatively few invasive species, and managers would like to keep it that way.  CCMA and Monument staff met January 22-25 in Oahu, Hawaii to share concepts, data, and methods to integrate ongoing invasive species work in Hawaii.  In collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, CCMA and Monument staff are planning a field mission in April 2008 to collect preliminary data on alien species at French Frigate Shoals, and Pearl and Hermes Atoll.  The objectives of the mission are to survey benthic habitats for alien species and evaluate sampling technologies and predictive mapping capabilities.  For more information, contact Charles Menza at (301) 713-3028 x107 or Charles.Menza@noaa.gov. 
Significance:  This research will ultimately provide Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument managers with data to identify, prioritize, and implement management actions for invasive species.

Eutrophication Assessment Article on Chinese Estuaries Published in Coastal Management Newsletter
A recent article from Estuaries and Coasts has been selected for inclusion in the February issue of Estuarine Research Federation's electronic newsletter for coastal managers, Coastal and Estuarine Science News (CESN). The article titled “Trophic assessment in Chinese coastal systems–review of methods and application to the Changjiang (Yangtze) Estuary and Jiaozhou Bay” was developed by a Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment scientist and international co-authors.  CESN is designed to reach out to the coastal management community whose members have a need and interest in recent scientific results, but may not be regular readers of scientific journals. The article was chosen specifically for the strong implication for management of coastal areas, which will provide the coastal management audience critical information for ensuring the long-term health of our coastal areas. The article can be accessed online at: http://estuariesandcoasts.org/journal/ESTU2007/ESTU2007_30_6_901_918.pdf. For more information, contact Suzanne Bricker at (301) 713-3020 x139 or Suzanne.Bricker@noaa.gov.

Federal Partnership to Improve Indicators for the next National Coastal Condition Report
Researchers from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA) met with scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water on February 11 in Washington, DC to discuss the upcoming activities and timetable for the next National Coastal Condition Report (NCCR) anticipated for 2011 or 2012. EPA requested CCMA’s expertise to improve indicators, particularly the Water Quality (WQI) indicator, with the possibility of combining the WQI with CCMA’s recent National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment (NEEA) indicators. The intent is to combine the methods or to use both in complementary fashion to provide a better NCCR from a quantitative and qualitative perspective for the eutrophication assessment.  CCMA’s role is anticipated to be focused on, though not exclusively limited to, evaluation and modification of the eutrophication-related WQI. For more information, contact Suzanne Bricker at (301) 713-3020 x139 or Suzanne.Bricker@noaa.gov, or Dave Whitall (301) 713-3028 x138 or Dave.Whitall@noaa.gov.