You are here: Home › News ›Weekly Items
Weekly News Items

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (CCMA)

Weekly Report – March 12, 2008

CCMA’s Mussel Watch Extends Coverage of Long-term Monitoring Data for Improved Environmental Assessments
The NOAA Mussel Watch Project, in collaboration with groups such as the California Water Resources Control Board and the Southern California Coastal Water Resources Project, has increased the number of sites sampled for organic and inorganic contaminants in that state by 13 at no additional cost to the government. This has been accomplished by using the expertise of local scientists and area field teams. Mussel Watch is in its 23rd year of monitoring, with data for the 21st year recently becoming available for organic contaminants such DDT, PCBs, and anti-fouling compounds. For more information, contact Gunnar Lauenstein at (301) 713-3028 x152 or at Gunnar.Lauenstein@noaa.gov.
Significance: The Mussel Watch Project analyzes mussels and oysters from coastal areas around the country to help determine if levels of contaminants are increasing or decreasing. This can help show if environmental management efforts are working.

Public Comment Sought on Sub-zoning Options for Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary to Identify Optimum Research Area for Improved Management
Six sub-zoning scenarios for Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) are now available on the web for public comment at http://graysreef.noaa.gov/, and will be presented at five public meetings in March 2008 in coastal communities of Georgia and South Carolina.  At a January 31, 2008 Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting, representatives from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA) presented five boundary scenarios for a subzone within GRNMS to be used for scientific research.  These options, plus an additional scenario developed at the meeting, represent the culmination of a multiyear GIS analysis developed by CCMA to aid sanctuary and council staff in optimally placing a research area.  The analysis identified the location and boundary configuration of placement options that met scientific needs but minimized displacement of user activities.  For more information, contact Matt Kendall at (301) 713-3028 x144 or Matt.Kendall@noaa.gov.
Significance:  This analysis helps GRNMS select an area for scientific research while minimizing the displacement of user activities.