| MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES | ||||||
| MMS OCS Region: | Pacific | |||||
| Title: | MARINe (Multi-Agency Rocky-Intertidal Network) Monitoring Study) (PC-04-01) | |||||
| Total Cost: | $990,000 | Period of Performance: | FY 2004 – 2007 | |||
| Conducting Organization: | University of California, Santa Cruz |
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| MMS Contact: | Mary Elaine Dunaway | |||||
| Description: | ||||||
| Background | ||||||
| This study provides for the monitoring of rocky intertidal sites along the mainland of Southern California adjacent to oil and gas activity. The MMS has been supporting the monitoring of sites in Santa Barbara County since 1991, in San Luis Obispo County (Santa Cruz) since 1995, and in Orange County (Los Angeles) since 1996. | ||||||
| The scientific community recognizes and supports the continued monitoring of this habitat as it is the best way to detect changes along the shoreline and be alerted to potential problems at an early stage. Since the OCS Lands Act and Amendments require the MMS to monitor the coastline adjacent to ongoing oil and gas operations, we believe this meets one of the more important goals of the program. | ||||||
| This study includes about a third of the total number of monitored sites supported by 23 federal state, local agencies and private organizations. This network of sites, called the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) extends from San Luis Obispo to San Diego and includes the offshore islands. The data are being collected in the form of field notes, slides and videotape and are analyzed and placed in a database. These data will eventually be made a part of the MARINe database. | ||||||
| Objectives | ||||||
| The objective of this effort is to monitor the health of the rocky intertidal habitats adjacent to OCS oil and gas activities in the Pacific Region and to obtain a better understanding of the relationship between changes seen and their potential causes. | ||||||
| Methods | ||||||
| Photos, counts and measurements of selected species (e.g. black abalone, owl limpets, and seastars) are collected at 4 sites in San Luis Obispo County, 4 sites in Orange County, two sites in Ventura County and 9 sites in Santa Barbara County. MMS biologists assist with collection of data in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Slides are scored and maintained at the respective University campuses, with a CD ROM copy provided to the MMS. University scientists and trained technicians maintain field equipment, write annual and three-year reports and participate in MARINE committees. | ||||||
| Importance to MMS | ||||||
| The results of this effort were used in the National Resource Damage Assessment of a pipeline break between Platform Irene and the shoreline. Data collected by several MMS funded efforts, such as this study and the MMS Intertidal Team, are being used by the trustees to evaluate impacts from the spill on rocky intertidal resources. The Government Performance Result Act depends also on this information to report on offshore oil and gas’s affect on shoreline resources in the event of a spill. | ||||||
| The MMS has greatly benefited from the establishment of these sites in 1991 both in terms of science advancement and understanding of the resources, and in terms of increased networking with other academic institutions. There has been substantial cost sharing with this project through these relationships. Additionally, the MMS now has access to many other studies of interest. | ||||||
| Current Status: | ||||||
| The joint database has been completed and populated and is being tested. A public and private website has been created for better dissemination of information. A post doc at UCLA is preparing peer-review papers for MARINe. | ||||||
| Final Report Due: | February 2004 and January 2007 | |||||
| Publications: | ||||||
| Affiliated WWW Sites: | www.marine.gov | |||||
| Revised date: | January 2007 | |||||
| ESPIS |
ESPIS - All completed
ESP Studies: |
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