Making Use of Ocean Observing Systems: Applications to Marine Protected Areas and Water Quality

Making Use of Ocean Observing Systems: Applications to Marine Protected Areas and Water Quality (2008)

Peter H. Taylor (editor)

ABSTRACT

The Coastal States Organization (CSO), in partnership with the California Ocean Science Trust, Ocean Science Applications and the two IOOS Regional Associations serving California-Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) and Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS)-and the California Coastal Conservancy hosted the workshop "Making Use of Ocean Observing: Water Quality and MPAs" on September 25 and 26, 2007, in San Francisco. The purpose of the workshop was to convene a small group of managers and ocean observing experts to determine the requirements for an ocean observing system that would meet the needs of water quality and marine protected area (MPA) managers.

Water quality and MPA monitoring are both issues of immediate interest to the State and for which ocean observing could make a difference. California recently adopted its first regional network of MPAs for implementation in the Central Coast and is setting up a monitoring program to assess changes and to evaluate program effectiveness. The increased occurrences of harmful algal blooms and the recent discovery of ocean hypoxia zones off the west coast have highlighted the need to better monitor coastal waters. Monterey Bay was selected as a case study to provide a place-based approach for the topics discussed and a basis from which to extrapolate recommendations appropriate for other areas in the State. The goal of the workshop was to develop a model for a high-level design of an observing system for water quality and MPA monitoring and to overlay those needs to develop a single system that could meet both needs.

Over 55 participants gathered for a day and a half in San Francisco. Breakout groups were divided by topic-water quality and MPA monitoring. Details on these discussions and the recommendations relevant to the topic areas are contained in the body of this report. The findings and recommendations here are overarching in nature and intended to facilitate moving forward and ensure that ocean observing in California is relevant and useful to State managers.