Super Storm Sandy in 2012 produced marine debris along the east coast of the US. Marine debris poses a danger to navigation and impacts marine habitat. FEMA, NOAA and state/local agencies surveyed and removed marine debris in coastal areas. We analyzed remaining debris in GIS to find potential dangers to navigation, mapped debris with lidar and imagery, recommended best practices for future response on how marine debris data is attributed to inform further action of decision makers.

Presenter: Michael Bogonko, ERT Inc./NOAA JHC

The Deepwater Horizon incident is a prime example of the flow of information from research to commercial implementation, stakeholder feedback to policy makers, and eventual funding for more research. This cyclical nature emphasizes the importance of the continued link between scientists and the community via public outreach and education efforts, collaborative efforts between stakeholders and researchers, and cooperation between researchers and commercial industry associates.

Presenters: Victoria Price, Maurice Doucet, Normandeau Associate

We use participatory GIS and sketch mapping to analyze natural and non-natural marine debris hotspots in Hopkins, Belize. We compare sampled debris locations with community members’ perceptions of debris and emotional connections to the coast. Such comparisons can aide future mitigation efforts and public engagement strategies. PGIS provides underrepresented communities tools of empowerment to engage in the research process, and sets a precedent for future studies in marine conservation.

Presenter: Ashley Little, Georgia State University

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) are one of the remote places on the earth, yet marine debris from all around the Pacific Ocean is washed up on the shorelines of those uninhabited islands and atolls. Since 1996, NOAA Fisheries and multiple agencies have conducted surveys and removal of marine debris in the NWHI. For the 2016 removal effort, the Story Map was created to show daily updates of the operations and highlight the marine debris issues and impacts in the remote islands.

Presenters: Tomoko Acoba, James Morioka, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research

NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey - Marine Chart Division has been engaged in a multi-year project to transform its nautical chart production system from a cell based CAD model to a database driven GIS. In addition to its goal of elevating Electronic Navigational Charts to the Nation's primary source of data for navigation, the nearly complete system will support a complete product suite re-scheming for improved data consistency, product planning and customer satisfaction.

Presenter: John Nyberg and Allison Wittrock, NOAA - Office of Coast Survey

This topic will cover eHydro's recent efforts to integrate its data with other Corps applications and systems, on reporting criteria and uses, and how eHydro is sharing hydrographic survey data to the world. Discussion topics are to include eHydro’s mission, current integration efforts within the organization, existing and developing reports, and communication efforts with other federal agencies.

Presenter: Shanks Gavin, US Army Corps of Engineers

The Submerged Lands Act (SLA) boundary divides offshore State and Federal waters. This boundary can move over time as changes in the coastline occur. The SLA allows the boundary to be permanently fixed (immobilized) by the U.S. Supreme Court. Once a SLA boundary is fixed, ambulations of the coastline have no effect on the boundary location. Fixing provides certainty to boundaries of offshore leases. BOEM is actively working with coastal states interested in fixing their SLA boundary.

Presenter: Douglas Vandegraft, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

The Office of Coast Survey was one of the first Federal agencies that embraced Esri's new capability for organizing geospatial information within an organization. Navigation managers, planners, and cartographers at OCS use GIS Portal to create maps and services that are shared throughout the agency. These products are used for survey planning, to highlight marine transportation routes and sensitive areas, as well as to identify regions that need updated charts and coastal information.

Presenter: Neil Weston, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA

The United Arab Emirates lacks a spatially-explicit assessment of near-term coastal vulnerability associated with sea level rise and hazards. Our Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) tool estimates relative exposure to storms and sea level rise. A CVI provides insights on issues of near-term concern to planners such as risk to existing infrastructure, recommendations for coastal protection priorities, strategic land development offset zones, and potential set-aside areas for future protection.

Presenter: Gregg Verutes and Jane Glavan, Stanford University

Alaska has a thriving mining industry that supplies many commodities to industry. Elements such as mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium are among those mined in Alaska that have a direct impact on marine life consumed by humans such as Chinook salmon. Improper disposal accounts for a proportion of those materials that become marine pollutants when they make their way into ground water and rivers leading to pristine marine environments.

Presenter: Justin Fehnrtich, Stony Brook University

We utilized topobathy LiDAR digital elevation models to estimate percent change in the area of rocky intertidal habitat in 10 cm increments to evaluate the potential for rocky intertidal habitats to migrate upward in response to eustatic sea level rise (SLR). Percent change in non-planimetric surface area were summarized. Our computed average risk of habitat loss of West Coast CONUS rocky intertidal habitat is low beginning at 0.4 m SLR, moderate at 0.8m SLR and high at 1.4 m SLR.

Presenter: Patrick Clinton, Henry Lee II, U.S. EPA

PGIS provides an affordable and inclusive approach to disaster management, especially in complex ecosystems such as Hopkins, Belize. We used PGIS, sketch mapping, quantitative data, and qualitative data to create flood risk assessments and hurricane shelter site suitability plans. Our results identify potential drainage issues and culvert instabilities that can inform action for future flood mitigation.

Presenter: Sarah Kuo, Jasmine Perez, University of the Pacific