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  • LTM Program - Long-­term monitoring of oceanographic conditions in Cook Inlet/Kachemak Bay to understand recovery and restoration of injured near-­?shore species 15120114-G

Project Information

Title: LTM Program - Long-­term monitoring of oceanographic conditions in Cook Inlet/Kachemak Bay to understand recovery and restoration of injured near-­?shore species 15120114-G

Project Year and Number: 2015: 15120114-G

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2021: 21120114-J, 2020: 20120114-J, 2019: 19120114-J, 2018: 18120114-J, 2017: 17120114-J, 2016: 16120114-G, 2013: 13120114-G, 2012: 12120114-G

Principal Investigator (PI): Angela Doroff (KBNERR)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: None

Project Website: https://gulfwatchalaska.org/monitoring/environmental-drivers/oceanographic-conditions-in-lower-cook-inlet-and-kachemak-bay/

Research Location: Lower Cook Inlet

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Not Specified

Abstract:

This project is designed to assist in the evaluation of recovery and restoration of injured resources in the foot print of the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS), by characterizing oceanic conditions in Cook Inlet and determining, in coordination with oceanographic monitoring at other sites under the Gulf Watch Alaska program, connections between marine conditions and plankton communities in near-­shore and Gulf of Alaska waters. Mapping currents and water mass movements contributes to our understanding of patterns in the abundance and diversity of marine plankton, invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals in coastal south-­central Alaska. In this study, we are mapping the waters in lower Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay to understand seasonal patterns, effects of freshwater runoff, intrusions of the Alaska Coastal Current, and complex frontal structures, and then relate these observations to distributions of injured resources. Characterizing seasonal patterns in physical oceanography will also help us understand the connectivity of water movement and potential plankton transport pathways between Kachemak Bay, lower Cook Inlet and the adjacent Gulf of Alaska shelf. By determining the local species of phytoplankton and zooplankton and understanding their seasonal distribution we will begin to understand lower trophic patterns that support upper trophic level marine species. This continuing project proposal does not change significantly from our original proposal for year 4. Information from this project is also being used to inform local mariculture operations, understand depletions of hard shell clams and other invertebrate species, develop NOAA Cook Inlet ocean circulation model applications, and support monitoring and research programs for harmful algal blooms and ocean acidification.


Proposal: View (526 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY15: View (994 KB)
Final Report: See Project 16120114-G

Publications from this Project: None Available