Citizen Science Programs
When our Foss Discovery Lab opened in 2005, the door also opened to many new research initiatives which we now carry out partnership with other organizations. These programs, staffed by dedicated and well trained volunteers are providing important information on the health of the local marine ecosystem.
East Jefferson County Marine Mammal Stranding Network (EJCMMSN)
This volunteer network provides data to NOAA on dead, stranded or abandoned marine mammals on our shores. Volunteers are trained to respond and collect vital stats on any marine animal reported to the stranding net hotline (360-385-5582 ext 103). This information is entered into a national database that is used to establish baseline information on marine mammal communities.
Plastics Monitoring Project
In 2007 the PTMSC, with support from Algalita Research Foundation, started a pilot program to monitor the accumulation of plastic in the Puget Sound. Staff and volunteers collected sediment samples from 5 different beaches around the Puget Sound. These samples were then sorted, and the plastic found was typed, counted and weighed. More information and data
Point Wilson Beach Native Plant Conservation at Fort Worden State Park.
The Point Wilson Conservation Workgroup formed from the PTMSC Botany study group out of concerns for the native beach plant community at Fort Worden. Working with Fort Worden State Park, the Washington Native Plant Society, and volunteers from PTMSC, its main focus is conserving native plant community between the kitchen shelter and the lighthouse on the east side of the road. This past year, the group has been working with the park to direct beachgoers to designated trails. Barriers, informative signs and jute mesh have been installed to eliminate and re-vegetate social trails. Invasive species are being removed by various methods. Work parties of volunteers are scheduled when needed. Individual volunteers also have been removing invasive species. Pictures of volunteers at work
Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health Program (BEACH)
A partnership with Washington State Department of Heath, Department of Ecology and EPA, that tracks water quality of saltwater recreational beaches to protect public health. Water samples are collected weekly, June – September, in Fort Worden State Park and sent to an accredited lab to be analyzed for harmful bacteria loads. This information is made available to the public on a website or by phone.
Surfrider Blue Water Task Force
The program is similar to BEACH but is managed by Surfrider Foundation. It also looks for harmful bacteria loads but samples can be processed by volunteers at the PTMSC. The group acts as a watch dog, alerting state health and safety organizations if a beach is of concern.
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Detection Network
A Partnership with Department of Health designed for recreational shellfishers who rely on accurate and timely PSP information. Mussels are gathered from the PTMSC dock every other week, May – November, and sent to the Department of Health. Volunteers make a valuable contribution to the health and safety of our community by tracking concentration of the PSP toxin in blue mussels so beaches can be closed in a timely manner if shellfish are unsafe to eat.
Long-Term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS)
This program is an intertidal transact inventory of Kinze Beach. This study is done 3 to 4 times a year, often with program participants such as summer camp and teachers workshops. Our goal is to train a team of volunteers in the survey protocols so that they can assist with visiting groups and carry out a fall survey. The cool thing about this project is that all groups participating in this partnership with the National Marine Sanctuaries and NOAA follow the same protocol and data is available on a NOAA web site.
European Green Crab Monitoring Program
This Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife project managed by Nahkeeta Northwest Wildlife Services focuses on monitoring for the presence of the Green Crab, an invasive species. Volunteers monitor several beaches in our area using crayfish traps deployed for 24 hours once a month, April - September. The contents of the traps is then recorded and reported back to WDFW.
Sound Toxins
This study investigates bloom origins of toxic algae, assesses environmental conditions condusive to blooms and monitors where and when the blooms occur. The group was organized to foster collaboration and cooperation among federal, state, and local management agencies. Volunteers gather plankton samples from docks in Port Townsend and Marrowstone Island and analyze them for the presence of any species of concern. Samples are gathered year round and take about three hours to process.
Hood Canal Water Monitoring Program
This is an extension of work being done by the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program, HCDOP. The PTMSC will follow all protocol designed by the HCDOP adding to their extensive baseline data set for Hood Canal. This will allow researchers to compare what is happening inside the Canal with water samples outside that system. We start sampling in Port Townsend this spring and hope to find funding to start a sampling program out of Port Ludlow. Volunteers will be asked to take very accurate readings of water quality once a week year round in rotating teams. Dissolved Oxygen Data
Beach Seines
This is a great way to monitor the eelgrass system in Fort Worden State Park. Often beach seines are done with groups of visiting students but we also have opportunities for volunteers to help pull the 100-foot net through the eelgrass bed to inventory species found. This in-house, long-term data set is an incredible resource for anyone studying near shore eelgrass-based food webs.
Students Help the WDFW Find the Most Effective Shrimp Tag
Tag Study 2006: streamer tag effect on ovigerous female’s longevity
Students and volunteers are conducting a Spot Shrimp study in order to find the best shrimp tag for use by WDFW. By finding a tag that does not interfere with the health and behavior of the shrimp, biologists can gain life history data about these animals that are harvested for recreational and commercial use.
The Rot Cord Project
The PTMSC has partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct a study of rot cords used on crab pots. Recreational and commercial crabbers use natural cord that rots and disintegrates over time so that captured crabs can escape if gear is lost. The goal of this study, which began in May of 2006 is to determine how long it takes each material to rot.The test will run for three to five months. Volunteers will pull the pots weekly and test each cord type to determine the length of time it takes for it to degrade. Test results may influence which cord types are recommended by WDFW in the future.
Seaweed Harvest Survey
The ecological impacts of seaweed harvesting are mostly unknown and the potential impacts on the ecosystem are poorly understood. The PTMSC decided to look at the issue of seaweed harvesting and conducted a three-year study to evaluate some of the effects associated with recreational seaweed harvesting.
Learn More About Nearshore Environments
Photo Credits: PTMSC