At DLCD, Andy Lanier and Tanya Haddad are working to compile other relevant GIS data that may be used for the Marine Reserves process, assisted by Cathy Tortorici, Barb Seekins, and Bridgette Lohrman at the NOAA NWFSC in Portland, and Dave Fox and Arlene Merems at ODFW in Newport. Lanier has compiled a relevant data list including demographic, economic, watershed, biologic, regulatory, planning, land use, infrastructure and many other data types. This compilation will comprise the backbone of the contextual data required for the Marine Reserves evaluation process which will begin in mid 2008. Through this effort a comprehensive list of GIS data has been generated and areas of work identified for continued effort and analysis. In Addition to Marine Reserves, the compiled data will provide resource agency partners with the ability to identify potential resource use conflicts, as well as areas of future concern with regards to conflict resolution and impact assessments. Agency partners contributing information for this process include Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, US Army Corps of Engineers. The Nature Conservancy, Ecotrust, and other NGO’s have also contributed towards this effort. These data will be made available through the DLCD Coastal Atlas site: http://www.coastalatlas.net/
Efforts currently underway:
The Northwest Region of NOAA Fisheries (Portland office) has been contributing to the GIS effort for the OPAC (Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council). At the request of OPAC, Barb Seekins of NOAA Fisheries assembled a diverse data set from various agencies (e.g., US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development, and NOAA Fisheries) creating 6 poster size draft maps at 1:100,000 of the Oregon coastal and offshore areas. The spatial relationship shown between potential offshore wave energy parks, dredge disposal sites, submarine cables, marine boundaries, national wildlife refuges, bathymetry, and other data is important in consideration of potential marine reserve sites, energy projects, and related issues. This interagency effort, now being lead by Andy Lanier of DLCD, evolved with the contributions of many individuals to identify relevant data, to ensure those data were represented appropriately and involved data exchange between agencies. We greatly appreciate the willingness of so many to help. NOAA Fisheries continues to work with Andy Lanier to identify and prepare additional geospatial data for use in OPAC’s upcoming marine reserve nomination and evaluation process, as well as contributing to the advancement of Oregon’s Ocean and Coastal Reference GIS Data List.