Search

Search Results

• 1. [Article] Iron, nutrient, and phytoplankton distributions in Oregon coastal waters

  Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Iron, nutrient, and phytoplankton distributions in Oregon coastal waters Author: Wheeler, Patricia A., Chase, Zanna, Marra, John, van Geen, Alexander, Kosro, P. Michael, 1951- Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union. Title: Iron, nutrient, and phytoplankton distributions in Oregon coastal waters Author: Wheeler, Patricia A., Chase, Zanna, Marra, John, van Geen, Alexander, Kosro, P. Michael, 1951- Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union. Close

• 2. [Article] Distribution and variability of iron input to Oregon coastal waters during the upwelling season

  Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Distribution and variability of iron input to Oregon coastal waters during the upwelling season Author: Schwartz, Roseanne, Hales, Burke, Chase, Zanna, Cowles, Timothy J., van Geen, Alexander Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union. Title: Distribution and variability of iron input to Oregon coastal waters during the upwelling season Author: Schwartz, Roseanne, Hales, Burke, Chase, Zanna, Cowles, Timothy J., van Geen, Alexander Copyrighted by American Geophysical Union. Close

• 3. [Article] An analysis of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004

  This research provides details of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004 by using an event database methodology. Events were concentrated in four of 18 basins. No basin ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An analysis of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004 Author: Fesler, Kristel J. This research provides details of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004 by using an event database methodology. Events were concentrated in four of 18 basins. No basin accounted for more that 25% of the total water rights events, the most evenly distributed issue type. Overall more events were cooperative and very few were of high intensity. High intensity conflict covered one issue type- instream, while cooperative covered five supporting results seen at international scale. The occurrence of water quality events increases as the scale decreases. Spatial and temporal analysis indicate that surface water supply correlates to overall conflict and cooperation levels better than population density, consumptive use and water quality. However, major conflictive outbreaks or cooperative breakthroughs are correlated to institutional changes in the social system (cooperation in 1991, 1999, and 2004; conflict in 1991, 2001, and 2004), acting as either an instigator or resolution of resource conflict. Water resource conflict was shown to intensify over time, and major conflictive events tend to lead to major cooperative events. Additionally, this process is unique to conflict; cooperative processes are not easily undermined by a conflictive action. Finally, policy recommendations are presented to increase water resource manager’s ability to foster dispute resolution and to engage key stakeholders. Implementation of these techniques should provide water resource managers with the necessary tools to manage conflict, not make it disappear entirely. Title: An analysis of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004 Author: Fesler, Kristel J. This research provides details of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004 by using an event database methodology. Events were concentrated in four of 18 basins. No basin accounted for more that 25% of the total water rights events, the most evenly distributed issue type. Overall more events were cooperative and very few were of high intensity. High intensity conflict covered one issue type- instream, while cooperative covered five supporting results seen at international scale. The occurrence of water quality events increases as the scale decreases. Spatial and temporal analysis indicate that surface water supply correlates to overall conflict and cooperation levels better than population density, consumptive use and water quality. However, major conflictive outbreaks or cooperative breakthroughs are correlated to institutional changes in the social system (cooperation in 1991, 1999, and 2004; conflict in 1991, 2001, and 2004), acting as either an instigator or resolution of resource conflict. Water resource conflict was shown to intensify over time, and major conflictive events tend to lead to major cooperative events. Additionally, this process is unique to conflict; cooperative processes are not easily undermined by a conflictive action. Finally, policy recommendations are presented to increase water resource manager’s ability to foster dispute resolution and to engage key stakeholders. Implementation of these techniques should provide water resource managers with the necessary tools to manage conflict, not make it disappear entirely. Close

• 4. [Article] A preliminary assessment of hydrogeologic suitability for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in Oregon

  An ASR metric and site rating index applied to over 120 municipal and agricultural locations across Oregon, combined with comparison to case study data from existing ASR sites, indicate that more than ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A preliminary assessment of hydrogeologic suitability for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in Oregon Author: Woody, Jen An ASR metric and site rating index applied to over 120 municipal and agricultural locations across Oregon, combined with comparison to case study data from existing ASR sites, indicate that more than 50% of selected sites are hydrogeologically suitable for ASR. The ASR metric is a ratio of aquifer storage to the rate at which surface water is available for injection, with a result greater than one indicating sufficient aquifer storage. The site rating index evaluates aquifer hydraulic parameters as well as economic and engineering factors, and produces a percentage of ideal conditions. While economic and engineering factors can determine ASR feasibility, transmissivity, depth to static groundwater level and the desired injection rate are the controlling hydraulic parameters for hydrogeologic ASR suitability. However, these factors have a flexible relationship; for example, high transmissivity can compensate for small depth to groundwater and vice versa. In Oregon, most existing ASR sites target Columbia River Basalt interflow zones, where transmissivity is high and native groundwater quality is generally suitable for drinking water. These units are also prone to groundwater decline due to over-pumping, which essentially creates storage for ASR. Results show that suitable potential sites correspond predominantly with Columbia River Basalt, Quaternary and late Tertiary sediments. Potential aquifer storage identified by this study is approximately equal to Oregon's annual public water supply in the year 2000, or 5 x 10⁸ m³ (160 billion gallons or 502,809 ac-ft). This suggests that ASR expansion in Oregon can significantly increase public supply and provide flexibility in the timing of water availability. Title: A preliminary assessment of hydrogeologic suitability for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in Oregon Author: Woody, Jen An ASR metric and site rating index applied to over 120 municipal and agricultural locations across Oregon, combined with comparison to case study data from existing ASR sites, indicate that more than 50% of selected sites are hydrogeologically suitable for ASR. The ASR metric is a ratio of aquifer storage to the rate at which surface water is available for injection, with a result greater than one indicating sufficient aquifer storage. The site rating index evaluates aquifer hydraulic parameters as well as economic and engineering factors, and produces a percentage of ideal conditions. While economic and engineering factors can determine ASR feasibility, transmissivity, depth to static groundwater level and the desired injection rate are the controlling hydraulic parameters for hydrogeologic ASR suitability. However, these factors have a flexible relationship; for example, high transmissivity can compensate for small depth to groundwater and vice versa. In Oregon, most existing ASR sites target Columbia River Basalt interflow zones, where transmissivity is high and native groundwater quality is generally suitable for drinking water. These units are also prone to groundwater decline due to over-pumping, which essentially creates storage for ASR. Results show that suitable potential sites correspond predominantly with Columbia River Basalt, Quaternary and late Tertiary sediments. Potential aquifer storage identified by this study is approximately equal to Oregon's annual public water supply in the year 2000, or 5 x 10⁸ m³ (160 billion gallons or 502,809 ac-ft). This suggests that ASR expansion in Oregon can significantly increase public supply and provide flexibility in the timing of water availability. Close

• 5. [Article] Identification of economic, social, and policy factors influencing irrigation district participation in water transactions in the Deschutes Basin

  Surface water in the Deschutes Basin of central Oregon has been largely over allocated since the early 1900s. Therefore, rapid population growth and urban demand for water in the upper Basin lead to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Identification of economic, social, and policy factors influencing irrigation district participation in water transactions in the Deschutes Basin Author: Whitman, Cally A. Surface water in the Deschutes Basin of central Oregon has been largely over allocated since the early 1900s. Therefore, rapid population growth and urban demand for water in the upper Basin lead to an increased reliance on groundwater in the last three decades. The Oregon Department of Water Resources (OWRD) became concerned in the mid-1990s that groundwater pumping was negatively affecting senior water rights in the lower Deschutes Basin. A USGS study determined that there is a hydrologic connection between the upper and lower portions of the Deschutes Basin. As a result, OWRD banned further groundwater pumping without mitigation in the Basin. In an effort to allow further groundwater development and improve streamflows a coalition of local water users and State government personnel developed the Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program (DGMP). The DGMP is a voluntary market-based approach to water management that allows water rights holders to transfer excess water instream, which creates mitigation credits that other water users can purchase to offset new groundwater uses. Senior water rights holders in the Basin are primarily irrigation districts. This research uses the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to determine the physical, cultural and institutional factors that influence irrigation district participation in water transactions and the relationships between different levels of decision-making in the Deschutes Basin. Research participants were asked to describe the relationships and interactions between operational decisions, policy formation decisions and constitutional decisions in the Deschutes Basin. Data was collected through open-ended interviews with Basin irrigation districts and a broad section of other water managers (State agencies, environmental advocacy groups, tribes, hydrogeological consultants, landowners and municipalities), and then qualitatively coded to identify important themes and relationships. Results from the operational level of analysis indicate that irrigation districts are primarily motivated by a fiduciary responsibility to their patrons. Water transfers and leases are seen as tools that can mitigate the negative consequences of urbanization and avoid enforcement of environmental regulations related to the reintroduction of anadromous fish into the Deschutes River. Conservation projects help boost instream flows and allow irrigation districts to improve their water supplies and reduce costs. At the policy level of analysis, research participants recognized the value of collaboration in developing shared goals and mutually beneficial water management policies. However, they expressed concerns about the functionality of regional water management organizations. Fort Vannoy v. OWRD, was a 2008 Oregon Supreme Court case that decided who has access to participate in the Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Bank (DGMB). This was as a constitutional level decision that determined irrigation districts are holders of water right certificates, not landowners, and irrigation districts have the right to determine if excess agricultural water can be transferred to another use in the Basin. These results suggest that there are issues of access and equity within the Deschutes Basin that need to be further examined. Title: Identification of economic, social, and policy factors influencing irrigation district participation in water transactions in the Deschutes Basin Author: Whitman, Cally A. Surface water in the Deschutes Basin of central Oregon has been largely over allocated since the early 1900s. Therefore, rapid population growth and urban demand for water in the upper Basin lead to an increased reliance on groundwater in the last three decades. The Oregon Department of Water Resources (OWRD) became concerned in the mid-1990s that groundwater pumping was negatively affecting senior water rights in the lower Deschutes Basin. A USGS study determined that there is a hydrologic connection between the upper and lower portions of the Deschutes Basin. As a result, OWRD banned further groundwater pumping without mitigation in the Basin. In an effort to allow further groundwater development and improve streamflows a coalition of local water users and State government personnel developed the Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program (DGMP). The DGMP is a voluntary market-based approach to water management that allows water rights holders to transfer excess water instream, which creates mitigation credits that other water users can purchase to offset new groundwater uses. Senior water rights holders in the Basin are primarily irrigation districts. This research uses the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to determine the physical, cultural and institutional factors that influence irrigation district participation in water transactions and the relationships between different levels of decision-making in the Deschutes Basin. Research participants were asked to describe the relationships and interactions between operational decisions, policy formation decisions and constitutional decisions in the Deschutes Basin. Data was collected through open-ended interviews with Basin irrigation districts and a broad section of other water managers (State agencies, environmental advocacy groups, tribes, hydrogeological consultants, landowners and municipalities), and then qualitatively coded to identify important themes and relationships. Results from the operational level of analysis indicate that irrigation districts are primarily motivated by a fiduciary responsibility to their patrons. Water transfers and leases are seen as tools that can mitigate the negative consequences of urbanization and avoid enforcement of environmental regulations related to the reintroduction of anadromous fish into the Deschutes River. Conservation projects help boost instream flows and allow irrigation districts to improve their water supplies and reduce costs. At the policy level of analysis, research participants recognized the value of collaboration in developing shared goals and mutually beneficial water management policies. However, they expressed concerns about the functionality of regional water management organizations. Fort Vannoy v. OWRD, was a 2008 Oregon Supreme Court case that decided who has access to participate in the Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Bank (DGMB). This was as a constitutional level decision that determined irrigation districts are holders of water right certificates, not landowners, and irrigation districts have the right to determine if excess agricultural water can be transferred to another use in the Basin. These results suggest that there are issues of access and equity within the Deschutes Basin that need to be further examined. Close

• 6. [Article] Variability in mesoscale circulation and its effects on zooplankton distribution in the Northern California Current

  In eastern boundary current upwelling ecosystems, mesoscale circulation features such as eddies and upwelling filaments play a prominent role in the transfer of water and the associated plankton from the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Variability in mesoscale circulation and its effects on zooplankton distribution in the Northern California Current Author: Keister, Julie Eileen In eastern boundary current upwelling ecosystems, mesoscale circulation features such as eddies and upwelling filaments play a prominent role in the transfer of water and the associated plankton from the productive nearshore to the oligotrophic deep sea. The relationship between mesoscale circulation, zooplankton distributions, and the across-shelf transport of coastal taxa and biomass in the California Current System was studied using data collected as part of the U.S. Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) Northeast Pacific Program. Sea surface height from >13 years of satellite altimeter data was used to characterize the spatial and temporal variability in mesoscale circulation in the northern California Current (35°N-49°N) and explore mechanisms of variability. High spatial and temporal variation in mesoscale energy occurred. Energy was not strongly linked to upwelling winds, but did correspond to climate indices, indicating that basin-scale processes play a role in controlling the circulation. CTD casts, zooplankton net tows, and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) velocities collected during a research cruise conducted in summer 2000 off Oregon and northern California were used to describe the effects of mesoscale circulation on distributions of zooplankton. During the cruise, a filament of the coastal upwelling jet extended seaward of Cape Blanco (42.8°N) resulting in the displacement of coastal zooplankton to >100 km off the continental shelf. Velocities and standing stocks of zooplankton were used to estimate seaward transport of 0.5 Sv in the upper 100 m of the filament, in which zooplankton biomass averaged ~20 mg carbon/m³. That offshore transport equated to >900 metric tons of carbon each day, and 4-5x10⁴ tons over the 6-8 week lifetime of the circulation feature. Although the flux represented a small portion (<2%) of the shelf zooplankton biomass, the transport resulted in an offshore "hot-spot" in which biomass was 3-4X higher than in the surrounding ocean. Distributions of early life history stages of euphausiids indicated that retention of coastal populations may be strongly affected by the offshore advection. Finally, satellite sea surface temperature (SST) and sampling conducted during five summers were used to explore variability in the relationship between mesoscale circulation features and distributions of zooplankton. Circulation patterns differed among cruises and were reflected in zooplankton distributions. Circulation features resulted in the occurrence of cold surface water and coastal taxa offshore, but species abundances and presence/absence of taxa at specific locations were not predictable from satellite SSTs. These results are relevant to studies of ecosystem dynamics and the global carbon cycle because mesoscale circulation plays an important role in the seaward transport of carbon, retention and loss of taxa from the continental shelf, and creation of offshore structure which may be exploited by upper trophic level organisms. Title: Variability in mesoscale circulation and its effects on zooplankton distribution in the Northern California Current Author: Keister, Julie Eileen In eastern boundary current upwelling ecosystems, mesoscale circulation features such as eddies and upwelling filaments play a prominent role in the transfer of water and the associated plankton from the productive nearshore to the oligotrophic deep sea. The relationship between mesoscale circulation, zooplankton distributions, and the across-shelf transport of coastal taxa and biomass in the California Current System was studied using data collected as part of the U.S. Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) Northeast Pacific Program. Sea surface height from >13 years of satellite altimeter data was used to characterize the spatial and temporal variability in mesoscale circulation in the northern California Current (35°N-49°N) and explore mechanisms of variability. High spatial and temporal variation in mesoscale energy occurred. Energy was not strongly linked to upwelling winds, but did correspond to climate indices, indicating that basin-scale processes play a role in controlling the circulation. CTD casts, zooplankton net tows, and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) velocities collected during a research cruise conducted in summer 2000 off Oregon and northern California were used to describe the effects of mesoscale circulation on distributions of zooplankton. During the cruise, a filament of the coastal upwelling jet extended seaward of Cape Blanco (42.8°N) resulting in the displacement of coastal zooplankton to >100 km off the continental shelf. Velocities and standing stocks of zooplankton were used to estimate seaward transport of 0.5 Sv in the upper 100 m of the filament, in which zooplankton biomass averaged ~20 mg carbon/m³. That offshore transport equated to >900 metric tons of carbon each day, and 4-5x10⁴ tons over the 6-8 week lifetime of the circulation feature. Although the flux represented a small portion (<2%) of the shelf zooplankton biomass, the transport resulted in an offshore "hot-spot" in which biomass was 3-4X higher than in the surrounding ocean. Distributions of early life history stages of euphausiids indicated that retention of coastal populations may be strongly affected by the offshore advection. Finally, satellite sea surface temperature (SST) and sampling conducted during five summers were used to explore variability in the relationship between mesoscale circulation features and distributions of zooplankton. Circulation patterns differed among cruises and were reflected in zooplankton distributions. Circulation features resulted in the occurrence of cold surface water and coastal taxa offshore, but species abundances and presence/absence of taxa at specific locations were not predictable from satellite SSTs. These results are relevant to studies of ecosystem dynamics and the global carbon cycle because mesoscale circulation plays an important role in the seaward transport of carbon, retention and loss of taxa from the continental shelf, and creation of offshore structure which may be exploited by upper trophic level organisms. Close

• 7. [Article] Past climate variability in southwestern Oregon and relationships with regional and hemispheric climate

  This dissertation presents the results of three studies that assessed climate variability on short and long timescales in western United States. The growth of carbonate formations in caves (speleothems) ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Past climate variability in southwestern Oregon and relationships with regional and hemispheric climate Author: Ersek, Vasile This dissertation presents the results of three studies that assessed climate variability on short and long timescales in western United States. The growth of carbonate formations in caves (speleothems) is used to infer the timing and amplitude of past climate variability. We first assess the controls on speleothem growth for the past 380 000 years by combining high-density U-Th dating with a regional climate model and an energy balance model. The majority of speleothem growth occurred overwhelmingly during interglacial periods and glacial periods were characterized by little or no growth. We assess the mechanisms responsible for growth cessation during the peak of the last glaciation (LGM), 21 000 years ago, with a regional climate model and determine that a combination of drier LGM conditions with a change in the seasonal cycle of the surface water balance provides a feedback mechanism that limited recharge to the deeper soil and reduced or eliminated drip water in the cave. The energy balance model supports this mechanism by indicating that cave temperatures did not drop below the freezing point of water at any time during the last glaciation. We then evaluate the climatic significance of stable isotopes of oxygen in rainwater collected in southwestern Oregon in order to accurately interpret the isotopic record of speleothems. We establish that temperature plays an important role in controlling the distribution of oxygen isotopes in rainwater and therefore speleothems in southwestern Oregon can preserve a record of temperature changes through time. Finally, we present a high-resolution paleoclimate record using speleothems from a cave in Oregon that grew during the last 9000 years and during the middle of the last interglaciation. We find the winter temperatures were sensitive to winter solar insolation and varied in a quasi-cyclical pattern on millennial timescales. This pattern was characteristic of both regional and hemispheric variability as indicated by similarities of our record with other regional and hemispheric climate reconstructions. It appears that higher climate variability in the past was associated with warming trends, with the implication that global warming may make the climate more unstable in the future. Climate variability during the last interglacial period was characterized by different scales of millennial and centennial climate variability compared with the Holocene. Title: Past climate variability in southwestern Oregon and relationships with regional and hemispheric climate Author: Ersek, Vasile This dissertation presents the results of three studies that assessed climate variability on short and long timescales in western United States. The growth of carbonate formations in caves (speleothems) is used to infer the timing and amplitude of past climate variability. We first assess the controls on speleothem growth for the past 380 000 years by combining high-density U-Th dating with a regional climate model and an energy balance model. The majority of speleothem growth occurred overwhelmingly during interglacial periods and glacial periods were characterized by little or no growth. We assess the mechanisms responsible for growth cessation during the peak of the last glaciation (LGM), 21 000 years ago, with a regional climate model and determine that a combination of drier LGM conditions with a change in the seasonal cycle of the surface water balance provides a feedback mechanism that limited recharge to the deeper soil and reduced or eliminated drip water in the cave. The energy balance model supports this mechanism by indicating that cave temperatures did not drop below the freezing point of water at any time during the last glaciation. We then evaluate the climatic significance of stable isotopes of oxygen in rainwater collected in southwestern Oregon in order to accurately interpret the isotopic record of speleothems. We establish that temperature plays an important role in controlling the distribution of oxygen isotopes in rainwater and therefore speleothems in southwestern Oregon can preserve a record of temperature changes through time. Finally, we present a high-resolution paleoclimate record using speleothems from a cave in Oregon that grew during the last 9000 years and during the middle of the last interglaciation. We find the winter temperatures were sensitive to winter solar insolation and varied in a quasi-cyclical pattern on millennial timescales. This pattern was characteristic of both regional and hemispheric variability as indicated by similarities of our record with other regional and hemispheric climate reconstructions. It appears that higher climate variability in the past was associated with warming trends, with the implication that global warming may make the climate more unstable in the future. Climate variability during the last interglacial period was characterized by different scales of millennial and centennial climate variability compared with the Holocene. Close

• 8. [Article] Statewide Water Roundtables Fall 2008: Synthesis Report

  Executive Summary: Five facilitated Statewide Water Roundtables were held in Bend, Newport, Ontario, Medford, and Salem during September and October 2008; 301 people attended. Since attendees were self-selected, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Statewide Water Roundtables Fall 2008: Synthesis Report Author: OSU Institute for Water and Watersheds, Oregon House Committee on Energy and the Environment, Oregon Sea Grant Extension, OUS Institute for Natural Resources Executive Summary: Five facilitated Statewide Water Roundtables were held in Bend, Newport, Ontario, Medford, and Salem during September and October 2008; 301 people attended. Since attendees were self-selected, and some attended more than one Roundtable, they are not a representative cross-section of Oregonians. The attendees responded to eight questions designed to identify their interests and the source of their water. They were also asked which of the following five factors – quantity, quality, economic, ecological, social - they valued most about Oregon and its water. In each region, the majority of the stakeholders are not optimistic about either current or future water supplies, either disagreeing or disagreeing strongly with these statements: 1) in 2008 Oregonians have enough water to cover their needs, including wildlife; 2) same question, but in Year 2028. Attendees identified issues/opportunities/threats (issues) and outcomes/expectations/payoffs (outcomes), then prioritized the issues and identified potential solutions, actions to be taken in the short term and long term, existing examples, and groups responsible for action or implementation. Many issues were the same from Roundtable to Roundtable but certain ones were more evident in particular locations, e.g., water rights and protection of existing water rights (Ontario, Bend); and invasive species (Newport). The participants were knowledgeable about their water supply; only three of 301 attendees could not identify the source of their water. The solutions offered by participants reflected this high degree of knowledge. Over 200 issues were identified at the five Roundtables. The Roundtables were designed to encourage brainstorming so characterizing the issues cannot be done scientifically. Representative issues included: • Funding for water and wastewater infrastructure and management • Integrated long range planning and management at the basin level within a statewide framework • Protection of existing water rights and uses • Water quality, especially non-point pollution, micro-contaminants and the impact of urbanization • Water-land use planning integration • Climate change impacts • Wetland, floodplain and instream flow restoration • Interstate water allocation/management for surface and groundwater Key messages heard at all sessions were that: • One size does not fit all; regions vary greatly and regional differences need to be recognized • Public information and education about water use and management is needed • Need for integrated water management and implementation Potential solutions: • Maximize available funds through agency coordination and streamlining of funding sources • Water conservation tax credits, like energy tax credits • Water reuse and recycling • Water markets, pricing and incentives • Water storage and conservation • Measuring water flows and uses systematically • Local integrated water planning • Interstate compact(s) Title: Statewide Water Roundtables Fall 2008: Synthesis Report Author: OSU Institute for Water and Watersheds, Oregon House Committee on Energy and the Environment, Oregon Sea Grant Extension, OUS Institute for Natural Resources Executive Summary: Five facilitated Statewide Water Roundtables were held in Bend, Newport, Ontario, Medford, and Salem during September and October 2008; 301 people attended. Since attendees were self-selected, and some attended more than one Roundtable, they are not a representative cross-section of Oregonians. The attendees responded to eight questions designed to identify their interests and the source of their water. They were also asked which of the following five factors – quantity, quality, economic, ecological, social - they valued most about Oregon and its water. In each region, the majority of the stakeholders are not optimistic about either current or future water supplies, either disagreeing or disagreeing strongly with these statements: 1) in 2008 Oregonians have enough water to cover their needs, including wildlife; 2) same question, but in Year 2028. Attendees identified issues/opportunities/threats (issues) and outcomes/expectations/payoffs (outcomes), then prioritized the issues and identified potential solutions, actions to be taken in the short term and long term, existing examples, and groups responsible for action or implementation. Many issues were the same from Roundtable to Roundtable but certain ones were more evident in particular locations, e.g., water rights and protection of existing water rights (Ontario, Bend); and invasive species (Newport). The participants were knowledgeable about their water supply; only three of 301 attendees could not identify the source of their water. The solutions offered by participants reflected this high degree of knowledge. Over 200 issues were identified at the five Roundtables. The Roundtables were designed to encourage brainstorming so characterizing the issues cannot be done scientifically. Representative issues included: • Funding for water and wastewater infrastructure and management • Integrated long range planning and management at the basin level within a statewide framework • Protection of existing water rights and uses • Water quality, especially non-point pollution, micro-contaminants and the impact of urbanization • Water-land use planning integration • Climate change impacts • Wetland, floodplain and instream flow restoration • Interstate water allocation/management for surface and groundwater Key messages heard at all sessions were that: • One size does not fit all; regions vary greatly and regional differences need to be recognized • Public information and education about water use and management is needed • Need for integrated water management and implementation Potential solutions: • Maximize available funds through agency coordination and streamlining of funding sources • Water conservation tax credits, like energy tax credits • Water reuse and recycling • Water markets, pricing and incentives • Water storage and conservation • Measuring water flows and uses systematically • Local integrated water planning • Interstate compact(s) Close

• 9. [Article] Inner-shelf circulation off the central Oregon Coast

  Inner-shelf circulation and mechanisms of across-shelf transport of water masses were examined using seven years of observations collected by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Inner-shelf circulation off the central Oregon Coast Author: Kirincich, Anthony R. Inner-shelf circulation and mechanisms of across-shelf transport of water masses were examined using seven years of observations collected by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) program, a long-term monitoring effort along the central Oregon coast. Since 1998, moored velocity and hydrographic measurements have been obtained during the summer upwelling season in water depths of 30, 15, or 8 m at 3-5 stations along a 75 km stretch of the Oregon shelf. These observations enabled a description of along-shelf variations and upwelling dynamics in an area of intermittent wind forcing but little buoyancy influences. While wind forcing and bathymetry were nearly spatially uniform in the inner-shelf, circulation was spatially variable due to an offshore submarine bank. Classic two-dimensional upwelling existed north of the bank, with bottom stress and acceleration balancing the wind stress in the depth-averaged along-shelf momentum equation. This balance failed onshore of the bank where the pressure gradient and nonlinear advection were needed to close the momentum balance. Driven by along-shelf wind forcing, across-shelf surface transport was 25% of the theoretical Ekman transport at 15 m water depth, 1-2 km offshore, and reached full Ekman transport 5-6 km offshore in 50 m of water. This result, based on season-long comparisons of measured across-shelf transport and theoretical Ekman transport, defines the across-shelf scale of coastal upwelling on the Oregon shelf. However, observations of across-shelf circulation also highlight the rapid movement of water masses and variable residence times in the inner shelf. To quantify the time variability of across-shelf exchange, a numerical model was adapted to estimate vertical eddy viscosity using the velocity measurements. Resulting depth-averaged eddy viscosities ranged from 0.8x10[superscript −3] m [superscript 2] s[superscript −1] during upwelling winds to 2.1x8x10[superscript −3] m [superscript 2] s[superscript −1] during downwelling winds, consistent with previous numerical model results. The difference in eddy viscosities between upwelling and downwelling led to varying across-shelf exchange efficiencies and increased net upwelling over time. These results quantify the structure and variability of circulation in the inner-shelf and have significant implications for ecological processes (e.g., larval recruitment, nutrient availability) in the region. Title: Inner-shelf circulation off the central Oregon Coast Author: Kirincich, Anthony R. Inner-shelf circulation and mechanisms of across-shelf transport of water masses were examined using seven years of observations collected by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) program, a long-term monitoring effort along the central Oregon coast. Since 1998, moored velocity and hydrographic measurements have been obtained during the summer upwelling season in water depths of 30, 15, or 8 m at 3-5 stations along a 75 km stretch of the Oregon shelf. These observations enabled a description of along-shelf variations and upwelling dynamics in an area of intermittent wind forcing but little buoyancy influences. While wind forcing and bathymetry were nearly spatially uniform in the inner-shelf, circulation was spatially variable due to an offshore submarine bank. Classic two-dimensional upwelling existed north of the bank, with bottom stress and acceleration balancing the wind stress in the depth-averaged along-shelf momentum equation. This balance failed onshore of the bank where the pressure gradient and nonlinear advection were needed to close the momentum balance. Driven by along-shelf wind forcing, across-shelf surface transport was 25% of the theoretical Ekman transport at 15 m water depth, 1-2 km offshore, and reached full Ekman transport 5-6 km offshore in 50 m of water. This result, based on season-long comparisons of measured across-shelf transport and theoretical Ekman transport, defines the across-shelf scale of coastal upwelling on the Oregon shelf. However, observations of across-shelf circulation also highlight the rapid movement of water masses and variable residence times in the inner shelf. To quantify the time variability of across-shelf exchange, a numerical model was adapted to estimate vertical eddy viscosity using the velocity measurements. Resulting depth-averaged eddy viscosities ranged from 0.8x10[superscript −3] m [superscript 2] s[superscript −1] during upwelling winds to 2.1x8x10[superscript −3] m [superscript 2] s[superscript −1] during downwelling winds, consistent with previous numerical model results. The difference in eddy viscosities between upwelling and downwelling led to varying across-shelf exchange efficiencies and increased net upwelling over time. These results quantify the structure and variability of circulation in the inner-shelf and have significant implications for ecological processes (e.g., larval recruitment, nutrient availability) in the region. Close

• 10. [Article] Spatiotemporal Drivers of Seabird Distribution at the Pacific Marine Energy Center off Newport, Oregon

  The central Oregon coast was selected as an ideal site for wave energy development and establishment of the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC). PMEC will consist of two nearshore sites, one north (NETS) ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatiotemporal Drivers of Seabird Distribution at the Pacific Marine Energy Center off Newport, Oregon Author: Porquez, Jessica M. The central Oregon coast was selected as an ideal site for wave energy development and establishment of the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC). PMEC will consist of two nearshore sites, one north (NETS) and one south (SETS) of the Yaquina River, Oregon. Our study aims to assess how the development of wave energy sites might impact marine birds. We used vessel-based strip transect surveys to detect spatial and temporal patterns of seabirds during 28 surveys of NETS and SETS from 2013-2015. We also conducted 29 surveys along the Newport Hydrographic Line (NHL) (2006-2009, 2013-2015), a cross-shelf oceanographic sampling line that extends 40 km west of NETS. We collected in situ measurements of surface conductivity, temperature and fluorescence to test correlations between spatial variables and seabird abundance. Common murres (Uria aalge) were the most abundant resident species (70%) while sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) were the most abundant migratory species (78%). We identified 7 focal species (common murres, sooty shearwaters, Brandt's and pelagic cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus and pelagicus), western gull (Larus occidentalis), Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus), and red-necked phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus), 5 foraging niches and 3 species of interest for analysis. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling ordinations to assess seasonal shifts in the seabird community at a focal species and foraging group level. Both ordinations depicted strong seasonal gradients with distinct seasonal communities. Focal species were also driven by a distance to shore gradient, while foraging niches were more influenced by foraging type (diving versus surface feeding). The shoreward shift or outward dispersal of species appears driven by a combination of factors, including the diffusion of nearshore concentration of murres and cormorants on Yaquina Head post chick fledging, and the inshore movement of migratory species with the onset of upwelling and greater prey abundance. We employed generalized additive mixed models for the focal species, and tested for correlations with in situ data (salinity, temperature and fluorescence), depth, substrate, season, and a random 'site' effect. We identified correlations between several species and measured oceanographic variables, which indicated species' selection of specific water masses. With Inverse Distance Weighted maps we detected high use zones by sooty shearwaters and common murres outside of both site boundaries, except during the spring and summer, when murres occur densely within the NETS. None of our observed species of concern (brown pelicans (Pelicanus occidentalis), black footed albatrosses (Phoebastria nigiripes) and marbled murrelets, (Brachyramphus marmoratus)) were detected within either site boundary. Rather, pelicans and murrelets were observed inshore of the SETS and south of the NETS, and albatrosses were all detected west of the sites. We observed overall low abundance of focal species within the sites, relative to adjacent areas, although the whole study area appears to be productive foraging habitat used by many species. As a baseline characterization of the seabird community off Newport, this work can help inform citing and permitting processes of similar wave energy test facilities and provide a platform for continued monitoring of seabirds in the area. Title: Spatiotemporal Drivers of Seabird Distribution at the Pacific Marine Energy Center off Newport, Oregon Author: Porquez, Jessica M. The central Oregon coast was selected as an ideal site for wave energy development and establishment of the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC). PMEC will consist of two nearshore sites, one north (NETS) and one south (SETS) of the Yaquina River, Oregon. Our study aims to assess how the development of wave energy sites might impact marine birds. We used vessel-based strip transect surveys to detect spatial and temporal patterns of seabirds during 28 surveys of NETS and SETS from 2013-2015. We also conducted 29 surveys along the Newport Hydrographic Line (NHL) (2006-2009, 2013-2015), a cross-shelf oceanographic sampling line that extends 40 km west of NETS. We collected in situ measurements of surface conductivity, temperature and fluorescence to test correlations between spatial variables and seabird abundance. Common murres (Uria aalge) were the most abundant resident species (70%) while sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) were the most abundant migratory species (78%). We identified 7 focal species (common murres, sooty shearwaters, Brandt's and pelagic cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus and pelagicus), western gull (Larus occidentalis), Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus), and red-necked phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus), 5 foraging niches and 3 species of interest for analysis. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling ordinations to assess seasonal shifts in the seabird community at a focal species and foraging group level. Both ordinations depicted strong seasonal gradients with distinct seasonal communities. Focal species were also driven by a distance to shore gradient, while foraging niches were more influenced by foraging type (diving versus surface feeding). The shoreward shift or outward dispersal of species appears driven by a combination of factors, including the diffusion of nearshore concentration of murres and cormorants on Yaquina Head post chick fledging, and the inshore movement of migratory species with the onset of upwelling and greater prey abundance. We employed generalized additive mixed models for the focal species, and tested for correlations with in situ data (salinity, temperature and fluorescence), depth, substrate, season, and a random 'site' effect. We identified correlations between several species and measured oceanographic variables, which indicated species' selection of specific water masses. With Inverse Distance Weighted maps we detected high use zones by sooty shearwaters and common murres outside of both site boundaries, except during the spring and summer, when murres occur densely within the NETS. None of our observed species of concern (brown pelicans (Pelicanus occidentalis), black footed albatrosses (Phoebastria nigiripes) and marbled murrelets, (Brachyramphus marmoratus)) were detected within either site boundary. Rather, pelicans and murrelets were observed inshore of the SETS and south of the NETS, and albatrosses were all detected west of the sites. We observed overall low abundance of focal species within the sites, relative to adjacent areas, although the whole study area appears to be productive foraging habitat used by many species. As a baseline characterization of the seabird community off Newport, this work can help inform citing and permitting processes of similar wave energy test facilities and provide a platform for continued monitoring of seabirds in the area. Close