1Photo by Wolf Bauer PNNL-SA-71813

Transcription

1 Puget Puget Sound Sound Physical Physical Habitats Habitats and and Natural Natural Resources Resources Andrea Andrea Copping Copping & Brie & Brie Van Van Cleve Cleve Pacific Pacific Northwest Northwest National National Laboratory Laboratory Marine Marine Sciences Sciences Laboratory Laboratory Environmental Environmental Effects Effects of Tidal of Tidal Energy Energy Development Development March March 23, , Photo by Wolf Bauer PNNL-SA-71813

2 Welcome to Puget Sound! You are here 2

3 Today.Puget Sound An estuarine system with lots of people The Puget Sound system, how it was formed Why we have harvestable tidal energy Who lives here, who s at risk Proposed tidal projects 3

4 Puget Sound Georgia Basin Strait of Juan de Fuca connects to Pacific Ocean Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait in Canada Bisected by the U.S.- Canadian border Known as the Salish Sea 4

5 Puget Sound Region an important economic, security and environmental asset Ports for Pacific Rim trade Exports = $12 billion, imports = $60 billion (FAST Corridor 2006) Container traffic, oil terminals for AK north slope oil Multi-modal terminals: rail, road, sea, air Commercial Fishing & Aquaculture Home to US largest fishing fleet Point of entry for 50% seafood entering US (NW Marine Trade 2003) Approx 10,000 jobs, $3.5 billion gross sales (Int. Cntr. Mar. Ind.) Aquaculture $110 million to region, thousands jobs (PS GB) Moderate population density Concentrated along eastern shore 17 tribes with usual and accustomed fishing grounds, TEK Important recreational fishing (salt & fresh) and shellfishing 5

6 Puget Sound 4.1 million in basin 1.5 million in cities & towns bordering on PS Projected to be 5.4 million by 2025 Salish Sea 7 million in 2008 Projected to be 9.4 million by h/ 6

7 Why Tidal Energy? Admiralty Inlet Hood Canal Seattle Potential locations correspond to sills, separating oceanographic basins Tacoma Narrows 7 Puget Sound Bathymetry: PRISM

8 8 Fjord-like estuary carved by glaciers

9 9 Glacial moraines created shallow sills, constrictions with strong reflux => tidal currents

10 Puget Sound circulation driven by tidal currents modified by underwater sills Tidal surface currents Admiralty Inlet

11 The shape of Puget Sound results in a narrow fringe of vegetated habitat 11 Shoreline Arial Photos: WA Dept of Ecology

12 J. Nichols 12 Highly productive habitats including eelgrass beds, kelp forests, coastal marshes, mudflats, H. Shipman rocky reefs, and open water

13 Animal and plant diversity includes: 3,000 species of marine invertebrates 13

14 Over 230 species of marine and anadromous fish Jflatnote

15 165 birds dependant on the marine ecosystem H. Shipman 15 G. Van Vliet

16 16 Resident and migratory marine mammals: River otters, harbor seals, Steller and California sea lions,grey whales, Southern Resident killer whale,

17 Human population and development threaten habitats and populations: 25% of forest lands lost in past 15 years Nearshore habitats like eelgrass under stress Commercial fish harvest declined significantly, BUT increase in shellfish aquaculture Salmon stocks listed under Endangered Species Act Less than half of PS herring stocks healthy Population losses to SRKW, listed under ESA 17

18 Human population and development threaten habitats and populations 25% of forest lands lost in past 15 years Nearshore habitats like eelgrass under stress Commercial fish harvest declined significantly, BUT increase in shellfish aquaculture Salmon stocks listed under Endangered Species Act Less than half of PS herring stocks healthy Population losses to SRKW, listed under ESA 18

19 Eelgrass losses 19 Puget Sound Partnership: State of the Sound 2009

20 Human population and development threaten habitats and populations 25% of forest lands lost in past 15 years Nearshore habitats like eelgrass under stress Commercial fish harvest declined significantly, BUT increase in shellfish aquaculture Salmon stocks listed under Endangered Species Act Less than half of PS herring stocks healthy Population losses to SRKW, listed under ESA 20

21 Human population and development threaten habitats and populations 25% of forest lands lost in past 15 years Nearshore habitats like eelgrass under stress Commercial fish harvest declined significantly, BUT increase in shellfish aquaculture Salmon stocks listed under Endangered Species Act Less than half of PS herring stocks healthy Population losses to SRKW, listed under ESA 21

22 Puget Sound Herring Stocks Puget Sound Partnership: State of the Sound 2009

23 Human population and development threaten habitats and populations 25% of forest lands lost in past 15 years Nearshore habitats like eelgrass under stress Commercial fish harvest declined significantly, BUT increase in shellfish aquaculture Salmon stocks listed under Endangered Species Act Less than half of PS herring stocks healthy Population losses to SRKW, listed under ESA 23

24 Southern Resident Killer Whales (orca). Puget Sound Partnership: State of the Sound

25 Planned Tidal Energy Projects Admiralty Inlet SnoPUD, Open Hydro ~60m depth US Navy, Verdant ~20 m depth

26 Vessel Traffic in Admiralty Inlet one week (courtesy of NNMREC Univ WA) 26

27 Challenges facing tidal energy development in Puget Sound: Myriad technical challenges Greatest uncertainty is environmental, new regulatory process Deployment in already affected environment, effects could be additive/synergistic Lots of sensitive species BUT Good power density Close to load centers Strong interest for renewable energy among public and private entities 27

28 Puget Sound a mixed use estuary H. Shipman Kayak.wa 28

29 29 With important natural resources to protect

30 30 Puget Sound past, present and future