Coastal Services Center

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Pacific Northwest

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Outreach and Extension

While better information and technology are increasingly important to the understanding of severe coastal storms, the human component remains vital as well. To be truly useful, the products and services of the Coastal Storms Program need to be used by people throughout the region. Active outreach to local stakeholders and other potential users generates an awareness of the tools. It also allows for early input into the design of the tools to be responsive to local needs. Interested locals are then taught how to use a particular tool. Developing the human understanding along with the technology ensures that the local benefits of the Coastal Storms Program continue long after the program ends.

Outreach and Extension is an important component of the Pacific Northwest program and was spearheaded by the NOAA Coastal Services Center, in partnership with the National Sea Grant Program. To ensure the ultimate success of the program, the Center developed local partnerships with the Sea Grant Extension programs in Oregon and Washington. Sea Grant faculty engaged and educated local stakeholders throughout the life of the program, while the Center continues to provide training and assistance that is necessary to help the various local partners take full advantage of the tools and information that were developed.

How the Project Works

A regional outreach coordinator was provided through the Coastal Storms Program and the Sea Grant Extension programs of Oregon and Washington. Pat Corcoran is based in Astoria, Oregon, and he conducted stakeholder meetings, developed an outreach and extension network, and identified training and technical assistance needs. Pat also served the project leads by engaging the stakeholders and potential users in conversations to provide feedback on project design and implementation. Taken together, these activities helped to broaden the project leads’ understanding of the local issues, while expanding local partnerships and facilitating implementation of other program projects.

For Additional Information

Patrick Corcoran
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
Telephone: (503) 325-8573
E-mail: Patrick.Corcoran@oregonstate.edu
Web page: extension.oregonstate.edu/clatsop/staff/patrickcorcorancoastalstorms.php

Audra Luscher
NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management
NOAA Coastal Services Center
Telephone: (301) 713-0525, ext. 185
E-mail: Audra.Luscher@noaa.gov