Coastal Storms Program

Lower Columbia River Circulation Model

The circulation model provides forecasts of river and estuary conditions extending from the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River to the coastal region as far north as Grays Harbor and as far south as Tillamook Bay. The ELCIRC hydrodynamic model was evaluated and modified to run in the National Ocean Service’s experimental operational framework. Results from the model provide real-time and forecast water levels, currents, temperature, and salinity, and these results are validated using real-time data collected in the estuary. Hourly nowcasts and regular short-term forecasts from the model aid marine navigation operations, help prevent hazardous materials spills and mitigate cleanup efforts, and provide guidance during coastal storm surge events.

Improved Ocean and Weather Observations

The National Water Level Observation Network, managed by the NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, has been enhanced by upgrading selected stations with new water-level sensors, as well as sensors that measure wind speed, direction and gust, air temperature, barometric pressure, and water temperature. The Port of Portland has also worked with NOAA to establish a Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS). The Portland PORTS supports safe and cost-efficient navigation by providing shipmasters and pilots with accurate real-time information required to avoid groundings and collisions. A new station installed at Longview, Oregon, on the Columbia River by the Coastal Storms Program will support the new PORTS.

Nearshore Wave Modeling

This model addresses locally specific needs in the nearshore region (i.e. river bars, harbor entrances, rip currents, coastal erosion), which in turn helps to save lives and property. Successful demonstration of the SWAN model in the Pacific Northwest has led to an ongoing effort to implement the SWAN model at all Western Region and a few Eastern Region NWS coastal weather forecast offices. Plans are to incorporate the work done with the SWAN model into the NOAA WAVEWATCH III model.

Contaminant Database On-line

This website includes background and life history information on species at risk, a downloadable contaminant database of over a 130 studies conducted in the Puget Sound and Lower Columbia areas, and an interactive mapping site. The mapping site also contains an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas for the Columbia River, which digitally maps coastal biological and shoreline information to identify areas sensitive to oil spills and toxic hazards.

Ecological Decision Support Tool

A decision-support tool was extended from the Florida project area into the Pacific Northwest project area combines the use of a standard database structure and data query/mapping application (Query ManagerTM/ MARPLOT) was created in Northeast Florida. This integrated approach simplifies data synthesis and communication of critical information to create watershed-based maps that display analyzed, sorted, and summarized data.

Ecological Assessment of Storm Impacts

Through the Coastal Storms Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists evaluated how coastal storms mobilize contaminants into rivers, estuaries, and nearshore ecosystems and assessed how these contaminants affect Pacific salmon and other at-risk aquatic species. The goal of the project was to provide new information that resource managers could use to mitigate the effects of nonpoint source storm water pollution. The land-use-based preliminary risk assessments were developed along with modeling and toxicological studies to determine the relative risks contaminants. The three risk assessment components are a “toolbox” that can be applied to other areas to prioritize the over 30 million possible chemical contaminants that could lead to fish kills following storms. The results of this study have led to legislation in the Pacific Northwest to remove copper and other heavy metals from brake pads. These toxic metals to salmon and other wildlife are released on to road surfaces from braking friction and then are carried storm water runoff into creeks and streams.

On-Line Coastal Inundation Tool

This tool incorporates real-time data collected from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) and the National Ocean Service (NOS). A geometric model is used to calculate the combined effect of wave run-up and tides on the beach, allowing the user to identify erosion or flooding during a storm. The tool also allows the user to view information from past storms, such as peak wave and tide heights. Animations of historical inundation are available through an accompanying Web site, which can be accessed at www.csc.noaa.gov/cspPNW/.

Outreach and Extension

A regional outreach coordinator was provided through the Coastal Storms Program and the Oregon Sea Grant Extension Program. Pat Corcoran is based in Astoria, Oregon, and while acting as the coordinator, he conducted stakeholder meetings, developed an outreach and extension network, and identified training and technical assistance needs. He 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.