Ocean and Coastal Highlights

Cutting edge science at the USGS helps conserve and restore our nation’s fisheries and their habitats. From recovering endangered species, see recent news on the Okaloosa darter, to helping fish migrate upstream, and eliminating impacts from invasive species, the USGS is a key player and partner in our ocean, Great Lakes and coastal areas.

The Department of the Interior’s “blue portfolio” plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and conservation efforts. Secretary Deb Haaland shared the importance of the Department’s work in her opening remarks for Capitol Hill Ocean Week today. She touted Interior workforce’s efforts to conserve and restore coastal and ocean resources and the contributions that recent strides to expand offshore wind development will have on the country’s economy.

 In celebration of June as Ocean Month, we met with Secretary Deb Haaland to hear her thoughts on DOI’s important stewardship role for our blue portfolio. Read more in DOI’s NEWSWAVE on page 1.

Nearly $1 million in funding was approved for Tribal youth will support natural resources and environmental management training. These projects also will be restoring an estimated 1,000 acres of wildlife habitat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline. Read more in DOI’s NEWSWAVE on page 1.

BOEM held its first virtual Tribal Ocean Summit in March 2021, which welcomed nearly 200 participants from at least 53 different tribes, to discuss tribal issues and concerns. Topics covered included the importance of oceans, cultural heritage, and perspectives on meaningful consultations. BOEM hopes to build a stronger foundation for future partnerships. Learn more about the summit in DOI’s NEWSWAVE.

The Total Water Level and Coastal Change (TWL-CC) Forecast Viewer is a web-based tool that visualizes forecasts of extreme water levels and coastal change along sandy shorelines based on local tides, storm surge, waves, and beach characteristics. USGS partnered with NOAA to expand the tool capabilities, now covering nearly 3,000 miles of open, sandy coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico Coasts. This information helps protect lives and property along our Nation’s coasts. Read more in DOI’s NEWSWAVE.

Many bird species migrate enormous distances throughout the year, crossing international boundaries. A highly collaborative study, funded by the BOEM as part of offshore wind energy assessments, uses new technologies for tracking shorebird movement and provides important new information on shorebird migration patterns. Read more in DOI’s NEWSWAVE.