Ocean and Coastal Highlights

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.

Two light detection and ranging (lidar) wind research buoys were deployed off the coast of California in October 2020. The instruments are gathering data to support future leasing of wind energy sites that will bring a new renewable energy source to the Golden State. Read more 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.

On February 24, the USFWS announced awards of more than $27 million to support 33 projects in 14 coastal States to protect, restore, or enhance almost 28,000 acres of coastal wetlands and adjacent upland habitats under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program or NAWCA. Read more about the projects and funding sources 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.

Scientists with different areas of expertise are combining forces to improve coastal management decision making. The goal is to collect data, build models, and provide tools and assessments that inform management decisions for natural living coastal and marine resources such as habitats and ecosystems, as well as cultural resources such as historic infrastructure or archeological sites. Read more in DOI’s NEWSWAVE.

Through satellite telemetry, researchers have discovered patterns of migratory behavior of long-lived imperiled marine reptiles.

In February, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a lease for the first wave energy research project in Federal waters off the U.S. West Coast.

A collection of stories details collaborative efforts in restoring coregonine species across the Great Lakes basin. Together they highlight DOI’s diverse role in providing science and operational support to fishery managers and scientific partners.

BOEM’s new Center for Marine Acoustics aims to understand the biological impacts of marine noise and will provide accurate, dependable, transparent, and scientifically rigorous research and data on marine acoustics to strengthen BOEM’s role within the regulatory community on sound in the marine environment.