Pacific Coast Offshore Wind Environmental Research Project Finder

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The U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) effort is actively compiling information on planned, ongoing, and recently completed research projects relevant to better understanding the environmental effects of offshore wind development along the U.S. Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington). The scope of projects includes both field research/data collection and other non-field activities related to wildlife, habitat, and ecosystem processes. 

The tool below provides key project details and links to relevant project outputs, including reports, journal articles, and datasets. Results can be refined by selecting from the drop-down menus or entering a search term. If you would like to submit a project for inclusion, please complete this survey or email tethys@pnnl.gov

Download the complete tool as a spreadsheet here.

Last Updated: May 15, 2025

Research Project Lead Organization Dates Research Type Scale & Location Stressor & Receptor Outputs
Seabird 3D Distribution and Relative Risk from California Offshore Wind Turbines

This project is developing a 3D seabird spatial distribution and power generation model to assess tradeoffs between wind farm performance and bird mortality risk. The model will account for flight height at various wind speeds, which will fill a knowledge gap in existing seabird models....Read more

This project is developing a 3D seabird spatial distribution and power generation model to assess tradeoffs between wind farm performance and bird mortality risk. The model will account for flight height at various wind speeds, which will fill a knowledge gap in existing seabird models. The team has developed wind energy scenarios for several test sites with different turbine parameters and configurations. While completing the 3D seabird model, the team is designing a method to conduct the tradeoff analysis between seabird risk and wind performance.

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Schatz Energy Research Center 2020-2023 Modeling Regional

California
Collision

Birds
Wallach et al. 2025, Wallach et al. 2025, Schneider et al. 2024, Seabirds in 3D Webinar
Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys Near Potential Renewable Energy Sites Offshore Central and Southern California

This study will provide up-to-date information on species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation of seabirds from the southern limit of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to the U.S.-Mexico border....Read more

This study will provide up-to-date information on species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation of seabirds from the southern limit of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, data will be opportunistically collected on marine mammals that are observed during the surveys. This study will repeat and refine the methodology used in earlier studies to provide up-to-date information and establish a more robust longitudinal data set from which to draw on for environmental analyses. The final project report is expected in 2024.

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United States Geological Survey (USGS) Western Ecological Research Center 2017-2024 Field State

California
Baseline

Birds, Marine mammals
Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys off the Northern California, Oregon, and Washington Coasts

This study by the U.S. Geological Survey will provide up-to-date information on species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation of seabirds and marine mammals from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to the U.S.-Mexico border....Read more

This study by the U.S. Geological Survey will provide up-to-date information on species composition, distribution, abundance, and seasonal variation of seabirds and marine mammals from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to the U.S.-Mexico border. Data generated will be used for environmental review of renewable energy projects proposed in this area. Previously collected data will be assessed and analyzed to allow for comparisons with the newly collected data to identify changes in distribution and abundance of seabirds and marine mammals over the last 40 years.

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United States Geological Survey (USGS) Western Ecological Research Center 2010-2020 Field Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Birds, Marine mammals
Adams et al. 2014, Pacific Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment (PaCSEA) GIS Resource Database
Ship-based Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Surveys in the California Current

NMFS has conducted large-vessel cetacean and ecosystem assessment surveys in waters off the U.S. West Coast....Read more

NMFS has conducted large-vessel cetacean and ecosystem assessment surveys in waters off the U.S. West Coast. These line-transect surveys typically occur in summer and fall and span waters out 300 nautical miles offshore, from the US-Canada to US-Mexico border, but sometimes include waters in Canada or Mexico as well. Data types collected principally include visual sightings data for cetaceans and seabirds, passive acoustic (e.g., towed or drifting array) data for cetaceans, tissue biopsy sampling used for genetics analysis, and oceanographic sampling. Survey data have been used to estimate cetacean population size and trends, delineate cetacean population stock structure, describe cetacean and seabird distributions and hotspots, develop species distribution models, and inform marine mammal stock assessment reports pursuant to statutory requirements under the MMPA.

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 1991-ongoing Field Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Marine mammals, Sea turtles, Birds
Becker et al. 2020, Barlow et al. 2014
Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System Observations

As the regional observing system for Southern California, SCCOOS, has developed the capabilities to support short-term decision-making and long-term assessment by implementing and leveraging biological, chemical, and physical observations and models, many of which are available in near real-time....Read more

As the regional observing system for Southern California, SCCOOS, has developed the capabilities to support short-term decision-making and long-term assessment by implementing and leveraging biological, chemical, and physical observations and models, many of which are available in near real-time.

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Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) 2002- Data Management, Field, Modeling Regional

California
Baseline

Ecosystem processes, Fish, Marine mammals, Physical Environment
Southern Resident Killer Whale Research in the Pacific Northwest

In response to the proposed listing of Southern Resident killer whales under the Endangered Species Act, the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center established a dedicated research program in 2003....Read more

In response to the proposed listing of Southern Resident killer whales under the Endangered Species Act, the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center established a dedicated research program in 2003. The program aims to fill data gaps and assess the impact of potential threats to this population. We use various monitoring and survey techniques to study these whales.

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 2003-ongoing Field Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Marine mammals
Spatial planning offshore wind energy farms in California for mediating fisheries and wildlife conservation impacts

This project developed an analytical framework for conducting marine spatial planning through tradeoff analysis, and applied it to prospective offshore wind energy development in Morro Bay, California, USA Wind Energy Area (WEA)....Read more

This project developed an analytical framework for conducting marine spatial planning through tradeoff analysis, and applied it to prospective offshore wind energy development in Morro Bay, California, USA Wind Energy Area (WEA). The study generated spatial data layers estimating MW power production and impacts on fisheries value and marine wildlife conservation (seabird and cetacean populations) from wind farm development and quantified each sector’s response to plans of development across the WEA and inside three leases. Finally, the study integrated the sector response data into an analytical framework for mitigating sector tradeoffs with novel spatial planning solutions (maps of wind farm size, location, and configuration) that optimally maximize value to the emergent energy sector (MW power) while minimizing impacts to historical (fisheries and wildlife) sectors.

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California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Boston University
Modeling State

California
Birds, Fish, Marine mammals White et al. 2024
Survey of Benthic Communities near Potential Renewable Energy Sites Offshore the Pacific Northwest

This program of research on benthic habitats and organisms of the Outer Continental Shelf off Washington, Oregon and northern California was designed to provide baseline knowledge of seafloor geology and

...Read more

This program of research on benthic habitats and organisms of the Outer Continental Shelf off Washington, Oregon and northern California was designed to provide baseline knowledge of seafloor geology and

marine invertebrate distributions at a regional scale by undertaking new mapping, synthesizing existing mapping data, conducting biological assessments and developing new predictive models. By focusing on the physical properties of the seafloor and species-habitat associations throughout the region, this study has delivered tools and information directly useful for assessing renewable energy development in the

Pacific Northwest and for determining the nature and extent of future seafloor explorations.

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Oregon State University 2010-2014 Field Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Physical Environment, Invertebrates
Goldfinger et al. 2014, Henkel et al. 2014
Synopsis of Research Programs that can Provide Baseline and Monitoring Information for Offshore Energy Activities in the Pacific Region

We assembled and tabulated information about marine bird and mammal research and monitoring programs that could provide data needed to support environmental risk assessments....Read more

We assembled and tabulated information about marine bird and mammal research and monitoring programs that could provide data needed to support environmental risk assessments. This included identifying ongoing or completed research programs that contain information on species and habitats sensitive to offshore energy activities and that could provide baseline and monitoring data to understand and mitigate potential impacts of offshore energy development in the Southern California Planning Area, Washington-Oregon Planning Area, and the Hawaiian Outer Continental Shelf of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

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United States Geological Survey (USGS) Western Ecological Research Center 2014-2019 Data Management Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Birds, Marine mammals
Adams et al. 2019, Lafferty et al. 2019 Database of Research
Tag You’re It! Habitat Use of Large Whales of the Santa Barbara Channel and Hawai‘i

The purpose of this study is to use existing telemetry data to gain a better understanding of how four large whale species (fin, blue, humpback, and gray whales) that occur off the U.S West Coast use their habitat in the Santa Barbara Channel area and in areas offshore Hawai’i, with specific...Read more

The purpose of this study is to use existing telemetry data to gain a better understanding of how four large whale species (fin, blue, humpback, and gray whales) that occur off the U.S West Coast use their habitat in the Santa Barbara Channel area and in areas offshore Hawai’i, with specific interest around the island of O’ahu. The importance of this data, presented as spatially and temporally explicit layers, cannot be overstated when considering offshore floating wind development and the identification of potential mitigative strategies to minimize any potential impacts to these species as a result of these activities, as well as the timing of future conventional energy decommissioning activities.

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Oregon State University 2022-2024 Modeling Regional

California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington
Baseline, Habitat Change

Marine mammals, Ecosystem processes
Technology Development Priorities for Scientifically Robust and Operationally Compatible Wildlife Monitoring and Adaptive Management

This project mapped current marine wildlife monitoring technology by conducting a literature review, database analysis, and workshop series with the scientific community, academia, and industry....Read more

This project mapped current marine wildlife monitoring technology by conducting a literature review, database analysis, and workshop series with the scientific community, academia, and industry. The aim of the project was to improve future development of wildlife monitoring technology and better integrate it with offshore wind operations. The project also conducted a gap analysis to assess what marine monitoring capabilities are needed but not yet offered by current technology and developed targeted recommendations for future innovation to improve monitoring technologies, reduce costs for developers, and enhance wildlife conflict mitigation practices.

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Worley Consulting, Biodiversity Research Institute 2022-2024 Literature Review National

California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii
Attraction, Avoidance, Baseline, Collision, Displacement, Entanglement, Noise

Birds, Marine mammals
Courbis et al. 2024, Courbis et al. 2024, Courbis et al. 2023, Courbis et al. 2023, Courbis et al. 2023, Courbis et al. 2022, Marine Mammal Technology Database, Bird Technology Database
The Effects of EMFs on the Behavior of Marine Wildlife

Elasmobranchs use electroreceptors to detect bioelectric fields of prey during foraging and likely use them to indirectly detect geomagnetic field (GMF) cues during navigation....Read more

Elasmobranchs use electroreceptors to detect bioelectric fields of prey during foraging and likely use them to indirectly detect geomagnetic field (GMF) cues during navigation. The subsea high voltage cables from offshore renewable energy (ORE) infrastructure emit electromagnetic field (EMF) noise that can alter the bioelectric and geomagnetic landscape, which may impair electrically and magnetically mediated behaviors, such as foraging and navigation, in marine wildlife. In Partnership with Oregon Sea Grant, using Longnose skates and Dungeness crab we are developing controlled laboratory validated protocols to fill our knowledge gaps on the acute and cumulative impacts that EMF noise has on the sensory biology, behavioral ecology, movement, and distribution of multiple EMF sensitive species.

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Oregon State University 2022-2024 Electromagnetic Fields

Fish
The Environmental Status of Artificial Structures Offshore California

This study by the Southern California Marine Institute will use relevant ecological indicators (e.g., biodiversity, biomass, productivity) to improve understanding of how local and/or regional factors influence the variation in environmental status observed in marine infrastructure/facility...Read more

This study by the Southern California Marine Institute will use relevant ecological indicators (e.g., biodiversity, biomass, productivity) to improve understanding of how local and/or regional factors influence the variation in environmental status observed in marine infrastructure/facility/obstruction habitats within the Pacific Region, especially offshore California. Study results will assist BOEM in evaluating proposed plans that involve significant amounts of marine infrastructure (which function as de facto artificial reefs) and to gain insight in determining if existing energy infrastructure affects other uses of the outer continental shelf.

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Southern California Marine Institute 2021-2024 Field State

California
Habitat Change

Physical Environment
ThermalTracker-3D - Gleaning Bird and Bat Flight Data in 3-D

Development of a novel method and technology for extracting 3-dimensional animal motion trajectories using thermal stereo video data. The technology was validated on land and offshore from a buoy in California.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) 2019-2021 Technology Development Project

Attraction, Avoidance, Baseline, Collision, Displacement

Bats, Birds
Matzner et al. 2020, Matzner et al. 2022
U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) Project

At the direction of the U.S....Read more

At the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory are jointly leading a multi-year collaborative effort to facilitate knowledge transfer for offshore wind research around the world. The U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) effort aims to synthesize key issues and disseminate existing knowledge about environmental effects, inform applicability to U.S. waters, and prioritize future research needs. For the Pacific, SEER's products have included research briefs, webinars, workshops, and databases.

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) 2018- Literature Review Regional

Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, Electromagnetic Fields, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise

Bats, Birds, Ecosystem processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine mammals, Physical Environment, Sea turtles
Severy et al. 2025, SEER et al. 2022, SEER Resources
Understanding Biological Connectivity Among Offshore Structures and Natural Reefs

The overall objective of this study is to test hypotheses on biological connectivity among artificial and natural habitats using genetic markers....Read more

The overall objective of this study is to test hypotheses on biological connectivity among artificial and natural habitats using genetic markers. The team is sampling non-indigenous species and native species on (a) oil and gas platforms, (b) harbors, (c) shipwrecks, and (d) nearby natural reefs for the genetic analysis; estimating biological connectivity among anthropogenic structures and natural reefs using the data; and developing an early detection and rapid-response monitoring plan.

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University of California Santa Barbara 2019-2025 Field Regional

California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii
Attraction, Habitat Change

Invertebrates
Understanding the Effects of a Changing Ocean

Focusing on how marine animals will respond to shifting ocean conditions caused by climate change and other human activities. In the laboratory, we’ve developed an “Upwelling Simulator” that controls the temperature, oxygen levels, and acidity of waters fed to experimental aquaria....Read more

Focusing on how marine animals will respond to shifting ocean conditions caused by climate change and other human activities. In the laboratory, we’ve developed an “Upwelling Simulator” that controls the temperature, oxygen levels, and acidity of waters fed to experimental aquaria. We can mimic the sort of environmental variation that nearshore animals off California experience naturally, and under more severe future conditions, and measure how it affects the reproduction, growth, and survival of organisms (e.g., black abalone).

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) Laboratory Regional

California
Habitat Change

Fish, Invertebrates
Understanding the Role of Offshore Structures in Managing Potential Watersipora subtorquata Invasions

This study by the University of California, Santa Barbara surveyed the distribution and abundance of a non-native bryozoan on 23 platforms and natural reefs in the Southern California Bight, and elucidated the role that offshore artificial structures may have in linking and affecting biological...Read more

This study by the University of California, Santa Barbara surveyed the distribution and abundance of a non-native bryozoan on 23 platforms and natural reefs in the Southern California Bight, and elucidated the role that offshore artificial structures may have in linking and affecting biological communities. The study results will inform environmental reviews of conventional energy activities (including decommissioning of platforms) and renewable energy activities (including siting of facilities) offshore southern and central California.

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University of California, Santa Barbara 2013-2019 Field State

California
Baseline

Invertebrates
Page et al. 2019
Update on NREL’s 2020 Offshore Wind Resource Assessment for the California Pacific Outer Continental Shelf

This project provides a time-sensitive update to the 20-year wind resource data set (named “CA20”) produced in 2020 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California....Read more

This project provides a time-sensitive update to the 20-year wind resource data set (named “CA20”) produced in 2020 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California. Following the deployment of two floating lidars in the region in late 2020, NREL compared the CA20-modeled wind speeds against the lidar measurements using two different approaches, and found a significant bias in the modeled CA20 data in the region. An updated data set has been released.

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2022-2023 Modeling Regional

California
Baseline

Physical Environment
Bodini et al. 2022
Updated Summary of Knowledge: Selected Areas of the Pacific Coast

This study by Mangi Environmental Group compiled and analyzed information generated after 1977 about the coastal and marine environment from Grays Harbor, Washington to San Francisco Bay, and from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.-Mexico border....Read more

This study by Mangi Environmental Group compiled and analyzed information generated after 1977 about the coastal and marine environment from Grays Harbor, Washington to San Francisco Bay, and from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.-Mexico border. It identified early information and data gaps about oceanographic resources and potential impacts of offshore renewable energy development.

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Mangi Environmental Group 2008-2010 Literature Review Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Bats, Birds, Ecosystem processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine mammals, Physical Environment, Sea turtles
Kaplan et al. 2010
Updating the Marine Bird Vulnerability Index to Inform Risks of Offshore Renewable Energy Projects Within the Pacific OCS Region

This study is developing an update to the 2012-2017 BOEM-funded study by USGS, "Developing and Applying a Vulnerability Index for Scaling the Possible Adverse Effects of Offshore Renewable Energy Projects on Seabirds of the Pacific OCS."....Read more

This study is developing an update to the 2012-2017 BOEM-funded study by USGS, "Developing and Applying a Vulnerability Index for Scaling the Possible Adverse Effects of Offshore Renewable Energy Projects on Seabirds of the Pacific OCS.". The update will incorporate recently published data and methodological improvements.

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University of California Santa Cruz 2021-2024 Modeling Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement

Birds
Using Available Data and Information to Identify Offshore Wind Energy Areas off the California Coast

The goal of this project was to use existing spatial data representing marine species, the marine environment, and human uses of ocean waters to: 1) identify areas for potential offshore wind energy development that balance impacts and benefits; and 2) examine the existing offshore Wind Energy...Read more

The goal of this project was to use existing spatial data representing marine species, the marine environment, and human uses of ocean waters to: 1) identify areas for potential offshore wind energy development that balance impacts and benefits; and 2) examine the existing offshore Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) and the sea space for potential future development identified under the AB525 process.

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Point Blue Conservation Science Modeling Regional

California
Attraction, Avoidance, Displacement

Physical Environment
Rockwood et al. 2024
Utilizing remote sensing, models and in situ data to elucidate ecosystem hotspots in a moving ocean

Developing satellite-based products to investigate what drives biological productivity in productive upwelling systems - from phytoplankton to ecosystems.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) 2017-2020 Modeling State

California
Baseline

Ecosystem processes, Physical Environment
Messie et al. 2022
Vertical Migration Studies

Vertically migrating animals comprise a large and active component of the ocean's biological pump, and when compared with passively sinking detritus, the vertical migrators contribute significantly to the overall flux of particulate organic carbon....Read more

Vertically migrating animals comprise a large and active component of the ocean's biological pump, and when compared with passively sinking detritus, the vertical migrators contribute significantly to the overall flux of particulate organic carbon. Our data obtained directly by MBARI’s ROVs have revealed an abundant and very diverse assemblage of predators confronting the migrators; a group far more complex and dynamic than was previously believed to exist.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) Field State

California
Baseline

Ecosystem processes
West Coast Environmental Protocols Framework: Baseline and Monitoring Studies

This study by Pacific Energy Ventures provides a framework for identifying natural resources and ecological issues to monitor for proposed wave, tidal, and offshore wind projects along the U.S. West Coast.

Pacific Energy Ventures 2010-2012 Data Management Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, Electromagnetic Fields, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise

Bats, Birds, Ecosystem processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine mammals, Physical Environment, Sea turtles
Klure et al. 2012
West Coast Species Distribution Modeling

Cetacean species distribution models (SDMs) or “habitat models” estimate density as a continuous function of habitat variables (e.g., sea surface temperature, seafloor depth) and within the study area that was modeled, densities can be predicted at all locations where these habitat variables can...Read more

Cetacean species distribution models (SDMs) or “habitat models” estimate density as a continuous function of habitat variables (e.g., sea surface temperature, seafloor depth) and within the study area that was modeled, densities can be predicted at all locations where these habitat variables can be measured or estimated. SDMs therefore allow estimates of cetacean densities on finer spatial and temporal scales than traditional line-transect or mark-recapture analyses.

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 1991-2020 Modeling Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Marine mammals
West Coast Tribal Cultural Landscapes

This effort by the Udall Foundation’s John S....Read more

This effort by the Udall Foundation’s John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution will work with interested West Coast Tribal Nations to develop cultural landscape assessments along the coast and offshore California, Oregon, and Washington near areas of potential offshore wind energy development. It will improve understanding about cultural and archaeological resources and places of importance, and assist in understanding potential impacts of offshore renewable energy development.

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Udall Foundation 2015-2021 Regional

California, Oregon, Washington
Baseline

Physical Environment
Year-round and Diel Patterns in Habitat-use of Seabirds off Oregon

This project tracked four species (Common Murres, Western Gull, Pink-footed Shearwaters, and Pacific Loons) and compiled tracking data into the Oregon Seabird Tracking Inventory....Read more

This project tracked four species (Common Murres, Western Gull, Pink-footed Shearwaters, and Pacific Loons) and compiled tracking data into the Oregon Seabird Tracking Inventory. The study also provided a framework for analysis and visualization that combines data from multiple location types (Argos, GPS) and summarized the data within the Oregon Exclusive Economic Zone and the northern California Current System. They also used bootstrapping methods to estimate the percentage of time spent within the Rotor-Sweep Zone for seabird species and applied boosted regression trees to disentangle environmental, bird behavior, and electronic-based influences on seabird flight heights. The project report summarizes at-sea survey efforts for three surveys (2015-2017) in the northern California Current System and compares the species composition and at sea densities to telemetry-derived utilization distributions.

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Oregon State University, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2014-2023 Field State

Oregon
Baseline

Birds
Orben et al. 2025
Zooplankton Biodiversity and Species Relationships

The deep-sea is a diverse habitat, but it is turning out to be even more diverse than we imagined....Read more

The deep-sea is a diverse habitat, but it is turning out to be even more diverse than we imagined. There are two ways that we are discovering new layers of this diversity: First, using remotely operated submersibles (ROVs) we can collect fragile life forms which have not been studied before. Second, within the species that we think are familiar, we find new genetic diversity.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) Field State

California
Baseline

Fish, Invertebrates, Ecosystem processes