Opportunities for the New Administration

Opportunities for the New Administration:

Supporting the future of our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes through access to

accurate andtimely environmental intelligence data and information

U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

Our Eyes on the Oceans, Coasts and Great Lakes

WHAT IS THE ISSUE?

The problem is that our coastal waters are vastly under-sampled: We literally know more about the dark side of the moon than we do about the coastal oceans. Yet, the U.S. coastal zone provides over 45% (or $282 billion) of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is essentially the weather service for the coastal oceans and Great Lakes,providing the ability to “see” what is happening both above and below the surface and to make the information readily available. Sustained observations are key to unlocking the economic potential of our oceans and coasts, furthering our understanding of this dynamic and resource-rich area as well as preparing for risks such as damage to property from increased floods, extreme weather events, the impacts of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia and responding to oil spills and other hazards.

As a federal-regional partnership, IOOS brings the capacity of the 17 federal agencies together with regional experts and stakeholders in an integrated system that is responsive to the needs of users from the varied and diverse sectors. IOOS is an agile, flexible and cost-effective approach to providing fundamental information about our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. However, significant gaps in our observing systems are limiting our ability to better develop economic potential while fostering healthy ecosystems.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW?

While much progress has been made to date, critical gaps in our observing infrastructure remain. Below are four actions that can be taken now to benefit millions of stakeholders:

Complete the nation’s onlynetwork to track surface currents. Fill the critical gaps in the IOOS national network of land-based coastal high-frequency radars that supports search and rescue efforts, oil spill response, tracking of harmful algal blooms, and advancing scientific understanding.A total investment of $10m per year for the next 5 years would fill critical gaps and sustain existing systems.

Fully fund the existing 5-year IOOS regional agreements to:

Expand our ability to see underwater. Invest in an integrated system of autonomous gliders and moored buoys to open windows into the changing dynamics of the underwater ecosystem necessary to support energy development, safe and efficient commerce, fisheries and aquaculture, and to aid weather prediction and to prepare and respond to coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion.
Bring observations inshore. Observing in the congested and complex near shore area is challenging but where the greatest need is. Coastal communities need high-resolution information specific to their local environment to make decisions to ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce, to prepare and respond to floods and high water, to managefisheries and to protect water quality and ecosystems.
Enhance access to tailored information. Users need information that is tailored to the unique regional geography and environment. The 11 IOOS Regional Associations (RAs) do thisthrough the nation’s only network of regional data assembly centers, integrating data from federal and non-federal sources according to established standards and protocols. The information is readily available on regional websites.

The regional five-year funding agreements are only partially funded. Fully funding these agreements at $44 million per year would fill major information gaps.

Spur technology innovation and reduce on-going costsby expanding the IOOS Ocean Technology Transfer (OTT) program through public-private partnerships. The OTT competitive grant program acceleratesthe transition of sensors and other observing technologies from research settings to real-world applications, bringing much needed innovation for observing biological and chemical parameters and reducing cost through cost-effective technologies. Doubling this $5 million grant programwill spark new technology innovation and business opportunities, while addressing critical observing needs.

Address critical national needs, including:

Create deep-water observing network in the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite the millions being spent for restoration projects in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, little has been spent on sustained observations, leaving us unprepared for another spill. Deep water observations are the priority as the oil and gas industries continue to develop these resources. A small portion (~$40m) of the overall $20 billion Deepwater Horizon civil settlement should be allocated to deepwater observations in the Gulf to monitor restoration efforts and to be prepared in case of another spill.

Develop baseline observing capacity in the Arctic.

Basic observing infrastructure is needed to support the changing and growing uses of the US Arctic, especially given the lengthening of the ice-free season. Observational capacity is need to support safe marine operations, fisheries and marine mammal management, military activities and tourism. The federal government needs to commit to funding icebreakers, navigation aids and basic ocean observing infrastructure such as tide gauges and weather buoys that are taken for granted elsewhere, but completely lacking in the Arctic.

Together we must make IOOS more robust to deliver environmental intelligence that is timely, user-driven, and science-based. Just as the nation’s land-based infrastructure of roads and bridges are in need of a major upgrade and expansion to meet the nation’s economic needs, the nation’s coastal ocean infrastructure needs the above investments to support coastal economies and healthy ecosystems.