Linking Ocean Observing Tools and Capabilities to

Offshore Energy Data NeedsOffshore Energy Data Needs

Debra HernandezSECOORA Executive Director

Presentation Outline

• Background on ICOOS Act of 2009• IOOS and NFRA• IOOS and NFRA• Who and what is SECOORA?

P i iti /Th– Priorities/Themes– Case Study: NC Coastal Wind Study– Data Management Framework– BioHab Prototype

• CMSP Efforts in other Regions

INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009

Subtitle C of HR 146 Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009

SEC 12302 PURPOSES The purposes of this subtitle are toSEC. 12302. PURPOSES. The purposes of this subtitle are to--(1) establish a national integrated System of ocean, coastal, … observing

systems, comprised of Federal and non-Federal components coordinated at the regional level by a network of regional informationcoordinated … at the regional level by a network of regional information coordination entities, and that includes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean observation, technologies, and data management and communication systems, and is designed to address regional andcommunication systems, and is designed to address regional and national needs for ocean information, to gather specific data on key coastal, ocean, … and to ensure timely and sustained dissemination and availability of these data to—y

SEC. 12302. PURPOSES. The purposes of this subtitle are to--

(A) support national defense, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather, climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting and production,

i d l t t b d i t leconomic development, ecosystem-based marine, coastal, … resource management, public safety, and public outreach training and education;

(B) promote greater public awareness and stewardship of the Nation's ocean, coastal … resources; and

(C) enable advances in scientific understanding to support the sustainable use, conservation, management, and understanding of healthy ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;

SEC. 12303. DEFINITIONS.

REGIONAL INFORMATION COORDINATION ENTITIES-(A)IN GENERAL- The term `regional information coordination entity' means

i ti l b d th t i tifi d t bli h d b t tan organizational body that is certified or established by contract or memorandum by the lead Federal agency designated in section 12304(c)(3) of this subtitle [NOAA] and coordinates State, Federal, local, and private interests at a regional level with the responsibility of engagingand private interests at a regional level with the responsibility of engaging the private and public sectors in designing, operating, and improving regional coastal and ocean observing systems in order to ensure the provision of data and information that meet the needs of user groupsprovision of data and information that meet the needs of user groups from the respective regions.

(B) CERTAIN INCLUDED ASSOCIATIONS- The term `regional information(B) CERTAIN INCLUDED ASSOCIATIONS- The term regional information coordination entity' includes regional associations described in the System Plan.

NFRA and IOOS

IOOS RegionalRegional

ComponentA network of 11 regional coastal eg o a coas aocean observing

systems that meet national and

regional needs for local ocean

observations, data management, and

modeling

• Funded by NOAA as part of National Integrated Ocean Observing System• Authorizing legislation signed into law in March - ICOOS Act of 2009g g g

About SECOORA

• Membership-Based, Non-Profit Organization• Stakeholder driven• Stakeholder driven• Vision: Provide the most reliable marine data

and informationand information– protection of people and property,

h lth i d– a healthy marine economy, and – sustainable natural coastal and ocean resources

Geographic Scope

• Southeastern marine and estuarine systems

SECOORA's Observing Subsystem  

• State and federal waters off the 4 southeastern states (includes all of Florida)Florida)

Who are our Members?

• Over 40 representatives from academia, industry, government agencies, and NGOsgovernment agencies, and NGOs

• Why become a member?– Provide input into data and information productsp p– Leverage organization’s monitoring/observation activities– Participate in collaborative opportunities and networking– Set regional priorities– Access to coastal and ocean related educational products

and materialsand materials

Defining Priorities: Strategic Priorities Document

• Defines initial priorities

• Evolving Document

• Audience: – SECOORA members– regional stakeholders – potential members– decision-makers, including

elected officials

Themes

• Focus areasFisheries– Fisheries

– Water Quality Coastal Hazards– Coastal Hazards

– Marine Operations (Offshore energy)Cli t Ch– Climate Change

Fisheries and Water Quality

• Fisheries Management:– Developing methods to link fisheries

d hi dassessment and oceanographic data to improve fisheries management decisions

• Water Quality Management– Supporting extension of

marine/Enterococcus predictive Gag is the most common grouper in the SECOORA region Managing fisheries is amodels to the region, which uses a

variety of modeling techniques and ocean observing variables (wind,

th t li it t )

SECOORA region. Managing fisheries is a priority issue SECOORA members are using coastal and ocean observing data to address. Photo: NOAA Photo Library/OAR/National

weather, current, salinity, etc.) – Models being used in support of

issuing beach swimming advisories

Undersea Research Program (NURP)/UNCW

Case Study: Marine Operations

• SECOORA Member Example: Coastal Wind Energy Study

• Requested by the North Carolina General AssemblyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designated to conduct the study

• Study areay– Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds– Offshore over waters less than 30 meters in

depth (wind to 50 meters in height)depth (wind to 50 meters in height)

Study Components (from legislation)

• Wind resource evaluation • Ecological impacts, synergies, use conflictsEcological impacts, synergies, use conflicts• Foundation concepts• Geologic framework Geo og c a e o• Utility transmission infrastructure• Utility-related statutory and regulatory barriersy y g y• Legal framework, issues, and policy concerns• Carbon reduction• Preliminary economic analysis

Synthesis - Marine Spatial Planning

• Information from the individual groups was integrated into a geographic information system

• Emphasis was placed on identifying severe constraints likely to preclude any wind energy developmentAreas identified as no build (e g too shallow reserved for• Areas identified as no-build (e.g. too shallow, reserved for use by the military) and areas identified as having high ecological impact or low suitability for foundation construction were eliminated

• Each constraint equally weighted and an equal degree of certainty as to their extents assumedcertainty as to their extents assumed

• Provides a conservative and introductory look at what areas remain viable for wind power development.

Bringing it All Together

• SECOORA’s Data Management consists of a network of scientists and data management expertsnetwork of scientists and data management experts

• Core capabilities– Data Provider Needs Assessment– Data Capture & Integration Services– Data Management Services– Data and Information Delivery – Technical and Product Development Support– Program Documentation

Data Management HubsMACOORAMACOORA

National Backbone

DM Nodes:

USF/FWRIUSF/FWRI

UNC-CH

USCUSC

Coordinating Node

GCOOSInfo Provider Node

BioHab

This image depicts the SECOORA observing inventory along with select marine species locations.locations.

In the Results panel you see the description of a buoy off Fripp Island SC (The red pushpin on the(The red pushpin on the map) along with alink to the asset page.

Getting the Word Out

• SECOORA News & Alertssent to ~ 600 people– sent to ~ 600 people

• Website and Data AccessData Access

What are other Regions Doing?

• CenCOOS contributed ocean observations and spatial planning tools to the California MarineMap

• NERACOOS worked with Northeast Regional Ocean Council to do a regional visualization of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island marine spatial plansRhode Island marine spatial plans

• NANOOS has participated in several Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Workshops in the last year with their partners at The Nature Conservancy and the West Coast Governor’s Alliance. Several NANOOS partners are involved in wave energy (Oregon) and tidal energyinvolved in wave energy (Oregon) and tidal energy (Washington).

Acknowledgements

• Dwayne Porter, USC• Harvey Seim UNC Chapel Hill• Harvey Seim, UNC Chapel Hill• Kathleen O’Keife, FL FWC FWRI

M dil Fl h USC• Madilyn Fletcher, USC• Josie Quintrell, NFRA• NOAA IOOS Office

Contact Information

Debra HernandezExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

SECOORAd b @debra@secoora.org

843.906.8686

www.secoora.orgg