Presentation Abstract
The Port of Seattle is working to become carbon neutral by 2050. In addition to reducing emissions, the Port’s strategy includes enhancing carbon sequestration through habitat restoration. To that end, the Port completed a study in 2017 to quantify sequestration benefits associated with different land cover and habitat types found in the Duwamish River estuary and Elliott Bay, including riparian forest, marsh, mudflat, eelgrass and kelp beds. The review determined that kelp and eelgrass – so called “blue carbon” – provide highly significant sequestration benefits. In fact, they sequester more carbon than almost any other habitat type in the world. As a function of removing CO2 , they may also provide ocean acidification refugia for pH sensitive species like shellfish and corals. To explore this potential, the Port is partnering with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and will be undertaking a 25 acre kelp, eelgrass and shellfish enhancement pilot study at Smith Cove, Seattle. The project will create 8 acres of canopy kelp forest, 12 acres of eelgrass, and 5 acres of experimental shellfish plots. Monitoring will be conducted over time to assess the project’s effects on water quality, habitat, and carbon sequestration. Challenges include that the project site is within an active area that supports important maritime land uses: a cruise ship terminal, commercial vessel moorage, recreational boating and shoreline public access. As such a high level of effort with respect to pre-project environmental impact assessment, public outreach, and permitting is anticipated.
Session Title
Seagrass Cross-Border Connections: Management
Keywords
Carbon sequestration, Ocean acidification, Blue carbon, Eelgrass, Kelp, Olympia oyster, Port of Seattle
Conference Track
SSE4: Ecosystem Management, Policy, and Protection
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE4-180
Start Date
5-4-2018 4:45 PM
End Date
5-4-2018 5:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Harbors--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Seattle; Carbon dioxide mitigation--Washington (State)--Seattle; Carbon sequestration--Washington (State)--Duwamish River Estuary; Carbon sequestration--Washington (State)--Elliott Bay; Eelgrass-Carbon content--Monitoring; Kelp--Carbon content--Monitoring
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Port of Seattle
Geographic Coverage
Seattle (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Blue carbon: Port of Seattle’s kelp, eelgrass and shellfish enhancement pilot project
The Port of Seattle is working to become carbon neutral by 2050. In addition to reducing emissions, the Port’s strategy includes enhancing carbon sequestration through habitat restoration. To that end, the Port completed a study in 2017 to quantify sequestration benefits associated with different land cover and habitat types found in the Duwamish River estuary and Elliott Bay, including riparian forest, marsh, mudflat, eelgrass and kelp beds. The review determined that kelp and eelgrass – so called “blue carbon” – provide highly significant sequestration benefits. In fact, they sequester more carbon than almost any other habitat type in the world. As a function of removing CO2 , they may also provide ocean acidification refugia for pH sensitive species like shellfish and corals. To explore this potential, the Port is partnering with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and will be undertaking a 25 acre kelp, eelgrass and shellfish enhancement pilot study at Smith Cove, Seattle. The project will create 8 acres of canopy kelp forest, 12 acres of eelgrass, and 5 acres of experimental shellfish plots. Monitoring will be conducted over time to assess the project’s effects on water quality, habitat, and carbon sequestration. Challenges include that the project site is within an active area that supports important maritime land uses: a cruise ship terminal, commercial vessel moorage, recreational boating and shoreline public access. As such a high level of effort with respect to pre-project environmental impact assessment, public outreach, and permitting is anticipated.
