This project requests $400,000 over three years to support four initiatives to increase coastal margin observation and prediction?S (CMOP) monitoring, modeling, and workforce development in clatsop…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Ocean Acidification Program (CFDA 11.017) provides $400,000 over three years to support four initiatives by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) focused on coastal observation, modeling, and workforce development in Clatsop County, Oregon. The key products and services to be delivered include:

1. Piloting the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring to assess biological responses to climate change and other disturbances in the Columbia River estuary. This will involve optimizing eDNA collection and analysis methods, and conducting seasonal sampling.

2. Expanding CRITFC's existing ocean observatory to better monitor ocean acidification and hypoxia by deploying new bottom water sensors and operationalizing an ocean acidification analyzer.

3. Using numerical models to predict climate change impacts on salmon habitat and flood risk, and exploring nature-based solutions for flood management.

4. Developing and launching a new research-based summer internship program for tribal undergraduate students.

A sub-award of $XXX,XXX was made to Oregon State University to provide laboratory analysis and DNA extraction services to support the eDNA monitoring efforts under this grant.

This project requests $400,000 over three years to support four initiatives to increase coastal margin observation and prediction?S (CMOP) monitoring, modeling, and workforce development in clatsop county, oregon. First, CMOP will pilot the use of environmental DNA (EDNA) for ecological monitoring to capture biological responses to climate changes and other disturbances in the estuary. EDNA collection and analysis methods will be optimized for estuary water, and samples will be collected throughout the seasonal cycle to test whether EDNA metabarcoding techniques are useful for biodiversity monitoring and salmon management in this system. Second, CMOP will expand its existing observatory to better capture ocean acidification and hypoxia signals by (1) deploying a new bottom water mooring equipped with sensors for dissolved oxygen and other biogeochemical parameters, and (2) operationalizing and maintaining a recently acquired ocean acidification analyzer at a pier-based station. Third, CMOP will use numerical models to predict how climate change will impact estuary salmon habitat and combined flood risk, and will explore nature based solutions to flooding under climate change. Finally, CMOP will develop and launch a new research-based summer internship program for tribal undergraduate students. These initiatives will advance the understanding of how climate change may impact the columbia river estuary?including salmon populations and habitat?ultimately enabling more effective management for ecological resilience and long-term sustainability.