Community-Based Coastal Monitoring

Our model for community involvement in ecosystem-scale monitoring, developed through the Kachemak Bay Coastwalk program, can be applied in any coastal setting. We work with coastal Alaska communities beyond Kachemak Bay to help expand the reach of this coastal monitoring and stewardship program. Get in touch with us to learn more, and explore our resources below to get started.

046 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8355.jpg
042 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8343.jpg
024 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8305.jpg
013 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8271.jpg
127 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8491.jpg
106 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8452.jpg
064 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8386.jpg
035 Glacier Spit 22-9-17 8321.jpg

Coastal Monitoring Resources for Alaskan Communities

Are you interested in monitoring the coast in your region? We’ve gathered and created resources for Alaskan communities to help you get your monitoring program off the ground. Please reach out to us with any questions .

Gulf of Alaska CoastWatch Activity Guide

Designed as a curriculum guide for students in grades 4-12, this resource can also be used to develop training programs for citizen volunteers.

Included you will find:

  • Introduction to intertidal ecology of the region

  • Instructional activities to introduce concepts about intertidal diversity and scientific sampling

  • Field trip activities to explore the beach

Coastal Habitat Maps

ShoreZone mapping has been completed for many areas of the Alaskan coastline. The resulting GIS maps and associated database are an important baseline for detection of significant changes in the future. Resources are accessible to the public at http://www.coastalaska.net and serve as a resource for education and marine recreation.

To learn how to create and download maps using this database, download our ShoreZone Guide.

Oceanographic & Weather Data

Alaska Ocean Observing System provides access to real-time oceanographic and weather data. With everything from live view displays to current weather conditions, this resource is essential for planning coastal monitoring trips

Helpful Resources

  • Alaska Ocean Observing System (https://aoos.org/) provides access to real-time oceanographic and weather data. With everything from live view displays to current weather conditions, this resource is essential for planning coastal monitoring trips.

  • Alaska Department of Fish and Game provides extensive resources on detecting and reporting observations of marine invasives.

  • The “Seaweeds of Alaska” online guide helps to identify seaweed species found on the Alaskan coast.

Questions?

Whether you have questions about our resources or getting involved in our annual CoastWalk, please reach out!