Coastal Ballast Water Exchange Coastal Ballast Water Exchange on the West Coast of North on the West Coast of North

America: Developing a Regional America: Developing a Regional Plan Plan

(2001- 2003)(2001- 2003)

Karen McDowellKaren McDowell

San Francisco Estuary ProjectSan Francisco Estuary Project

Coastal TrafficCoastal Traffic

► Travels near-shore Travels near-shore (unable to conduct open ocean (unable to conduct open ocean exchange 200 nautical miles offshore)exchange 200 nautical miles offshore)

► Concern for the coastwise transport of organisms Concern for the coastwise transport of organisms Native and Non-nativeNative and Non-native San Francisco Bay to Oregon and/or Washington, Mexico to San Francisco Bay to Oregon and/or Washington, Mexico to

CaliforniaCalifornia

► Short travel time/frequent discharge/repeat visits Short travel time/frequent discharge/repeat visits (high survival rate/repeat inoculations)(high survival rate/repeat inoculations)

► Open Ocean Exchange – Currently the only Open Ocean Exchange – Currently the only approved management tool.approved management tool.

Potential SolutionsPotential Solutions

► Shipboard Treatment – Ultimate SolutionShipboard Treatment – Ultimate Solution

► Conduct a ballast water exchange without Conduct a ballast water exchange without going 200 nautical miles offshore in specific going 200 nautical miles offshore in specific areas (only talking about water that areas (only talking about water that originates from the West Coast of North originates from the West Coast of North America)America) Trade-offsTrade-offs

► Exchanging too close to shore could result in inoculating Exchanging too close to shore could result in inoculating the coastline with ANS.the coastline with ANS.

► Time and cost constraints for the vessels/carriersTime and cost constraints for the vessels/carriers

Regulatory Programs (2000-2002)Regulatory Programs (2000-2002)

Transoceanic trafficTransoceanic traffic Fairly UniformFairly Uniform

Coastal TrafficCoastal Traffic Conflicts between the different state Conflicts between the different state

programsprograms

Maritime Industry wants a uniform Maritime Industry wants a uniform programprogram

Coastal Traffic (2000-2002)Coastal Traffic (2000-2002)

CA Program – Did not have domestic CA Program – Did not have domestic coastal program until 2006.coastal program until 2006.

Washington & Oregon - Mandatory Washington & Oregon - Mandatory requirements for ballast water requirements for ballast water exchange for coastwise traffic exchange for coastwise traffic (domestic and foreign)(domestic and foreign) WA (50 nautical miles offshore) & WA (50 nautical miles offshore) &

Oregon (no distance offshore) Oregon (no distance offshore)

RegulationsRegulations

States/Provinces set up programs to States/Provinces set up programs to try to protect their waters.try to protect their waters. Limitations in what they can do – only Limitations in what they can do – only

have authority for ships discharging in have authority for ships discharging in their waters.their waters.

Might protect state waters, but not be Might protect state waters, but not be good for neighbors, or make sense on a good for neighbors, or make sense on a regional basisregional basis

Determine the best solution for the Determine the best solution for the entire region, rather than a state by entire region, rather than a state by state approach.state approach.

Solving the ProblemSolving the Problem

► Examine the oceanography and biology to Examine the oceanography and biology to determine the best solution, taking into account the determine the best solution, taking into account the constraints of the shipping industry.constraints of the shipping industry.

► Regional ApproachRegional Approach

► Partners: West Coast Ballast Outreach Project, Partners: West Coast Ballast Outreach Project, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Portland State University, California State Lands Portland State University, California State Lands Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Game, and the Pacific Ballast Water Group, along Game, and the Pacific Ballast Water Group, along with members from the maritime industry and with members from the maritime industry and environmental NGO’s.environmental NGO’s.

Time-LineTime-Line

► March 2002 – Oceanography WorkshopMarch 2002 – Oceanography Workshop Report – West Coast Oceanography: Implications Report – West Coast Oceanography: Implications

for Ballast Water Exchangefor Ballast Water Exchange

► Follow-up workshop January 2003Follow-up workshop January 2003 Stakeholders reviewed the oceanography report.Stakeholders reviewed the oceanography report.

► April 2004 – State Lands Commission held a April 2004 – State Lands Commission held a workshop to discuss regulations for coastal workshop to discuss regulations for coastal traffic in Californiatraffic in California

Oceanography Oceanography Workshop/ReportWorkshop/Report

► ParticipantsParticipants Barbara Hickey, University of WashingtonBarbara Hickey, University of Washington Jack Barth, Oregon State UniversityJack Barth, Oregon State University Curtis Collins, Naval Postgraduate SchoolCurtis Collins, Naval Postgraduate School

► GoalGoal: Compile the current information on coastal : Compile the current information on coastal processes on the West Coast to enable informed processes on the West Coast to enable informed decisions on how best to manage ballast water in decisions on how best to manage ballast water in coastal shipping to minimize the risk of ANS coastal shipping to minimize the risk of ANS establishment.establishment.

► March 2002 – December 2002 - Small budgetMarch 2002 – December 2002 - Small budget

RecommendationsRecommendations

#1 Retention Zones#1 Retention Zones - Due to their retentive - Due to their retentive abilities, these areas should be considered as abilities, these areas should be considered as possible exclusion zones for ballast water exchange possible exclusion zones for ballast water exchange (from the shoreline to 50 nautical miles offshore). (from the shoreline to 50 nautical miles offshore).

#2 1000m Isobath#2 1000m Isobath - Along all other areas of the - Along all other areas of the coast, any ballast water discharged outside of the coast, any ballast water discharged outside of the 1000 m isobath has a relatively low probability of 1000 m isobath has a relatively low probability of reaching the shoreline.reaching the shoreline.

#3 – Seasonal Fluctuations#3 – Seasonal Fluctuations - Seasonal fluctuations - Seasonal fluctuations should also be considered when determining “when should also be considered when determining “when and where” to exchange ballast water. and where” to exchange ballast water.

Retention ZonesRetention Zones Strait of Juan de Fuca Eddy (48’30”N to 47’40”N)Strait of Juan de Fuca Eddy (48’30”N to 47’40”N) Heceta Bank (45’00”N to 43’45”N)Heceta Bank (45’00”N to 43’45”N) Central California Retention Zone (Between Point Central California Retention Zone (Between Point

Reyes and Sur)(36’30”N to 38’50”N)Reyes and Sur)(36’30”N to 38’50”N) The Southern California Bight (33’00”N to 34’30”N)The Southern California Bight (33’00”N to 34’30”N) The Columbia River Plume Retention Zone. The Columbia River Plume Retention Zone.

In addition, other river or estuarine plumes, In addition, other river or estuarine plumes, including those from Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay including those from Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay in Washington, Coos Bay and Yaquina Bay in Washington, Coos Bay and Yaquina Bay (Newport) in Oregon, and San Francisco Bay in (Newport) in Oregon, and San Francisco Bay in California have the capacity to pull water into the California have the capacity to pull water into the estuary within a few tens of kilometers of the estuary within a few tens of kilometers of the mouth of each estuary on each tidal cycle.mouth of each estuary on each tidal cycle.

~=25NM (46.3 km)

~=50NM (92.6 km)

Isobath lines Isobath lines Latitude vs. Distance OffshoreLatitude vs. Distance Offshore

Figure created by Jack Barth

Coastal Exchange WorkshopCoastal Exchange Workshop

►Stakeholders reviewed the Stakeholders reviewed the oceanography report. (Marine Biology, oceanography report. (Marine Biology, Maritime Industry, Government, Maritime Industry, Government, Environmental Groups)Environmental Groups) 50 participants50 participants

►Goal: Outline potential regional plans Goal: Outline potential regional plans for coastal ballast water exchangefor coastal ballast water exchange

Coastal Exchange Workshop: Coastal Exchange Workshop: Day 1Day 1

► Reviewed Coastal Ballast Water Exchange and the Reviewed Coastal Ballast Water Exchange and the Oceanography Report (Dr. Curtis Collins).Oceanography Report (Dr. Curtis Collins).

► Broke into Working Groups (like groups)Broke into Working Groups (like groups) BiologyBiology: We know that estuary to estuary transport is bad, : We know that estuary to estuary transport is bad,

so it is important to exchange on coastal voyages to so it is important to exchange on coastal voyages to reduce the risk of invasion. We are not sure how reduce the risk of invasion. We are not sure how vulnerable the open coastline is to invasion, so for now the vulnerable the open coastline is to invasion, so for now the farther offshore the better.farther offshore the better.

Shipping IndustryShipping Industry: willing to move further offshore in some : willing to move further offshore in some regions.regions.

Government AgenciesGovernment Agencies: Regulations need to be : Regulations need to be enforceable, meaningful, & understandable. Don’t wait for enforceable, meaningful, & understandable. Don’t wait for certainty, coastal exchange as an interim measure.certainty, coastal exchange as an interim measure.

Coastal Exchange Workshop: Coastal Exchange Workshop: Day 2Day 2

►Presenting findings from Day 1 Presenting findings from Day 1 Working GroupsWorking Groups

►Broke into 3 mixed groups and came Broke into 3 mixed groups and came up with Draft regional plans for coastal up with Draft regional plans for coastal ballast water exchange (all 3 groups ballast water exchange (all 3 groups came up with a similar plan)came up with a similar plan) 50 nautical miles50 nautical miles 15-25 nautical miles15-25 nautical miles

Post WorkshopPost Workshop

► Workshop SummaryWorkshop Summary

► Planned to Review and refine planPlanned to Review and refine plan► Overlay draft plan again with shipping routes, isobaths (200m Overlay draft plan again with shipping routes, isobaths (200m

& 1000m), and retention zones.& 1000m), and retention zones.► Review and ReviseReview and Revise

► February 2004 – IMO passed Ballast Water February 2004 – IMO passed Ballast Water ConventionConvention

► April 2004 –State Lands Commission held a April 2004 –State Lands Commission held a workshop to discuss regulations for coastal traffic in workshop to discuss regulations for coastal traffic in CaliforniaCalifornia

SummarySummary

► Conflicting regulations were being set along the coast.Conflicting regulations were being set along the coast.

► Pulled together current knowledge and came up with best Pulled together current knowledge and came up with best possible solution on a short time-line.possible solution on a short time-line.

► Biologists - estuary to estuary transport is bad, so it is Biologists - estuary to estuary transport is bad, so it is important to exchange on coastal voyages to reduce the risk important to exchange on coastal voyages to reduce the risk of invasion (even though we are not sure how vulnerable the of invasion (even though we are not sure how vulnerable the open coastline is to invasion). open coastline is to invasion).

► The farther offshore the better (since risk of open coastline is The farther offshore the better (since risk of open coastline is unknown).unknown).

► Used information from physical oceanographers to determine Used information from physical oceanographers to determine distance offshore.distance offshore.

► Uniform regulations for coastal traffic are now in place.Uniform regulations for coastal traffic are now in place.

Karen McDowellKaren McDowellSan Francisco Estuary ProjectSan Francisco Estuary Project1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA

510-622-2398510-622-2398kmcdowell@waterboards.ca.govkmcdowell@waterboards.ca.gov