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States exploring links between OA and water quality (10 minutes)

Jessie Turner, OA Alliance

Overview and key takeaways from West Coast Water Quality Practitioners Meeting, October 2024 (20 minutes)

Micah Horwith, WA State Dept. of Ecology

Roundtable + Discussion with U.S. Working Group Members (30 minutes)

Kyla Kelly, Water Quality Program Manager, Ocean Protection Council, California Natural Resources Agency
Micah Horwith, Ocean Acidification Senior Scientist, Washington State Department of Ecology
Kaegan Scully-Engelmeyer, Water Quality Standards Specialist, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Reflections from Federal Partners (10 minutes)

NOAA Ocean Acidification Program
National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)

Next Steps- Utilizing the OA Information Exchange (5 minutes)

Edith Mari, OA Alliance

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States, OA(H) and Water Quality

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** Slides credited to Hayley Carter, Ocean Science Trust. U.S. State to State Meeting of the OA Alliance, 2019.

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** Slides credited to Hayley Carter, Ocean Science Trust. U.S. State to State Meeting of the OA Alliance, 2019

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Common oceanographic themes across CA Current; able to elevate issues w/in states & nationally if we “joined forces”
Built upon momentum of single state action and continued to expand regionally applicable science
“Moving beyond oysters” – broaden relevance & engagement on OA to other management spheres (including water quality).
Panel added component of hypoxia (OA & H often linked in time and space)

Increased relevance for fisheries.
Hypoxia and pH already on the radar of water quality regulating bodies; provided link to nutrients and nutrient reduction plans.

Value of the Collaboration to Address a Regional Challenge

** Slides credited to Hayley Carter, Ocean Science Trust. U.S. State to State Meeting of the OA Alliance, 2019

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Shortcomings of existing criteria.

Water quality criteria should be expanded to encompass other acidification parameters.

Development of biological criteria to improve assessment of acidification effects.

Using ecologically relevant criteria to support OA management.

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Mid-Atlantic OA Workshop

On September 10-11, 2024 Baltimore Maryland.
+ 50 representatives: six U.S. states, federal government agencies and partners including the National Aquarium, PEW, and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.
Climate communications and ocean acidification.
Information for purpose:

Risk and vulnerability assessments.
Measuring coastal acidification for mitigation.
Blue carbon and funding conservation.

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Takeaways + Meeting Summary

OA parameters can add value to a number of existing ocean and coastal monitoring management (fisheries/ aquaculture; water quality; future mCDR strategies like OAE).

Seek clarity of objectives.

Roadblocks to getting data into a useful format that leads to action and improved response:

Measurement and analysis capacity, compatibility.
Regional alignment in approaches.
Fitting with criteria filings under federal CWA.

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Water Quality Q&A on the Ocean Acidification Information Exchange (OAIE)��

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Staying Engaged

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Coming Soon/ Reminders

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What to expect…

October 16^th @10am PST/ 1pm EST

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation
Opportunities for engagement at these events.

Reminder of “OA Messaging for Purpose” categories and phrases available (https://www.oaalliance.org/uswg)

Curated content coming soon for states seeking additional messaging options.

Regional OA StoryMaps with Aquarium Conservation Partnership.

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