Institutional
Update: Naval Postgraduate School (Ed Thornton)
Ed Thornton gave a presentation on “Rips, Cusps, and Dune Erosion
in Southern Monterey Bay”. Researchers from the Naval Postgraduate
School have been conducting a long term study of rip currents in southern
Monterey Bay because the geography of the area makes it one of the
best places to do so. Measurements of rip currents, cusps, and dune
processes are taken by LIDAR flights, video coverage at three sites,
and GPS surveys. The conclusions of this study include: that large
beach cusps and rip current morphology are correlated; that rip scale
is a function of directional band width and wave energy; and that
dune erosion and large beach cusps have the same length scales. For
more information please go to http://www.nps.navy.mil.
Desalination Plants in Monterey Bay (Brad Damitz)
As requested by the RAP at their last meeting, Brad presented an overall
background on desalination plants and the current status in the Sanctuary.
Brad presented some reasons for investigating desalination plants;
using desalination reduces the reliance on imported fresh water and
it is not affected by drought. However, there are impacts with desalination:
intake/outfall water (brine effluent), construction in coastal zones,
growth inducing (making fresh water more readily available), and damage
to endangered species habitats. Presently there are no standards in
the industry and Brad asked if the RAP could keep this in mind for
potential input on reviewing EIS/EIR documents, citing guidelines,
defining environmental standards, and monitoring programs. For more
information email Brad at brad.damitz@noaa.gov
or http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/jointplan/mb_desal.html.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Update from December SAC meeting (Chris Harrold)
Among other items, there was a half day of discussions on the boundary
issue (changing the northern boundary of MBNMS and southern boundary
of GFNMS to Ano Nuevo). Dan Basta has promised to make a decision
by January 31, 2004. The Sanctuary Research Team also gave a presentation
on their activities in 2003. This presentation was well received.
Update
on RAP Chair (Andrew DeVogelaere)
Terms are up for the RAP Chair/SAC Representative. Both Chris Harrold
and Jeff Paduan have served well and have completed applications to
serve for the next term. A decision will be made by a SAC subcommittee
with Bill Douros, and a final decision by Headquarters.
Research Team Report for 2003 (Andrew DeVogelaere)
The SAC asked for an annual report on all field projects that the
research team has done in the last year. A compilation of reports,
abstracts, etc. was put on CD and handed out. Please contact Andrew
(Andrew.devogelaere@noaa.gov) for additional copies.
Update
on Sanctuary Currents Awards (Andrew DeVogelaere)
The Ricketts Lecture award goes to John Pearse and the Research/Science
award to Pete Ramondi. John will be presenting a talk about long-term
intertidal monitoring at the Sanctuary Currents Symposium.
NEW BUSINESS
Agenda items for future meetings
Discussion on how R/V McArthur time is determined by Sanctuaries.
Invite Huff McGonigal to discuss trawl impacts and how to design a
trawl impact study.
Discussion on unsolicited RFP’s in relation to SIMoN.
Invitation of the new CenCOOS Coordinator.
Goals
for 2004
Develop options to improve communications across sanctuaries with
respect to research.
