Northwest Straits Initiative Floating Kelp Monitoring
Community science tracking floating kelp extent in the Northwest Straits Region
Overview
Have you ever seen people kayaking around kelp beds in the Salish Sea? They may be community scientists monitoring kelp forests. Community science volunteers from seven county Marine Resources Committees (MRCs) have been mapping their local kelp forests by kayak each summer since 2015 to gain insight into trends in kelp abundance and how it changes over time.
Volunteers track the location and extent of local floating kelp forests during the peak of annual growth from June through September. This volunteer monitoring program, coordinated by the Northwest Straits Commission , not only connects communities to their local marine environment, but collects valuable data for local resource managers and can shed light on regional trends in kelp.
I feel as though the work I’m doing is valuable, in that it will contribute to conservation and restoration efforts for years to come.
Why do we monitor kelp?
The Northwest Straits region of the Salish Sea has a variety of kelp (species of large brown algae) that provide critical habitat for marine life and have cultural importance for Indigenous peoples. Perhaps the most iconic of these is bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), one of the largest of the 22 species of kelp found in our waters.
Bull kelp can grow at a staggering rate of 2 feet per day, reaching a canopy height of up to 60 feet or more, creating a unique marine forested habitat for a variety of fish, shellfish, and other invertebrates, as well as acting as feeding grounds for marine mammals. Unfortunately, researchers have documented declines in the amount of bull kelp in parts of the Salish Sea likely due to multiple stressors including increased water temperature.
The Northwest Straits Commission coordinates with MRCs throughout the Northwest Straits region to gather information on kelp forests for use in local and regional planning and research.
Play the video to learn more about the kayak monitoring program.
Neither of us are biologists, but with a practiced eye and lots of surveys over the same ground, it was easy to see the annual and longer term variations in the beds - what was causing these? When we met with the real kelp professionals later, we learned how little data was available on the extent of bull kelp beds... We hope our surveys in small measure provided reproducible, quantitative on-the-water data that can be used to sustain and grow our kelp forests.
Key Outcomes
Monitoring kelp forest extent with the goal of documenting changes overtime takes consistency and commitment. Floating kelp forests naturally vary in size seasonally and annually. Monitoring the same sites year after year captures that natural variability while also providing insight into underlying longer-term trends in kelp forest extent.
Observations of the MRC monitored kelp sites overtime show that the majority of the monitored kelp beds do not exhibit significant change in area over time but do exhibit some expected year to year variability.
There are a few sites where volunteers measured declines and growth in their local kelp forests:
Community science volunteers have documented kelp losses in Snohomish County. The kelp forests at Meadowdale and Mukilteo declined rapidly and were completely lost in 2018 and 2019 respectively. These sites are still monitored yearly, and volunteers have seen no recovery.
In Island County, two sites have seen kelp forest expansion since monitoring began. The Ebey’s Landing kelp forest expanded further offshore and south and merged with another kelp forest to the south beginning in 2019. Similarly, the kelp forest along Possession Point, on the southern end of Whidbey Island, grew to the west between 2017 and 2019, to merge with a kelp bed on the west side of the point.
Kelp data collected by MRC volunteers is integrated with multiple data sources to create the Washington State Floating Kelp Indicator, which tracks the status of select floating kelp beds throughout Washington State. There is limited kelp extent data for some regions of Puget Sound and the MRC sites in these regions provide a much-needed look into local kelp dynamics and health.
To see how kelp is doing statewide, visit:
In addition to measuring kelp extent, volunteers log observations about kelp condition, general site conditions (like water temperature), and species present in the kelp forest. Volunteers observed a wide diversity of animals in and around the kelp forests during surveys including (but not limited to) over 19 species of birds, over 7 species of fish, and various marine mammals, jellies, crabs, and intertidal invertebrates. Some MRCs use GoPros to capture the underwater scenes of their local kelp forests. Like this mesmerizing view of a school of herring at Ebey’s Landing!
At North Beach in Jefferson County and Edmonds in Snohomish County, project partners compared MRC kayak survey data to both drone and aerial imagery.
To learn more about this project, visit:
For more information on the monitoring sites in each county, keep scrolling or use the menu bar at the top to jump to a county page.
Interactive Data Map
We invite you to dive in and explore each of the sites MRC kayak volunteers have surveyed since 2015. At each site, the largest measured kelp bed perimeter is displayed to showcase how much, or how little, these kelp forests can change annually. Zoom in on a star to view the perimeter of that site's maximum surveyed extent for each monitored year. Blue stars indicate a site that is no longer surveyed while orange stars indicate a currently surveyed site.
Interact with the map in a few easy steps:
- To zoom in - Double click on a site or area you want to explore or use the "+" button. Alternatively, use the search function to search by kelp bed location to zoom in and select specific monitoring years.
- To zoom out - Use the " – " button.
- To see more information about a particular site - Click the center of the kelp beds to view detailed information in a pop up and page through survey years.
- Zoom in to a site and click the infographic button to view how the perimeter of that site's maximum extent has changed over survey years.
Looking for even more kelp survey data? You can access and explore aerial photographs, kayak survey data, and more on Sound IQ. SoundIQ is a GIS-based informative map system that allows you to explore the Puget Sound area for specific information. It can be used to view kelp bed distribution and size, generate beach reports to specific shorelines, superimpose different data for vegetation, and view aerial photographs of kelp beds.
Clallam County MRC
Facing windy conditions and incredibly large kelp beds, Clallam County MRC volunteers dedicate time, expertise, and effort to survey their sites. Beginning in 2016, Clallam MRC volunteers continue to survey three locations along the Strait of Juan de Fuca: Clallam Bay, Freshwater Bay, and Observatory Point. Their work has been invaluable in surveying these expansive kelp forests and monitoring our only sites where both bull kelp and giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) comingle. Beyond monitoring the perimeter, Clallam MRC volunteers have also collected plankton samples at the Clallam and Freshwater Bay kelp sites.
A few hours on the water can give you a unique sense of place - forests and mountains are close by - and let you know why kelp is a vital component of the Salish Sea ecosystem.
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about each site.
Island County MRC
Back in 2015, there was very little attention on bull kelp, even though Island County has a huge amount of it along its shorelines. Being able to collect information from a small boat was an exciting opportunity to begin filling a big data gap & to learn about our nearshore habitats.
With the large amount of kelp along the Island County shorelines and eager to fill data gaps, Island County MRC volunteers began surveying potential kelp sites. Currently, Island MRC surveys five sites across both Camano and Whidbey Islands: Ebey's Landing, Hoypus Point, Lowell Point, Polnell Point, and Possession Point.
The oceanographic conditions found along Island County shorelines provided Island MRC volunteers with a unique opportunity to survey kelp beds with marine, riverine, and urban influences. Additionally, whether it be collecting temperature data at multiple depths, taking extensive underwater videos, or utilizing infrared technology, Island MRC volunteers are often developing innovative methods to collect a diversity of data related to their kelp sites.
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about each site.
Jefferson County MRC
Volunteers with the Jefferson County MRC have monitored kelp at North Beach since 2016. By focusing monitoring efforts to one site, Jefferson MRC kayakers have been able to survey the kelp site through the summer each year. Jefferson MRC volunteers often survey the North Beach kelp bed three to four times a year from June to September. Weather, wind, and currents may vary seasonally and dynamically impact volunteer observations at North Beach, yet part of the charm for volunteers is that no two survey dates are ever alike!
Monitoring kelp from the water provides a gorgeous perspective of the earth and the data collected contributes to kelp conservation and recovery. How beautiful is that?
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about North Beach.
San Juan County MRC
From 2015 to 2017, San Juan County MRC volunteers monitored three kelp beds near Deer Harbor on Orcas Island. Volunteers were concerned that silt accumulation from bridge construction at the head of Deer Harbor could impact these kelp beds. The three kelp sites - Fawn Island, Pole Pass, and Reef Island - are no longer surveyed. While San Juan County does have extensive kelp beds, the area the San Juan MRC surveyed was likely less than 1% of the kelp found in the San Juan Islands.
The Samish Indian Nation uses aerial imagery and Indigenous knowledge to assess trends in canopy kelp in San Juan County.
Kelp forests are important ecosystem engineers that provide primary production, and essential refuge and habitat for invertebrate and fish species, especially juvenile fishes including threatened and endangered salmon and rock fish species, and forage fish species.
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about each site.
Skagit County MRC
Monitoring Shannon Point kelp let us pursue one of our recreational passions (sea kayaking) with our passion for trying to use scientific methods to understand the world around us. In this case, the “world around us” was two bull kelp forests - something we knew very little about before we began our surveys. That we met many fascinating people along the way who shared our passions was extremely rewarding too.
The comradery built among passionate kayakers and learning the importance of kelp to salmon were especially important aspects of the kelp monitoring project for Skagit County MRC volunteers. Since 2016, Skagit MRC and their network of Salish Sea Steward volunteers have been monitoring four kelp sites: Biz Point, Coffin Rocks, and two kelp beds around Shannon Point. These sites were chosen as they were easily accessible.
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about each site.
Snohomish County MRC
The urban setting of the Snohomish County shoreline provides a unique backdrop for the Snohomish County MRC volunteers to survey kelp beds. Snohomish MRC volunteers began monitoring kelp beds in 2015, and today monitor four sites: Edmonds, Hat Island, Meadowdale and Mukilteo. They are the only MRC that has documented the decline and loss of kelp forests, which occurred at two beds along the shoreline of Meadowdale and Mukilteo. Volunteers tracked the kelp beds along Meadowdale and Mukilteo as they shrunk year after year. Now, when they survey these sites, they may only find a single kelp bulb, if any at all.
Being able to take data and information back to our peers and students to show them about the kelp beds in our own "backyard" makes it more authentic and valuable. As an educator I really get excited to teach my students this particular unit because it is more engaging and I hope helps them want to do more to protect the kelp.
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about each site.
Whatcom County MRC
When Whatcom County MRC volunteers first started monitoring kelp, there was little data as to where kelp beds were in Whatcom County. The MRC used resources including the 1911 and 1912 historical maps showing kelp distributions to select a unique but dynamic set of kelp sites to monitor. Starting in 2016, Whatcom MRC volunteers have intermittently surveyed five sites: Lummi Island, Point Whitehorn, Cherry Point, Aiston Preserve, and Alden Bank. Some sites are incredibly challenging to survey due to large swells, being far from shore, or even requiring multiday trips on the water to access the remote sites.
I decided to join this project because I appreciate how community science can help fill data gaps. Kelp is a very important species for Salish Sea recovery and one of the first steps is to better understand kelp, such as where is it, how much is there, and how is it changing over time?
Use the arrows on the images below to explore more information about each site.
Learn More
In 2015-2022, the seven MRCs:
- paddled 1,878 miles (the equivalency of 6.5 times the length of the Salish Sea).
- burned ~424,445 calories while paddling (equivalent to eating 2,120 doughnuts).
- mapped over 30 floating kelp beds.
The MRCs’ collective effort has advanced our understanding of floating kelp bed distributions and trends in the Northwest Straits region, an area largely devoid of such data. This high-value information has and will continue to be used by MRCs and partners in the region’s collective efforts to understand, conserve, and recover Washington’s kelp forests, a critical component to local ecosystems and many Northwest Tribe’s lives and cultures.
To learn more about the monitoring program visit:
For more information on the kayak-based survey protocol for floating kelp in the Salish Sea, visit:
For more information on kelp stressors, visit: