Analyzing permit records and visiting snowy plover habitat

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Over the last few months at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), one of my focuses has been executing a pilot project in which we audit our permit records. The Ocean Shores team is responsible for regulating development on Oregon’s public beaches, and one major type of development that extends onto the ocean shore is shoreline protective structures. Riprap revetments are the most common type of shoreline protective structure along the Oregon coast and are commonly installed on developed lots that are experiencing erosion. As the main purpose of my role is to organize and geolocate our permit records, we are auditing our new record keeping system to get a sense as to whether we have captured all information during the transition.

The audit consisted of field visits to compare the present site conditions of ocean-fronting properties to our records for riprap revetments. Because patterns of dune erosion and accretion can be cyclical, there are areas of the coast where riprap was installed at a time of erosion but may be buried under the sand of a recently accreted dune. Because of this, if our records indicated the presence of riprap but nothing was visible, it was not assumed that our record was incorrect. In instances where a riprap revetment was visible, we measured it to compare to the conditions which were permitted. While many of the structures we observed were aligned with the permit records we have on file, the process did reveal a few instances in which site conditions did not align as expected with our permit records. Overall, it was a worthwhile exercise and really brought to life for me the revetments and site conditions that I’ve been reading about in our permit records.

Some revetments are decades old (left); the rocks used back then were distinctly different from the newer rocks used in revetments today, which are more angular (right).

The Ocean Shores team is also responsible for coordinating habitat protection and restoration for the threatened western snowy plover, which nests in dry sand areas of our beaches. One of the threats to their habitat has been the proliferation of European beach grass, which grows rapidly and leads to accretion of dunes. I have been lucky to tag along on a couple of trips to nesting areas with teammates who coordinate the restoration of snowy plover habitat. Restoration efforts can include the removal of shore pine and European beach grass and grading of the dunes. After the nesting season concluded in September, we took a trip out to Sitka Sedge State Natural Area to assess maintenance needs for the snowy plover habitat restoration area. Restoration efforts were initiated at this site in 2022, and it was time to assess follow-up tasks. Much of the area was still looking good, but it was determined that more removal of beach grass was needed to maintain conditions ideal for snowy plovers.

Snowy plover habitat restoration area at Sitka Sedge State Natural Area, looking north to Cape Lookout.

On separate visits to the beach at Sitka Sedge this summer, multiple snow plovers were spotted, indicating the habitat restoration is working! Unfortunately, it was a dismal year for nests that fledged across the entire Oregon coast.

Snowy plovers’ survival depends on their ability to blend in with their surroundings. Can you spot the bird?
Much of the beach grass seen here will need to be removed to maintain snowy plover habitat.

Shoreline protection structure permitting and habitat restoration are just two of the many ways OPRD’s Ocean Shores team interfaces with our public beaches in an effort to protect recreational use and vital habitat.

A Retrospective Impact Analysis: Coastal Restoration in Tillamook, Oregon

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Posted on behalf of Alyssa Purslow

Hi Everyone,

Alyssa here with some updates on what I’ve been working on this summer. It’s been a busy time as I completed my Professional Science Master’s degree and successfully defended my research with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership and Oregon Sea Grant.

My report, A Retrospective Impact Analysis: Coastal Restoration in Tillamook, Oregon, focused on three key research questions:

  1. How does the long-term effectiveness and monitoring of restoration efforts highlight the need for continued funding, especially in climate-vulnerable, ecologically important, and economically productive areas like Tillamook County?
  2. How can we assess whether restoration funding was used effectively, and what evidence supports ongoing investment in these projects?
  3. Where is the funding sourced, and how is it being used to benefit Oregon’s economy and job prospects in Tillamook County?

The need for restoration in this region is largely due to factors such as drained and diked wetlands, river levees in floodplains, the Tillamook Burn and subsequent fires, intensive logging, and the impacts of natural resource industries like dairy, forestry, fishing, and tourism. Public infrastructure development and the removal of in-stream large wood debris for navigation have also contributed to these challenges.

Some of the observed effects in the area include sea level rise, ocean acidification, water pollution, significant flooding, erosion, landslides, habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, invasive species, and depleted fish stocks.

To address these issues, I developed a set of field metrics to capture key observations, and I matched historical and current photopoints to show the long-term effects of restoration—one of my favorites being a 1942 photo from Mapes Creek with a bridge to culvert to bridge infrastructure change over an 82 year span.

Additionally, I conducted a funding analysis for each site, including details on project type, partners and collaborators, cash and in-kind contributions, jobs created, and overall economic output. I have an example below of the Cruiser Creek funding analysis. Direct effects refer to jobs and outputs from restoration project implementation, indirect effects involve economic contributions from materials and services used in the projects, and induced effects capture the broader economic impact as workers spend their earnings on goods and services in the local economy.

In total, the combine efforts across the 11 sites resulted in 53 jobs created and an economic output of $7.8 million, with more than 17 miles of previously inaccessible habitat reopened for spawning and rearing. For every $1 spent, TEP leveraged $2.24—demonstrating a strong return on investment. These projects successfully met the objectives of agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), and National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), contributing to salmon recovery and habitat enhancement.

The purpose of this study was to support marketing, community awareness, and legislative communication, while providing metrics and templates for local projects. It also aimed to show the success of the National Estuary Program (NEP), continue funding efforts, and support science communication and community education through organizations like Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, Oregon Sea Grant, and the EPA.

Thanks for following along, and I’ll keep you posted on future developments!

Meet Josh Blockstein, a 2023-2024 Malouf Scholar

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Student is presenting a training on Tsunami Evacuation Route wayfinding in Seaside, OR
Presenting a training on Tsunami Evacuation Route wayfinding in Seaside, OR

Hello! My name is Josh Blockstein and I’m one of the 2023-2024 Oregon Sea Grant Malouf Fellows. I’m currently entering the 2nd year of my PhD program at Oregon State University in Environmental Sciences although this will be the start of my 4th year at OSU as I completed my Master’s in Marine Resource Management in June of 2023. Generally, my work focuses on understanding the community and individual side of disaster preparedness and community resilience, aiming to use mixed-methods approaches that better incorporate the needs and values of community members into policy and decision-making processes. If you are interested enough to keep reading, I’ll give some more background on my research and share some of what I learned during my Master’s. In a future post, I’ll talk about what I’ve been up to this summer and share some of my future plans and bigger questions I’ve been thinking about.

I work as part of the Cascadia COPES Hub, an interdisciplinary team of researchers in the PNW working with coastal communities to better prepare for the impacts of natural hazards.

We are entering the 4th year of 5 years that this project is funded through NSF – this project has been the cornerstone of my experience at OSU. I originally had a different project in mind, the plan was to go to Honduras and speak with community members to understand how public input was incorporated into the developed of a new MPA (Marine Protected Area). So similar themes to what I am doing now, but when it was announced that OSU had been selected as the host university for this COPES award my advisor suggested I check it out and reach out about any opportunities. That is how I became connected with my wonderful PhD advisor Dr. Jenna Tilt, one of the Co-PIs for Team 3 focused on Community Adaptive Capacity. She was interested in following up on previous research she and another student, Katie Stanton, had done with Latine community members that identified the values associated with community assets (i.e. churches, recreation centers, hospitals) and suggested that there was an opportunity to continue this project to meet the needs of community members. With my Spanish-speaking ability and interest in community-engaged research, this was a natural fit and I’m so grateful I followed this fork in the road. 

Fast forward almost 2 years from that point and I completed my Master’s Thesis where I focused on the types of social relationships and support networks associated with community assets to further identify how and why particular places where most important to Latine community members. For example, community-based organizations served a key role where trusted leaders working at these organizations helped connect community members with other resources they needed. This was true both for meeting day-to-day needs, like navigating immigration processes or finding employment, or during disasters, like during COVID or wildfires that impacted the area when these leaders helped share emergency information and connect the sick or injured with necessary medical care. The importance of these organizations and their leaders suggests the need to better incorporate them into emergency response procedures – because they are often communicating directly with community members and using informal channels like Whatsapp these are not often pre-planned, and that there should be more resources and support given to these community assets – for communities with specific needs due to language barriers, limited financial resources, etc. these assets are essential to their well-being. Other valued assets included churches and schools. Understanding resilience as the ability to adapt and recover from impacts a community faces, strengthening and supporting these vital links is critical! For more details, please feel free to view my Master’s thesis publication.

Student helping family with tsunami map
Assisting participants with identifying their house and other locations on a Tsunami evacuation Map in Newport, OR

I learned so much from the process of completing my Master’s and I’ll just share a few takeaways. From not really understanding what a social scientist or geographer was, I can now describe myself as an aspiring critical community geographer. What this means to me is that I am interested in understanding how communities are put together, who the different groups of people are, the shared history and values that have made things the way they are today, and the vulnerabilities and opportunities for change in the future, both positive and negative. To get here didn’t necessarily require any specialized skill to start – my undergrad was in Biology. Instead, you need a willingness to learn and be humble, the self-confidence to put yourself out in front of community members and make mistakes along with the empathy required to conduct yourself respectfully. Being open to new ideas and methods is key because when starting with the community as your focus, you will need to be creative about the approaches you use to connect with participants and gather data that is most useful.

For example, this photo shows me leading participants through a conceptual mapping activity we developed to understand what places and relationships are important for sharing support and resources in the local community.

Patience is really important because things can take a lot of time – the early phases of my research involved a lot of open-ended conversations to understand different ways of conducting social science research as well as driving out to the coast to attend various community events. At these events I was mainly there to participate and observe (formally called ‘Participant Observation’) meaning I was usually not directly asking research questions but instead learning about the community and the potential relevance of my research to the lived experiences of community members. Sometimes it was not clear what I got out of it and if the 2+ hour round trip drive was worth it, but the familiarity I built and relationships I established ended up being crucial for the formal research I conducted via focus groups and even helped me get hired to help with a totally different project on ocean conservation values working with another Sea Grant Fellow, Megan Davis (more on that another time).

I’ll wrap it up by saying that we can, and should, all aspire to embody the qualities of social scientists by listening more than we speak, thinking critically about what we hear, and systematically using what we learn to help improve the lives of those most in need. Keep a lookout for another upcoming post from me and feel free to reach out anytime.

Josh

blockstj@oregonstate.edu

Discover Oregon Seafood Tours

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Hello again!

Discover Oregon Seafood Tours have kicked off. We began in Port Orford and have put on tours in Brookings, Charleston and Garibaldi. Each port is unique in its layout, economics, and catch – and it’s been a fun challenge to figure out how to highlight that during each tour.

Though we can’t guarantee one can buy fish off the dock, we scheduled these Discover Oregon Seafood tours with an intent to increase the chances of overlapping with albacore tuna season. If we were lucky we would have vessels selling direct to consumers, and lucky we were. Port Orford, Charleston, and Brookings all have vessels selling off the boat, and it’s an invaluable educational opportunity to be able to point out where tour attendees can purchase locally sourced seafood. Direct marketing is an instance where you can know where your seafood comes from, and we encourage tour attendees to come back to these vessels after the tour to purchase seafood.

Our tour attendees have been engaged and equipped with thoughtful questions and insights into the specific port the program’s taking place in. At times, a group gets a chance to talk with a fisherman face to face. It’s clear that being able to hear from an industry professional is one of the most interesting parts of their tour experience. Seeing that connection being fostered is really fulfilling. I’ve enjoyed being able to interface with so many different people and perspectives as I continue to lead these tours.

Discover Oregon Seafood Tours are a series of pilot programs, so ironing out the kinks is to be expected. What I learn from any missteps will be helpful for program improvement in the following years. As these tours continue, I am sure they will continue to become more and more streamlined. The last tours of the season will occur during Labor Day weekend, and end for the summer in Garibaldi on September 13th.

I hope to see you there!

Gaining insight and perspective on sustainable fisheries at the 2024 World Fisheries Congress

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Earlier this year, I attended the World Fisheries Congress in Seattle, WA to present on findings of a recently submitted paper exploring the value of sustainability ecolabels such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) towards shrimp production. This research was an extension of my masters thesis, funded by the U.S Department of Agriculture, as well as support from Oregon Sea Grant during my Natural Resource Policy Fellowship. The study focused on consumers in South Carolina and their willingness to pay for locally sourced, sustainably farmed shrimp. Using a choice experiment, where survey participants are given several options with varying attributes and prices, our results showed that consumers were willing to pay 41% more for locally sourced shrimp, in addition to 7% more for ASC-certified farm-raised shrimp. The results of this study are novel in that shrimp that is locally sourced on the Atlantic coast, such as Brown and White Shrimp, is harvested, whereas consumers showed a preference, and were willing to pay more for sustainably grown shrimp. Although land-based, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is a nascent industry in the U.S., significant steps are being made federal and state governments to expand this form of aquaculture to meet domestic seafood demands, and in turn move towards more sustainable production of shrimp.

The conference covered many topics, ranging from conservation through marine protected areas, to emerging technologies using artificial intelligence to monitor at-sea activities of fishing vessels. Scientists and policymakers around the world convened to share advancements being made in fisheries management through a series of breakout sessions and keynote presentations. The opportunity to present on findings from my masters was both rewarding and insightful as a diverse audience of ecologists and economists asked questions and provided feedback.

While attending the conference, I was fortunate enough to be part of the first cohort to receive accreditation as a fisheries conformity assessor from MSC. This newly formed course was offered to conference participants with previous experience working with MSC fisheries standards under version 2.01. During the workshop phase, we discussed expectations of the new version 3.0 that is currently being incorporated into certified fisheries across the world. Considering the relevance to Oregon, I drafted a policy brief and accompanying technical overview of meeting MSC fisheries standard version 3.0 for the Oregon Pink Shrimp fishery, which has been certified by MSC since 2007 and continues to be the only MSC-certified shrimp fishery in the world. I look forward to continue supporting the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and it’s partners in meeting these new fisheries assessment standards from MSC that ensure a sustainable and economical Pink Shrimp fishery for years to come.

Salmon Habitat “Yelp Hotel Reviews”

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The past two months have passed quickly as I completed the final site visits. I am now beginning to create one-page documents for policymakers and community members. During my last visit to E. Beaver Creek in Tillamook County, I observed various habitats and repeatedly remarked to my colleague, “this looks like a five-star place.” Inspired by these observations, I conceived the idea of writing Yelp reviews from the perspective of juvenile salmon to add a creative angle to a complex topic. I am eager to finalize my analysis and the one-page documents. Please enjoy the spin on yelp reviews below.

Salmon Habitat “Yelp Hotel Reviews”

Rating: 1 out of 5.

As a young Salmon, my recent stay in this Oregon habitat was less than satisfactory. The water was murky and filled with debris and sediment, making it difficult to find food and navigate. The pollution levels were irritating to my health and well-being. The promised riparian vegetation was sparse, offering little protection and shade. The overcrowding due to insufficient space was one of the biggest issues with the stay. I felt increased competition and overall stress. There was nowhere to pull over and rest in a pool, or side channel. The water was fast-moving, and an area was closed due to inaccessible areas. Poor water circulation and temperature fluctuations caused a variable level of comfort. Overall, I hope significant improvements are made for future guests.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

As a juvenile salmon, my stay had its ups and downs. The water quality and habitat weren’t the worst, but also not the best. There was some pollution and debris, but not in excessive amounts. There was a fair riparian vegetated area, but I would like to see more for additional shelter and protection. Food was available but very basic. The habitat was busy but not overcrowded. Some areas had more oxygen water and lower temperature levels but if I moved too much, it could change. There were a few small pools but it was very crowded. One area near a culvert was under construction and filled with material which slowed down traffic. Overall, I probably wouldn’t stay again at this location, but not the worst place I’ve ever stayed.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

As a juvenile salmon adventuring out in the world with some travel experience, I would say this experience was average. The water was decent, there was little pollution and debris. There was riparian vegetation providing some shade, and protection that were nice hang-out spots. The food options were picked through but ok. The temperature was stable and the water was nicely mostly oxygenated in the areas I went to, but I did hear some complaints from other salmon who didn’t have as nice of a space. Comfortable stay for an overnight or short trip, overall satisfied.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

As a well-traveled juvenile salmon rearing in the streams for a few months, my stay was good. The water was clear with very minimal pollution and debris.  Navigation was easy, smooth, and overall very safe. Vegetation provided several areas providing plentiful shade, and protection, though you can always use more. The habitat was spacious enough and busy but never felt too crowded. There were several food options which was nice to mix it up. There was a fish ladder that added plenty of access to different areas. Water flow and oxygen levels were well maintained and consistent. Overall, this habitat supported a nurturing environment making it a great place to grow and thrive! I will come back here again!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

As an ocean-ready salmon, my stay at this Oregon habitat spot was phenomenal, I wish I could have spent my entire rearing time here. The water quality was outstanding with clear water and filtered pollution. I did not have to navigate around any debris or obstacles. The vegetation was abundant and lush. The oxygen levels and temperatures were perfectly balanced. A bridge was installed overhead so I didn’t have to deal with any disturbances. The consistency created a comfortable and thriving habitat with plentiful food options and high-quality ingredients. Overall, this habitat exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it to my fellow friends looking for a place to stay! 

Meet Kristen McAlpine, a 2024 Natural Resource Policy Fellow

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Hi everyone, I am currently a Natural Resources Policy Fellow working with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s (OPRD) Ocean Shore team. I completed my master’s degree in Forest Ecosystems and Society at OSU in 2023. My thesis research was oriented around the human dimensions of Oregon’s marine reserves, which introduced me to some topics of marine resource management. In my fellowship, I am getting even more acquainted with the myriad scientific and policy activities on Oregon’s coast.

Oregon’s beaches, which are all public, fall under OPRD’s jurisdiction and are collectively administered as a state recreation area. The agency’s Ocean Shore team is considered a “central resource” for the agency. While there are many beach and park rangers and managers stationed locally along the entire coast, our team is small, more administrative in function, and focuses on projects, issues, and policies that largely impact the coast as a whole. One of the main functions of our team is to process permit applications for alterations along the coast, such as the construction or installation of accessways (stairways, ramps, etc.), shoreline protective structures (riprap revetments, seawalls, etc.), or other elements that would then have a permanent presence in the public right of way. Aspects of my role include organizing and geolocating these permitted structures, performing an audit for compliance of permissible activities, and analyzing data obtained from these two tasks. As time allows, I will also use these findings to create communication materials for OPRD partners.

A pipe extending onto the ocean shore presents a hazard and an eyesore to beachgoers.

Some of my favorite days of my fellowship so far have – surprise! – been those that I get to spend on the beach. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to attend the Navigating Coastal Hazards Workshop put on by Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub (Cascadia CoPes Hub), go on a tour of the north coast, visit a snowy plover habitat management area (we spotted three down near the surf!), and tour marine reserves with partners from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, OPRD, and Oregon State Police. I’ve also made a few visits out to the central coast to kick off my auditing project. More on that next time!

On a tour of the north coast, a float from Japan was spotted carrying living specimens of the invasive barnacle Megabalanus rosa. This was promptly reported and sent to scientists tracking and researching such visitors!
A visit to the Snowy Plover habitat management area at Nehalem Bay State Park.

Meet Alyssa Purslow, a 2024 Natural Resource Policy Fellow

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Hi all,

My name is Alyssa Purslow, and I am currently serving as a 2024 Natural Resource Policy Fellow, working as a Restoration Project Impact Analyst for Coastal Watersheds with the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP). Located at the Port of Garibaldi, TEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to conserving and restoring tidal wetlands. Our goals include building habitats, reducing flooding, reviving salmon and other native fish populations, supporting the restoration and growth of native plants, and providing education and public outreach to the local community.If you would like to learn more, please visit our website or social media pages listed below.

In Tillamook County, healthy estuaries are vital to the local economy and community. TEP is committed to improving watershed health through scientific methods and community involvement. Our mission emphasizes the importance of clean water in rivers, streams, and bays for current and future generations. As a grassroots, non-profit organization, we focus on estuarine restoration, monitoring, and education. Recognized nationally, we operate under a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), supported by partners, volunteers, and board members.

As the Oregon Sea Grant fellow, my role at TEP focuses on visiting and assessing post-implementation restoration, fish passage, and riparian area treatments in Tillamook County. I started with TEP remotely from the Bay Area in California, and for the past three months, I have been temporarily living on the Northern Oregon Coast to visit post-implementation sites. Of the 11 sites listed, I have visited 8, with the last 3 planned for the next two weeks. After completing these visits, I will return to the Bay Area and finish the rest of the work remotely.

I am currently visiting and documenting the success of these projects, which range from 5 to 20 years post-implementation. The sites span 5 watersheds: Tillamook, Trask, Nestucca, Kilchis, and Sand Lake-Frontal Pacific Ocean, 8 sub-watersheds: Middle Fork North Fork Trask River, Upper Tillamook River, Nestucca River, Beaver Creek, Farmer Creek-Nestucca River, Elk Creek-Nestucca River, Little South Fork Kilchis River, and Netarts Bay-Frontal Pacific Ocean, and 11 creeks: Cruiser Creek, Fawcett Creek, Killam Creek, Smith Creek, E. Beaver Creek, Wolfe Creek, Hawk Creek, Maps Creek, and Jackson Creek.

I look forward to posting my progress as I continue to work through the fellowship.

2024 Natural Resource Policy Fellow, Alyssa Purslow

Cheers!

Alyssa

Website & Social Media Links

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (tbnep.org)

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Introducing Natural Resource Policy Fellow Maddie Foley

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Hi everyone!

I’m Maddie Foley, a fellow in the Natural Resource and Policy Fellowship working with Oregon Sea Grant to expand educational programs centered around the commercial fishing industry. Graduating with a Master’s in Biological Oceanography with a focus on the movement ecology of gulls from Stony Brook University, I found myself drawn to a more policy – oriented career path. Subsequently, I made my way back to the West Coast.

I’m passionate about science communication, accessibility, and sustainability. I believe that one of the greatest ways someone can contribute to sustainability is through their purchasing choices as a consumer. By purchasing from local sources of seafood, you’re supporting an industry that is geared towards sustainability and the people who make plating a fish possible. Knowing where food comes from and understanding the effort that goes into providing it is something that gives me feeling of confidence in what I choose to eat and respect to the environment that provided it. I aim to carry that feeling into my work, more specifically the pilot programs I, Jamie Doyle, Amanda Gladics, and Angee Doerr will be premiering in Charleston, Port Orford, and Brookings. I’m very excited to pilot and lead some tours myself, and can’t wait to see how our pilot programs go.

Discover Oregon Seafood tours are aimed towards anyone who has an interest in learning more about their local seafood industry and the people who are a part of it. Shop at the Dock tours that run in Newport, Oregon during the summer months provided the framework for Discover Oregon Seafood’s tours. The goal is to educate both locals and tourists on where and how they can buy fish when it’s being sold off the docks, how the gear that catches their fish works, and how the fishery itself is managed. If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to chat with a local fishermen, and hear firsthand about the human dimension of commercial fishing! Shop at the Dock will be continuing in Newport and returning to Garibaldi this summer, along with our pilot programs. Dates for Discover Oregon Seafood tours and Shop at the Dock will be announced soon – so keep an eye out!

Fishing boats in Newport, OR.

Natural Resources in the Context of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians

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 Posted on behalf of Kayla Stevenson

Hello again from Seattle! My work with the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) is steadily making progress. In early April, I drove down to Coos Bay to host a writing workshop with the Department of Culture and Natural Resources staff for my work on the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. I had prepared topics for us to discuss but left it open to address any issues or complexities that arose relevant to the framing of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. The workshop allowed for in-person discussions and problem-solving and revealed new issues to consider, which I discuss below. 

Something that came up during the workshop was how the area of interest for the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians spans across multiple geographies and encompasses diverse ecosystems, each with its own set of vulnerabilities. In the development of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, it became clear that I needed to consider the interconnectedness of environmental issues across ecosystems.

Salmon in the Pacific Northwest is an example of the complexity of natural resources that span multiple geographies. As an anadromous species, salmon traverse various ecosystems during their life cycle and therefore need to be included at multiple points in the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. This led to another question during the workshop: what is the best way to categorize and organize a vulnerability assessment? We looked at different examples from other northwest Tribes and realized that, for the unique context of CTCLUSI, the assessment needed to serve multiple purposes, including a vulnerability assessment of not only natural resources but also how CTCLUSI properties will be exposed to climate change impacts. That said, it became clear that the assessment needed to consider damage protection and resource conservation. How do we safeguard Tribal properties and economic assets while mitigating future vulnerabilities? This necessitated a nuanced approach, considering both immediate concerns and long-term sustainability goals. Related to long-term sustainability goals came the question of how to approach climate modeling in the report. During the workshop, we talked about intergenerational responsibility, specifically from the perspective of planning for the next seven generations. 

One of the main takeaways from the workshop was recognizing the importance of a holistic approach to climate change vulnerability and adaptation. This work requires comprehensive strategies that integrate traditional knowledge with scientific research, braiding knowledge to navigate environmental challenges. The workshop served as a crucial step in understanding the complexities of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in the context of CTCLUSI and a way to reflect on methodologies for designing climate change adaptation documents.