NCCOS Centers Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, Silver Spring, MD CCEHBR - Cooperative Oxford Laboratory Branch, Oxford, MD Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Silver Spring, MD Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, Beaufort, NC CCFHR - Kasitsna Bay Laboratory, Seldonia, AK Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC

CSCOR Mission To lead the development of predictive multidisciplinary coastal ecosystem research  Research: Creates Data and Knowledge  Modeling and Prediction: Promotes Understanding and Predictive Capability  Synthesis and Translation: Allows for Informed Action

CSCOR Research Themes (Ecosystems and Stressors)

Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP)  An outgrowth of the long-term Gulf of Mexico hypoxia program  Support research on hypoxia in other regions  Hypoxia research drivers  Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA)  Priority Topics for Nutrient Pollution in Coastal Waters: An Integrated National Research Program for the United States  An Assessment of hypoxia and Eutrophication in U.S. Waters  NOAA Eutrophication Assessment  US Commission on Ocean Policy  In FY05 first national, peer-reviewed competition was held

FY 2005 CHRP Competition  Over 29 proposals requesting over 49M  Funded 6 multi-year, interdisciplinary grants  ~6.5M over 5 years  Twenty-seven scientists at 15 institutions are investigating hypoxia in a range of systems  Narragansett Bay  Albemarle Estuary  Puget Sound  Delaware Coastal Bays  Atlantic Coast Estuaries  Second FRN Recently Closed

Key Areas of Research 1)Determining the causes of hypoxia in a region 2)Developing the capability to predict its occurrence in response to varying levels of anthropogenic stress 3)Evaluating the subsequent ecological, economic, and social impacts Ultimate Goal: To provide research results and modeling tools which will be used by coastal managers to assess alternative management strategies for preventing or mitigating the impacts of hypoxia on coastal ecosystems

CHRP Program and Project Design  Competitive, peer-reviewed research  Large Scale, Multi-Investigator/Disciplinary and Integrative Research  Collaboration Between Federal Agencies, Universities, and States  Identification of institutions or programs that would use or act upon the research results  Should build upon and leverage previous studies  Demonstrated connection to local managers  Annual Meetings with managers  Path Leading to Operational or Management Product