1. The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations Regional Association (SECOORA)
Building a Regional Association Framework for the
Coastal Ocean Observing System of the Southeastern United States
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

2. Discussion Outline Developing the “RA” Organizing Process
Activities to Date
Pilot Scale Efforts
Ongoing Issues
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

3. Overarching Goal – SECOORA
Develop a functional and cost-effective governance and operational mechanism to ensure that COOS activities in the southeast are:
Integrated and well-coordinated
Science-based
Stakeholder-driven
Linked to national “backbone”
Sustainable for the foreseeable future
Represented through the NFRA
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

4. SECOORA - Geographic Focus
SE region is linked oceanographically and experiences similar forcing (winds and river runoff).
A merged information system
will help address scientific and societal issues.
Loop Current/
Florida Current/
Gulf Stream
Courtesy of SEACOOS
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

5. Sub-regional System Formation
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

6. Observing Assets in the Southeast U.S.
Federal
Assets
SEACOOS
Assets
Sub-regional
Assets HF
Radar
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

7. SECOORA is working to link existing observing system assets…
SEACOOS and the sub-regional coastal ocean observing systems it represents
e.g., SABSOON; COMP; PORTS
Other existing sub-regional observation systems
e.g., Caro-COOPS; CORMP
Near-coastal and estuarine monitoring and observing systems
e.g., USGS water level stations; federal and state water quality monitoring programs; southeastern NERRS and National Marine Sanctuary monitoring efforts
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

8. …with the needs of diverse users…
State and federal natural resource agencies
Marine resources; coastal zone management; water quality; emergency preparedness; military; weather, etc.
Public interest/user groups
NGOs; municipal governments
Private sector user groups
Marine transportation; fishing; energy; utilities; sand and minerals; weather providers; emergency managers, etc.
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

9. SECOORA Formation Phase I (Years 1-2) Organizing Efforts
Proposal submitted by SC Sea Grant with regional Program Team (NC, SC, GA, FL)
Funding at <$100K Annually - NOAA CSC
Year 1 Objectives (Oct 2003 Start):
Broaden regional engagement of diverse academic/public/private sectors
To form a provisional Regional Association with a signed charter to carry the development of SECOORA forward
Year 2 Objectives (Oct 2004 Start):
Strengthen the partnership by further integration of existing COOS elements and stakeholders in the southeast U.S.
Initiate strategic and business planning
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

10. SECOORA Formation Phase II (Years 3-5) Efforts
Proposal submitted by SC Sea Grant Consortium with regional Program Team (NC, SC, GA, FL)
Proposed Funding ~$390K Annually - NOAA CSC
Year 3-5 Objectives (May 2005 Start):
Complete business planning
Certification and formal recognition of SECOORA as a Regional Association
Subregional Stakeholder Advisory Panels and a regional SECOORA Stakeholder Council
Strategies for providing user-defined products and applications
Regional DMAC Plan (compliant with the IOOS DMAC Plan)
Ecosystem Data Partnership (modeled after the GoMOOS Ocean Data Partnership Initiative)
Pilot programs to integrate and enhance the ability of existing regional (SEACOOS) and sub-regional coastal ocean observations programs
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

11. Governance Steering Committee
Otis Brown, University of Miami
Peter Betzer, University of South Florida
Judy Gray, AOML
Bob Van Dolah, SCDNR, Marine Resources Division
Jim Sanders, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Russ Lea, University of North Carolina System
Harvey Seim, University of North Carolina – CH
Evans Waddell, SAIC
Carroll Hood, Raytheon
Rick DeVoe, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

12. Private Sector Participation
Private Sector Weather and Marine Products
Broadcast Media
Private Sector Oil Spill Response/Cleanup
Coastal Engineering and Construction
Tourism/Recreational Industry – Boating/Diving/Fishing
Commercial Shipping – Containers, Bulk, Towing, Barge, Marine Survey, Routing (the “Ports” enterprise)
Commercial Fishing
Oil/Gas/Energy
Utilities & Wastewater Treatment
Maritime Financial – Energy Futures, Insurance
& Reinsurance
Military Contractors
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

13. SECOORA TOR MEMBERSHIP
University of Miami Southeast Atlantic Fishery Mgt Council
University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
University of Florida SAIC
Harbor Branch Skidaway Alliance for Coastal Technology
NC Sea Grant University of South Carolina
SC Sea Grant US Department of the Interior
GA Sea Grant
Raytheon
UNC Chapel Hill
Florida State
MOTE Marine Lab
FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Dialytics Inc
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

14. RCOOS Development DRAFT SECOORA Design Plan
Prepared by SEACOOS Team members
Incorporates all existing observing activities
Preliminary RCOOS Design Plan developed
Coastal stations
Offshore assets
HF radar
Satellite remote sensing
Profilers and gliders
Ship transects
Volunteer observing ships
Surface drifters
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

15. Pilot Scale Efforts Ensuring “Relevance”
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

16. Regional Data Collection and Modeling
Now working to include additional variables…sea surface temperature next
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

17. Storm Surge Output Products
Computer driven models to predict and describe flooding dynamics of the Carolinas’ coastal region during hurricanes, nor’easters, and extra-tropical cyclones. Thru Caro-COOPS
Ultimate goal is development of real-time computer driven analyses of storm surge and flooding before, during, and after storm landfall.
Models have been developed for Charleston Harbor, the Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Wilmington areas.
Caro-COOPS has a direct working relationship with the SC Emergency Management Division to develop protocols for using storm surge model output and real time coastal ocean measurements during hurricane events.
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006 18

18. “Carolinas Coast” Program
SECOORA pilot project in collaboration with –
Caro-COOPS
CORMP
SEACOOS (data management)
Wilmington Weather Forecasting Office
Aggregate near real-time observations from in-situ platforms, models, and remote sensing…
Integrate these with NOAA NWS observations and products…
Leverage outreach activities within both NOAA NWS and coastal ocean observing systems…
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

19. The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

20. “Long Bay Hypoxia Study”
SECOORA is providing support for an application of IOOS to a subregional coastal management issue: Hypoxia event in Long Bay, SC (Myrtle Beach)
An interagency, interdisciplinary partnership was formed to improve understanding of the event:
Adding continuous observations in study area
Integrating data from multiple sources
Providing a website for coastal managers that links coastal ocean observing systems with nearshore monitoring programs (in progress)
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

21. Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing – Enabling Coastal Management Solutions:
The Long Bay Ecosystem Management Project
1,3Davis, B.C., 1Shuford, R.L., 1Fletcher, M., 1,2Porter, D.E., 3Hernandez, D., 3Sanger, D., 1,4Voulgaris, G., 5Libes, S., 5Koepfler, E., 5Bennett, J., 1,6Smith, E., 7Bernard, S., 8DeVoe, M.R.
1Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, University of South Carolina
2Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
3South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control – Office of Ocean & Coastal Resource Management
4Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina
5 Burroughs and Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies Coastal Carolina University
6North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
7Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association
8South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA)
The Long Bay Ecosystem Management Project
Ongoing Efforts/Research
SCDHEC-OCRM has partnered with Caro-COOPS and SEACOOS to install a dissolved oxygen sensor at an existing station centrally located within the study area (Springmaid Pier). This meter is already reporting in near real-time and will provide early alerts of low DO conditions, as well as long-term, continuous physical water quality observations (salinity, temperature, pressure). In addition, a Long Bay Ecosystem Management web portal is under construction. This site will provide local managers and researchers, as well as the general public, a comprehensive source for environmental data resources in Long Bay, including access to real-time oceanographic observations in the region (
The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) is one of 11 Regional Associations being established through the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), an inter-agency, cooperative effort based on a sustained network of buoys, ships, satellites, underwater vehicles and other platforms that routinely collect real-time data and manage historical information. The central goal of SECOORA is to establish a sustainable ocean information cooperative that can meet the specific needs of southeast ocean users.
Background
Located in the South Atlantic Bight, Long Bay extends from the southern tip of the Outer Banks in North Carolina to Winyah Bay in SC (Fig. 2) and features a number of inlets and estuaries. The region includes the Myrtle Beach area, commonly referred to as the “Grand Strand”. The beaches and fisheries play a major role in the attraction of tourists, who account for a substantial portion of the South Carolina economy. In July 2004, state managers were alerted to a hypoxia event in the nearshore waters off of Myrtle Beach. Exceptionally high flounder catches were occurring along the shoreline in waters with low dissolved oxygen and a high degree of stratification (Figs. 3 a, b & 4).
Figure 2. Study Area: Long Bay, South Carolina
The Long Bay Ecosystem Management Web Portal
SECOORA Users
Weather Forecasting
Recreational Boating
Search & Rescue
Maritime Industries
Shipping
Surfing & Swimming
Commercial & Recreational Fishing
Diving
Energy & Utilities
Cruise Industry
Erosion Management
Fisheries Management
Science Education
Marine Science Research
Public Health
Emergency Preparedness
Oil Spill Response
Habitat Restoration
Marine Protected Areas
Homeland Security
Aquaculture
In response, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)- Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) hosted a workshop in September 2004 to bring together concerned management agencies and researchers to compile a record of what was known about the July event, and to foster improved coordination in responding to any future hypoxia events in SC waters. The result was an agreement to develop cooperative research efforts and management responses.
Home Page
Real-time data a. b.
Figure 1. SECOORA Domain
Purpose
The purposes of SECOORA are to:
Be a legal entity that provides a fiscal agent with final responsibility for acceptance and expenditure of funds according to the rules of grantors of the funds, insurability, and the ability to enter into enforceable contracts;
Represent a partnership or consortium of data providers and users from state and federal agencies, private industry, non-governmental institutions and academia;
Provide a means by which the Regional Association and the public at large benefit from and contribute to the development and sustained operation of an IOOS for the open ocean (to the EEZ boundary) and the regional estuaries;
Ensure continued and routine flow of data and information and the evolution of SECOORA to adapt to the needs of the user groups and the timely incorporation of new technologies and understanding based on these needs;
Represent the interests of those that use, depend on, study and manage coastal environments and their resources in the southeast region.
Figure 3. a) Locations of high flounder landings; b) Concurrent dissolved oxygen levels, measured by the SCDNR
Figure 4. Measures of temperature and dissolved oxygen from two piers in Myrtle Beach (S. Libes, unpublished) showing clear stratification of the water column and hypoxic conditions.
Project Goals
The principal goals of this study are to:
Identify the data needed to assess relative contributions of anthropogenic impacts and natural oceanographic processes to the creation of hypoxia events in Long Bay, SC;
Integrate existing data collections and coordinate future research efforts;
Develop a “rapid response” sampling strategy for any future anomalous water quality events in the area.
Develop a web-based application that provides utility to local and state coastal managers.
Hypoxia Study: Data Synthesis
Hypoxia Study: “Rapid Response Sampling Strategy
This project represents an innovative, multi-partner approach to manage and integrate complex information from multiple sources to address a serious environmental issue. The project is supported by regional and subregional components of the U.S. IOOS: the Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS) and the Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System (Caro-COOPS). These programs are playing an important role in 1) identifying, aggregating and analyzing the full range of relevant data in the region; 2) providing near real-time, continuous data collections from existing monitoring stations; and 3) establishing new sensor platforms and infrastructure to meet the local needs of local resource managers and researchers.
The Coastal Ocean Observing System (COOS) Connection: Information Resources
How Can Coastal Ocean Observing Systems Support Coastal Zone Management?
1) Addition of new observation platforms and sensors
2) Integration of observations across data collection efforts
3) Development of applications to support user groups
SECOORA pilot project: “Long Bay Ecosystem Management Project”
Support for this project comes from the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) through SECOORA

22. Public Awareness and Education
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

23. The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

24. SECOORA - Where are we going?
Engage a variety of stakeholder/user groups (letters)
Intermediate Users
End-users
Private Sector
Science
Publish our Business Plan - Apr/May 2006
Establish our Ocean.US Certification Tier (once finalized by Ocean.US)
SECOORA Summer 2006 Workshop
Approve Business Plan
Establish Committees and Board per the Governance Plan
Managing expectations - Funding realities - No one said it was easy!
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

25. JULY O5 DMAC WORKSHOP SUMMARY
OPERATIONS:
Development of data standards/data dictionary
Develop training materials and standards of interoperability
Maintain product inventories, descriptions and portals
QA/QC data - Who? Where?
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Current inventories are incomplete across all levels (SAROPS Example)
Use a System Engineering Approach - Inventory component parts
Coordinate Regional Portals and leverage IT infrastructure
Long term archive?
RELATIONSHIPS:
Develop better “Brand Identity”
SECOORA must host greater number of Stakeholder Workshops w/ Academia, Government and Industry
RESOURCES:
Need more $$ and staff!
SECOORA act as central source for info on instruments, data management, and funding opportunities.
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

26. JULY 05 OUTYEAR TRANSITION STRATEGY
Inventory, Inventory, Inventory
Need a “Standards Committee” Define Data Standards
Establish and Maintain structure of interoperability
Develop mechanism for data access to distributed data
Develop a SYSENG change order procedure
Identify and implement “Best Practices” for portals
Identify target user groups to validate and verify portals
Hold stakeholder workshops…be inclusive
Take advantage of sub-regional infrastructure (SEACOOS, Caro-Coops, NERRS etc)
ID champions in the private sector who use RCOOS products…engage them in pilots and governance
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

27. Thoughts? Ocean Data Management Partnership
Modeled after GoMoos Effort
Formalize, expand and build off good work of SEACOOS Data Management
(transition from SEACOOS to SECOORA)
More inclusive - The wider the net, the better for all
What’s in it for me?….Hypoxia Study example
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006

28. The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations Regional Association (SECOORA)
Building a Regional Association Framework for the
Coastal Ocean Observing System of the Southeastern United States
The SouthEast Coastal Ocean Observations DATA MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Regional Association (SECOORA) MARCH 9, 2006