1. COSA Committee Meeting
June 23, 2017
Greg Sanders
Wildlife Biologist
BOEM Pacific Region

2. A Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the California Current Ecosystem
BOEM Information Need:
Enhance environmental assessment capabilities, identify information gaps, and manage activities that may affect marine resources
Date Information is Required:
Today, but 2020 will be acceptable

3. Background
Relationship with Previous Work/Efforts: Evolution of “Summary of Knowledge” Studies

4. Background
Relationship with Concurrent/Future Efforts: Past, present and future studies from all sources feed this assessment

5. Study Objective
Provide BOEM analysts, their partners and the public with up-to-date and comprehensive geo-referenced data for environmental review of offshore energy projects along the Pacific coast.
Imagery
Bathymetry
Bottom Type
Oceanography
Species
Distribution
(many layers)
Human Use

6. Biogeographic Assessment Process
Methods
Biogeographic Assessment Process
Step 1
Planning
Step 2
Data Evaluation
Step 3
Data Analysis
Step 4
Management Applications
Figure credit: Caldow et al., 2015

7. Methods
Identify data sources, develop relationships with data providers, and acquire data
Organize GIS data into a common spatial framework

8. Methods Synthesize data to create maps/data layers
Conduct preliminary biogeographic analyses

9. Methods
Prepare a report and publish GIS data products and metadata on the web

10. Strategic Science Questions
How are trophic groups, families and species distributed spatially and temporally in the California Current Ecosystem?
Where can offshore energy projects be located to avoid or minimize impacts?
How do we characterize impacts in the context of the ecosystem?
What significant gaps exist in our knowledge of the California Current ecosystem?