Marine Spatial Planning for Wave Energy Development in Oregon Kate Sherman, M.S. Candidate Marine Resource Management College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric

Marine Spatial Planning for Wave Energy Development in Oregon

Kate Sherman, M.S. Candidate Marine Resource ManagementCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Oregon State University

Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development,Coastal Management Program1

Hatfield Marine Science Center & Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center2

1Funding came from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Ocean and Coastal Management Program, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.

2Funding came from the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center and the United States Department of Energy.

Presentation Overview

• What is Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)?

• Oregon’s political climate and framework.

• Wave energy leasing process.

• Importance of stakeholders in decision making.

• Project 1: Nearshore Research Inventory.

• Project 2: Stakeholder information needs.

Overview MSP Wave Energy Stakeholders Nearshore Research Inventory

Information Needs Summary

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)

The United Nations Environmental, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines MSP as:

“A public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that are usually specified through a political process.”



Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)• Ecosystem-based decision making to

manage human activities in the marine environment

• Identifies areas most suitable for various activities in the marine environment

• Reduce conflict amongst uses and users

• Reduce environmental impacts

• Preserve critical ecosystem services – meet economic, environmental, security, and social objectives

Overview Wave Energy Stakeholders Nearshore Research Inventory

Information NeedsMSP Summary

Why MSP in Oregon?• State: Updating the

Oregon Territorial Sea Plan (the state’s MSP).

• Regional: West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health.

• National: President Obama passed Executive Order No.13547 in July, 2010.



Where in Oregon?

http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/OCMP/CstZone_Intro.shtmlSource: Andy Lanier, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development



http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/OCMP/CstZone_Intro.shtml

Wave Energy in OregonWhy wave energy in Oregon?

• Oceanographic features.

• Coastal infrastructure.

• Political climate.



Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-Oregon Memorandum of Understanding•In 2008, Governor Kulongoski signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FERC in order to coordinate procedures for review of wave energy projects.

•As part of this, Oregon would prepare a comprehensive planning document for citing facilities, and FERC would take this into consideration when issuing permits and licenses.



Wave Energy License Process• Step 1: Meet with Department of State Lands

(DSL) staff, affected ocean users, and other government agencies having jurisdiction in the Territorial Sea to discuss possible use conflicts, impacts on habitat, and other issues related to the proposed project.

• Step 2: Filing for a preliminary permit or license with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)



Stakeholder InvolvementStakeholder involvement is key for receiving permitting and license approval.

•Ocean Power Technologies (2007) in Reedsport, Oregon. Public meeting showed conflict between potential site and important crab fishing grounds.



Stakeholder Involvement



Other ocean uses?•Commercial and recreational fishing community

•Non-consumptive recreational community

•Shipping

•Wildlife

•Viewshed

•The public

•And more…



Oregon Nearshore Inventory Project• Purpose: to show the geographic

scope of monitoring style research in the nearshore environment off the coast of Oregon.

• Incorporate collected information into the marine spatial planning process in Oregon.

• Outcome: an inventory and a map of the current and future use of Oregon’s nearshore environment by the research community.













Oregon Marine Map



Assessing MSP Stakeholder Ecological Effects Information Needs• Effectively communicating information to

people requires understanding what information they need/want.

• Can help reduce stakeholder uncertainty associated with marine renewable energy development .

• Purpose: to assess and address marine spatial planning stakeholder’s information needs about ecological effects of marine renewable energy.



Desired Outcomes:1. An up-to-date EndNote database of

literature available on potential ecological effects of marine renewable energy.

2. An effective and relevant system for communicating information about potential ecological effects of marine renewable energy to stakeholders and across stakeholder groups.

3. An updated NNMREC website with relevant literature and content.



Summary• A goal of marine spatial planning is to

reduce conflict amongst uses and users of the nearshore and ocean – all stakeholders should be involved in the process.

• Wave energy is on the horizon for Oregon, working across agencies and stakeholder groups early in the process can help make the development and management process go more smoothly.

Questions?Contact Information:

Kate ShermanStudent Professional/Technical WorkerOregon Department of Land Conservation and Development

M.S. candidate, Marine Resource ManagementCollege Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State UniversityEmail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Marine Spatial Planning for Wave Energy Development in Oregon Kate Sherman, M.S. Candidate Marine Resource Management College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric