state-owned aquatic lands: aquaculture and the state of the …€¦ · dnr aquatic districts. at...

State-owned Aquatic Lands: Aquaculture and the State of the

Science

Michal RechnerAquatic Resources Assistant Division Manager

Micah Horwith, Ph.D.Acidification Nearshore Monitoring Network

Overview

• State-owned aquatic lands and their management

• Ocean acidification and aquatic vegetation• Microplastics• Q&A

State-owned Aquatic Lands

• 2.6 million acres • Generate about $30M annual revenue

through leases and geoduck sales• Protect fish and wildlife• Manage geoduck fishery • Encourage public use and access• Remove derelict vessels and creosote-

treated wood • Provide commerce and navigation

The Management Mandate

“… state-owned aquatic lands are a finite natural resource of great value and an irreplaceable public heritage.” RCW 79.105.010

“…strive to provide a balance of public benefits for all citizens of the state.” RCW 79.105.030

The Four Plus One:Encourage direct public use and access

Foster water-dependent usesEnsure environmental protection

Utilize renewable resources(Plus One: Generate revenue, but not a fiduciary requirement)

Presenter

Presentation Notes

DNR Aquatic Districts

Presenter

Presentation Notes

At statehood, Congress granted more than 3 million acres to Washington for the new state to use as a revenue base to develop schools, prisons, hospital and other state infrastructure. Today, DNR’s management of granted state trust lands, and trust lands managed benefit the counties raises millions of dollars in non-tax revenue each year. Timber sales, mineral sales and leases of lands for agriculture, grazing, wind energy and other commercial and industrial uses That money is non-tax revenue that supports construction of public schools, universities and colleges, prisons and other institutions. $152 million in Fiscal Year 2010 to the trusts We also manage forestland in several counties that supports roads, libraries, schools, hospitals, and fire districts.

Aquatic Lands in Thurston County

• Total Acres: 27,100 acres– State-owned: 23,500 acres

• Tidelands: 525 acres• Bedlands: 18,600 acres

– Privately owned tidelands: 3,600 acres

Woodard Bay Port of Olympia Tolmie State Park

DNR Use Authorizations

One aquaculture lease in Thurston County – mussel raft in Totten Inlet.

Authorizing Aquaculture

• Unique use: separate statutes• Stewardship measures

– Use specific, site by site– Protect native aquatic vegetation– Protect forage fish– Avoid contamination

• Regulatory permits– Must be obtained before DNR can

finalize lease

Photo: Jonas Thormor

Stewardship and global change: developing adaptation measures for ocean warming and acidification

Thurston County Planning Commission, 12.05.2018Micah Horwith, WDNR

Photos: W Harrigan,

Pillar coral(D. cylindrus)

Photos: W Harrigan,R Bartz,


Coccolithophore(G. oceanica)


B Inaglory,



Brittle star(O. erinaceus)


B Inaglory,JR Balle



Brittle star(O. erinaceus)

Geoduck clam(P. generosa)

JR Balle


JR Balle


Shellfish have ecological, cultural,economic, & recreational value

JR Balle



Washington farms more shellfish than anyother state: ~$150MM/yr industry

JR Balle



Washington farms more shellfish than anyother state: ~$150MM/yr industry

WDNR collects ~$22MM/yr for geoduckharvest rights & ~$1MM/yr for leased farmland

Barton et al. 2015

Barton et al. 2015

pHT: 8.0

Barton et al. 2015

pHT: 8.0 pHT: 7.5

Barton et al. 2015

Shell formation is impaired at low pH

pHT: 8.0 pHT: 7.5

Does seagrass counteract acidification?

Could eelgrass restoration improve water quality?

RCO2

CO2

Respiration:CO2 is produced

RCO2

CO2

CO2

Respiration:CO2 is produced

Photosynthesis:CO2 is consumed

• Bare

• Bare• Eelgrass

• Bare• Eelgrass• Oysters

• Bare• Eelgrass• Oysters

Eelgrass consumes CO2

& increases pH

Photo: Luc Comeau

Shell length

Shell length

Shell length, mass, & strengthFatty acid contentStable isotope ratiosProteomics

• Bare


Pacific oysters grew fasterin eelgrass

state-owned aquatic lands: aquaculture and the state of the …€¦ · dnr aquatic districts. at...

Documents