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What is COASST?
• COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups.
• Volunteers survey beaches monthly in several states using beach-cast bird carcasses as environmental indicators.
• Volunteers also collect data on oil, dogs, humans and vehicles on beaches.
Vital StatsIn Washington
(greater Puget Sound, Hood Canal, San Juan Islands and outer coast)
• 220 volunteers• 377 beaches• 458 km of coastline (222
mi)• 2,032 birds found in 2012
In the High-Risk Area
(North of Admiralty Inlet, East of Cape Flattery, West of Deception Pass)
• 80 volunteers• 128 beaches• 140 km of coastline (86 mi)• 80 birds found in 2012
Who is COASST?
Student Interns
Dr. Julia ParrishExecutive Director
Jane DolliverProgram Coordinator
Heidi PedersenVolunteer CoordinatorNorth Coast & Strait
Liz MackVolunteer Coordinator
Charlie WrightData Verifier
Where is COASST?
Where is COASST?
How Does COASST Work?Volunteers collect data
Volunteers enter data online
Volunteers mail data to UW for
online entry
UW verifies ALL data
www.coasst.org COASST Reports Special projects & data requests
Early warning for avian influenza (w/ WDFW)
Remote community involvement (w/ AK Sea Grant)
Oil spill baseline (w/ NOAA)
Fishery bycatch baseline in the Salish Sea (w/ WDFW, CWS)
Climate impacts in the PNW
Western grebe population genetics (w/ PRBO Conservation Science)
Project Timeline
• 2 COASST staff trained as HAZWOPER trainers• 300 COASST oil spill protocols produced• 4 HAZWOPER/EOSR trainings• 100 Participants trained in early on-scene reconnaissance (EOSR)• 100 Participants 8-hour HAZWOPER trained• Resource report and NWAC presentation
