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Kelp Monitoring – Ainston Preserve

July 31, 2022 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

If anyone is interested, below are the dates/locations for upcoming kelp monitoring events by kayak. For each survey, we take a GPS perimeter around the kelp bed via kayak, and also take the depth and temperature measurements along with a series of photos to compare each year. This kind of paddling is not about the miles, but about really getting to know a local kelp bed, which can be really neat and interesting. The first monitoring event is coming up on Sunday, July 31st on Lummi Island (see below). Please RSVP to me if you’d like to join! These surveys are done with the Whatcom Marine Resources Committee, DNR, and Northwest Straits Commission. 

Here’s the 2022 Kelp Monitoring Schedule: 

Aiston Preserve:

  • Sunday, July 31st +1 ft at 11 AM; 10:10 AM ferry 

Cherry Pt, Gulf Rd:

  • Thursday, August 11th +1 ft at 8:40 AM; meet at 7:45 AM
  • Saturday, September 10th +1 ft at 10:05 AM; meet at 9 AM

Point Whitehorn: 

  • Friday, August 26th +1 ft at 9:40 AM; meet at 8:30 AM to be on water by 9 AM

For more info, contact Eleanor at: eleanorehines@gmail.com

For those interested in some more information, here are some additional resources: 

Kelp monitoring on the Whatcom Marine Resources Committee website

Sound IQ (map of monitoring sites) and Story Map

Kelp monitoring on the Northwest Straits Commission website (bringing together multiple MRC kelp monitoring projects)

Read through the protocols we use here

WA State Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan (our past efforts help inform this)

NSS 2020 Kelp Presentation by Max Calloway, DNR

Kayak Safety: