SUSTAINABILITY BLUE CARBON PILOT PROJECT Blue carbon refers to carbon captured in ocean and nearshore environments, assimilated as biomass and stored in marine sediments. Blue carbon process are critical to concerns for acidification of marine areas due to increases in atmospheric CO2. In Puget Sound, kelp, eelgrass, shellfish, and salt marsh are important elements in blue carbon processes, ensuring productive, resilient and carbon-rich marine conditions. Bay Lake Union Terminal 91 15th Ave W The Port of Seattle, Maritime Division, is conducting a pilot project to evaluate the ability to enhance blue carbon processes at Smith Cove: A iot Eelgrass, kelp and salt marsh vegetation sequester (or trap) dissolved carbon at a significant rate - as much as a ton of CO2 per acre annually. The Smith Cove project is expected to sequester 10 tons of carbon every year, or the equivalent of over 1,000 gallons of gasoline combustion. W ve Blue Carbon Pilot Project d oa Br St Denny Way Downtown Seattle Elliott Bay FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT S. Dearborn The project includes re-establishment of native oysters in Smith Cove, with a goal to support over 1 million oysters. A single oyster siphons up to 2 gallons of water per hour, removing particulate matter and contaminants. Introduced shellfish would filter up to 50 million gallons of Elliott Bay water per day. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION REFUGIA Acidification is one of the major threats facing Puget Sound. By removing dissolved carbon from the water, kelp, eelgrass and salt marsh buffer acidification, providing beneficial habitat for oysters and other pHsensitive species. • • • • • • Protected from wave energy Appropriate depths Suitable substrate No conflict with existing uses No overwater structures Accessible for interpretation and public education www.portseattle.org Airport Way S Ave SW WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 4th Ave The project site, which is between Pier 91, Elliott Bay Marina, and Smith Cove Park, includes all of the characteristics necessary for the project: Harbor In addition to sequestering carbon, eelgrass, kelp and salt marsh are the most biologically productive habitats in Puget Sound, supporting a wide variety of fish and wildlife species, including life stages of endangered Chinook salmon. 5 Ell CARBON SEQUESTRATION WAVE/CURRENT ATTENUATION As sea level rises and storms intensify, our shorelines are becoming increasingly prone to erosion. Kelp, eelgrass, shellfish beds, salt marsh and riparian vegetation play an important role in stabilizing the shoreline, dissipating energy, and storing sediments. SUSTAINABILITY The project does not include structures or other components which require maintenance; if successful, it will be self-sustaining. The project also includes the potential for harvesting shellfish biomass to create marine-based organic compost for use in the Port's shoreline parks and riparian habitats, helping to maintain their "Salmon-Safe" certification. PROJECT OVERVIEW SMITH COVE "BLUE CARBON" PILOT PROJECT 235,000 1,258,000 235,000 1,257,000 Step 1: Plant and install blue carbon enhancements: Stormwater Outfall ( ! 0 ( ! Stormwater Outfall 200 100 300 400 Feet 0 0 2 4 I Stormwater Outfall ( ! 1 inch = 125 feet when printed at 18" x 24" ( ! Intertidal Shellfish (4.91 acres) Stormwater Outfall ( ! -2 -14 -16 -20 0 0 2 -1 -20 -18 -28 -32 -10 -22 -8 -12 0 Stormwater Outfall 4 -12 -24 -35 -8 -3 8 -28 -2 -26 -32 -10 -38 -30 -20 -16 -12 -22 -36 -4 -10 -22 -34 -14 -6 -40 -16 0 ! ( ( ! -32 -35 -12 ( ! -4 -34 -10 -24 -32 -38 -36 -10 -18 -36 -18 -18 -32 -40 -24 -38 -34 -26 -16 -30 -10 -30 -10 -22 -36 4 -3 -10 -26 -26 -32 -16 -38 -36 Pier 91 -32 -40 -22 -30 -10 -38 -38 -16 -10 -14 -14 -40 -20 -18 -12 -14 -16 -38 -36 -22 -12 -3 -28 -30 -38 -16 -35 -36 -10 -42 -12 -20 -42 -44 -38 -14 -24 -26 -32 -40 -28 0 -30 -1 4 -14 -24 -30 -6 -40 -18 -1 -22 -42 -40 -8 -26 -36 -28 -42 -36 -10 -20 -34 -24 -38 -30 -42 -12 -40 -42 -10 8 -22 Future blue carbon actions: Shoreline restoration (TBD) Kelp substrate placement Long term UW study (TBD) (December 2018) Interpretive signage (2019) Elliott Bay -3 -30 -32 -20 -40 -18 -36 Date Saved: 9/20/2017 3:18:06 PM -10 -35 -38 -42 -44 -10 -34 -8 -22 -36 Buoy -30 -34 -35 -44 -46 2 -5 -52 4 -54 2022 -46 -48 2 -44 -46 Coordinate System: NAD 1983 StatePlane Washington North FIPS 4601 Feet Growth and maturation (2020-2023) Port of Seattle P.O. Box 1209 Seattle, WA 98111 Printed on recycled paper using soy based ink. -5 -48 -52 0 6 www.portseattle.org 2021 -5 -4 Email and Text Updates Sign up for updates at our web page www.portseattle.org/subscribe -56 -58 1,258,000 -48 -5 2020 Install "blue carbon" features (Jan-May 2019) -4 -35 -44 -50 -54 -34 -42 -50 -46 -48 -50 -52 -54 4 -48 -50 -24 -28 -40 -42 Intertidal Shellfish -56 1,257,000 -12 -4 -22 -46 Riparian -52 2019 -20 -36 -32 -50 -18 -26 -30 -35 -44 -44 -44 -46 King County Parcel Boundary Stormwater Outfall -40 -42 Eelgrass 2 -16 ( ! Canopy Kelp -40 -42 Port Parcel Boundary -40 0 WA-DNR PMA Land Boundary Stormwater Outfall -30 Port Facility Boundary -38 Park Area -38 -36 Project Boundary -35 -36 -36 Habitat Class -4 ( ! 233,000 -28 -32 -34 233,000 -24 -30 -35 -42 -16 -24 -26 Document Name: Terminal 91 Bathymetry and Habitat Areas - 2017-09-20 -40 -14 ( ! Stormwater Outfall -28 Completed project design (October 2018) -30 -26 -22 -42 -20 -24 -12 -36 -36 Buoy 2 -22 (-12' to -24' MLLW) -40 6 -22 -18 -22 Kelp -28 -35 -38 Canopy Kelp (7.03 acres) ( ! -40 -28 -42 -36 -16 -20 -2 -20 -34 -34 -12 -14 -14 -38 -36 -32 -20 -4 -12 -26 -12 Elliott Bay Marina (-1' to -12' MLLW) -10 100' offset from dock -30 -35 -2 -35 -40 -14 -36 -20 -28 -34 -16 ( ! -8 -35 -30 -28 -12 -8 -26 -12 -36 -22 5 234,000 ( ! ( ! -20 -8 -3 -6 -10 -18 #bluecarbon ( ! -4 (+12' to +8' MLLW) -18 -4 -8 -18 Shellfish test plots (July-August 2018) 0 -14 -34 Marsh Plants -18 2018 -30 -40 -28 -4 -6 Eelgrass -38 -8 -10 -20 Eelgrass test plots (May-June 2018) 2 -2 -10 Stormwater Outfall -10 -24 -6 ( ! Stormwater Outfall -35 -2 Step 3: Report results Kelp test plots (April-May 2018) ( ! 234,000 -20 -20 2 0 -2 -16 -16 -14 -30 Eelgrass (12.42 acres) -16 The blue carbon project team includes staff from the Port, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, NOAA, City of Seattle, UW and Grette Associates. ( ! ( ! -20 -34 -36 -2 (+1' to -5' MLLW) Baseline surveys (March-April 2018) (> +12' MLLW) ( ! -2 Shellfish beds Water Chemistry (pH) Carbon sequestration Beneficial habitat changes Stormwater Outfall -32 Existing Smith Cove Park Riparian (0.63 acres) Step 2: Monitor project over time: • • • -8 -30 *Size/scope/schedule TBD Riparian vegetation ( ! -6 Future Smith Cove Park Kelp Eelgrass Shellfish beds Intertidal salt marsh Shoreline/riparian vegetation* -10 • • • • • 04/2018 ( !