Seattle Aquarium Urban Kelp Research
Project
Five (5) Year Service Agreement & Commission
Exemption, April 28, 2026
1
Item No. 8h supp
Meeting Date: April 28, 2026
Request
1. Authorization for the Executive Director to sign a 5-year,
$325,000 service agreement with the Seattle Aquarium to
continue research on urban kelp.
2. Staff is also requesting that the Commission exempt the
service agreement from competitive process requirements
consistent with RCW 53.19.020(5)
2
Context
• In April 2022, the Commission approved initial funding for the
project ($120,000) for the first 2 years.
• The contract was subsequently amended to extend the
duration and add budget to continue the research.
• The current request would support an additional 5 years of
data collection and site surveys, on-going refinement of the
methodology, and support development of a habitat suitability
model for future kelp restoration efforts.
3
Urban Kelp
Research Project
Objective:
Understand the conditions
that foster healthy kelp beds
along Elliott Bay shorelines.
4
Ripple effects of Port-supported research
Area covered
Fixed wing
UAV
ROV
Monitoring
buoy
Diver
WA Dept. of
Natural
Resources
Puget Sound
Research Fund
Seattle
Aquarium
Reef Check
• Temperature
• Conductivity
• Dissolved oxygen
• pH
• Photosynthetically
active radiation (PAR)
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• Developed novel ROV field
methods to gather imagery
on kelp and nearshore
ecosystems.
• Established network of eight
ROV survey sites throughout
Elliott Bay to investigate
benthic locations of interest
to the Port of Seattle
• Documented diverse marine
communities at study sites
• Initiated a habitat suitability
model for bull kelp
conservation and restoration
• Outreach and education
through Port and Aquarium
Accomplishments to-date
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Commission Exemption
Competing this service is not reasonable or cost effective due to
the following:
- Seattle Aquarium provides a unique combination of services
including development and implementation of a bull kelp
monitoring program in Elliott Bay utilizing underwater ROVs;
training and validating AI models; development of a habitat
suitability model; and extensive outreach and engagement
opportunities.
- The research and engagement program is aligned with Port of
Seattle goals as well as statewide and regional kelp initiatives.
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Request
1. Authorization for the Executive Director to sign a 5-year,
$325,000 service agreement with the Seattle Aquarium
Society to continue research on urban kelp.
2. Staff is also requesting that the Commission exempt the
service agreement from competitive process requirements
consistent with RCW 53.19.020(5)
8
