1. Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems MARACOOS

2. NEARCOOS Structure 2.5 full time staff, plus contract support ~18 member Board of Directors –⅓ State Management chosen by NROC –⅓ Academics chosen by a regional consortium –⅓ Other Stakeholders – Industry, Lobstermen's Association –Non-voting Federal Strategic Planning and Implementation Team –Working Groups Many Different partners – Federal, State, Local, NGOs

4. What do we do? Sustain NERACOOS as a Regional Information Coordination Entity Sustain an Observing Subsystem –Moored and Coastal Stations and High Frequency Radar (HFR) Support the Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System. Region wide and high resolution local. Enhance Data Management and Communications Support a Targeted and Leveraged Education and Outreach Subsystem Work closely with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC, have MOU) to meet regional needs.

5. NERACOOS Success Stories Safer and More Efficient Marine operations - Obs and forecasts for commercial and recreational mariners and the US Coast Guard. “The forecasts are instrumental in planning both training and routine operations, especially in winter… I cannot imagine operating without this buoy. We check it constantly throughout the day.” - Chief Warrant Officer Curtis Barthel, Commanding Officer, Station Rockland. Weather Conditions - NWS WFO marine desks “routinely integrate NERACOOS data into our forecasts and warning operations on an hourly basis”. Coastal Inundation tools and forecasts. Forecasting ship icing potential.

6. NERACOOS Success Stories Harmful Algal Blooms - WHOI led effort uses observations to understand historical and current conditions, forecast HABs, and pioneering real-time HAB observations. Improving Water Quality - Hypoxia monitoring and modeling in Long Island Sound for NY and CT waste load allocations. Informing NH DES nutrient criteria effort to protect eelgrass habitat in Great Bay, NH. Real-time information the Narragansett Bay. “… having uninterrupted access to these NERACOOS mooring time series is critically important to our Alexandrium forecasts.” - Don Anderson, WHOI.

7. Success Stories Coastal Marine Spatial Planning Supporting NROC as a member of the Northeast Ocean Data Portal Working Group. Working group has developed requirements, integrated data, developed viewer, worked with NIMS. “The new Northeast Ocean Data Portal is a great tool that puts needed information into the hands of managers to help support ocean planning and other decisions within a regional context,” said Bruce Carlisle, NROC member and Acting Director for Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.

8. Where are we going? Challenges… –NERACOOS is a region with many legacy systems –Many ocean interested organizations in northeast with diminishing revenues. Plans to overcome include: –Developing, in coordination with IOOS and other RAs, a 10 year Regional Build Out Plan –Focusing on end products with stakeholder feedback at every level – from the build out plan to the final product –Increasing integration with other regional entities including NROC, Gulf of Maine Council, Long Island Sound Study. –Continuing cross-RA communication and coordination

9. Contact Information Ru Morrison Executive Director NERACOOS Ru.Morrison@neracoos.org 603-317-5200 www.neracoos.org