February 5, 2026 - Cascadia CoPes Hub Virtual Seminar Series

Science-based coastal management: examples from Washington’s Applied Coastal Research and Engineering team

Abstract

Washington’s marine shorelines face growing pressures from sea-level rise, erosion, habitat loss, and competing uses, increasing the need for science that directly informs coastal management decisions. As a team of scientists and engineers embedded within the state’s Coastal Management Program, Washington’s Applied Coastal Research and Engineering Section (ACRE) provides state and local partners with data, analyses, and technical expertise tailored to planning, management, and regulatory needs.

This presentation highlights the following examples of ACRE’s work, focusing on how data and applied research inform project planning, adaptive management, and regulatory and policy decisions, including:

· Long-term coastal monitoring in the Columbia River Littoral Cell

· Performance monitoring of nature-based solutions along high energy coasts

· Research to inform nearshore restoration in Puget Sound

· Salish Sea shoreline mapping

Together, these case studies demonstrate the value of science-based, applied research in improving the effectiveness of coastal management and fostering collaboration among public, academic, and local stakeholder communities.