8a Blue Carbon Flyer

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
The Port of Seattle, Maritime Division, is conducting a pilot project to
15th Ave W                   Lake Union           Portage
evaluate the ability to enhance blue carbon processes at Smith Cove:                 Terminal 91
CARBON SEQUESTRATION                                                             5
Eelgrass, kelp and salt marsh vegetation sequester (or trap) dissolved                       Blue          Elliot Ave W
Carbon
Broad St
carbon at a significant rate  as much as a ton of CO2 per acre annually.                    Pilot
Project                       Denny Way
The Smith Cove project is expected to sequester 10 tons of carbon every                                        Downtown
Seattle
year, or the equivalent of over 1,000 gallons of gasoline combustion.
Elliott Bay
FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT 
In addition to sequestering carbon, eelgrass, kelp and salt marsh are the                                                 S. Dearborn
most biologically productive habitats in Puget Sound, supporting a wide                                                      90
variety of fish and wildlife species, including life stages of endangered            The project site, which is               4th Ave
Chinook salmon.                                                          between Pier 91, Elliott Bay             Airport Way S
Marina, and Smith Cove Park,         Harbor Ave SW
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 
includes all of the characteristics
The project includes re-establishment of native oysters in Smith Cove,
necessary for the project:
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                     Protected from wave energy
contaminants. Introduced shellfish would filter up to 50 million gallons of           Appropriate depths
Elliott Bay water per day.                                                              Suitable substrate
No conflict with existing uses
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION REFUGIA                               No overwater structures
Acidification is one of the major threats facing Puget Sound. By removing           Accessible for interpretation
dissolved carbon from the water, kelp, eelgrass and salt marsh buffer                and public education
acidification, providing beneficial habitat for oysters and other pH-
sensitive species.
www.portseattle.org

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 PROJECT1,257,000           1,258,000
235,000                                                                   235,000
Step 1: Plant and install blue carbon                                             Stormwater            !(
Stormwater
Outfall   Outfall         Stormwater
I
!(          0  100  Outfall
!(         200  300  400
4
2
Feet
1 inch = 125 feet when printed at 18" x 24"
enhancements:                                                 0
0 !(
Intertidal Shellfish                                       !(
Stormwater                               !(
(4.91 acres)         Outfall                           !(
-14
-2   -16
-10   -20
2
0
Kelp                                                         Future Smith
Cove Park                 -6        !(
Stormwater
-20   -30 -8 Outfall Riparian vegetation
!(
Eelgrass                                                                                           -18        (> +12' MLLW)
-28   -32
-32 -34                              !(
-36 -20
Shellfish beds                                                                          -10 -22     -10      -8 -12
!(
Existing Smith Cove Park                        !(
0      2
Stormwater
-2  0
Stormwater           -4  ( !
2          -16                         Riparian                                  -12 -10 Outfall  -10
0   -16        !(                  -14
!(
Outfall
-24
-20 -14                                                                                                                  Intertidal salt marsh                                                         (0.63 acres)              -2         Stormwater        -24
-6
Outfall      4       -30  -34
-20
-40                         -30   -28      -12                   -36          -22            -8           -35 -26                             -10                                                                                                          Shoreline/riparian vegetation*                                                                          Marsh Plants    -38
-2
-28
-38        !(
-2
-40       -16 -26 -32           -20
-35                              !(        -30
-2
-8                 -14          (+12' to +8' MLLW)                       -34   -18           -20
*Size/scope/schedule TBD                                         234,000
Shellfish beds                                 -6                         -40
-24                       -16                              -4        -10
!(                               -34
!(          -10  234,000                              -22    -36                               !(
-22                  -12                 -12
-35
(+1' to -5' MLLW)                                       -35             -32              -36             -10            -18          -38                -32
Eelgrass           -28                                   !(                               -30 -12           -35          -36 -32 -8                              -8 -18                                                                                                         Step 2: Monitor project over time:                                               (12.42 acres)
-16       -24           -18     -40
-2
-36             -20 -28 -34
-2
-14
-38                      -35                  -40    -35                                                 100' offset from dock                      -30  -36   -26 -10                      -12                                           -6 -4                                                                                             Water Chemistry (pH)                                                                            -34  -38  -20                       -14
-4            -36 -32                     -38  -10
-4                 -26           -10 -22           -30                               -10                    -30
-6
-16           -26                                          -8                   -34       -16                                                                                                         Carbon sequestration                                                                                            -26          -34 -20                                        -8
-10
-34            -32           -16                                        -10
-38                      -38                                                                            Eelgrass
Beneficial habitat changes                                                                         -36
Elliott Bay           -12              -12
(-1' to -12' MLLW)                      -12
-14                              -36
-40                         -20       -18
Marina                                       Pier 91       -14 -16            -38           -10
-14
-14
-32
-38    -30 -22 -10                 -40
-16
-16                 -36                       -22
-40          !(                -42
Step 3: Report results                                                              -28
-18                        -12                     -35 -28
-36
-38
-18
-22            -40          -18
-18
-28
-20    Canopy Kelp      -22
-30
Buoy
(7.03 acres)                -36                      -36 -30 -12
-20          -28
-32
233,000                  -22                                           -40                            -34  -36      -20          -16 -38   -42       -14
-22                                 -35             233,000
The blue carbon project team includes staff from        Kelp                                        -24 -30
-26
!(   -38   -10               -42
(-12' to -24' MLLW)             -24
Stormwater
-42
-22
-35                   -12
Outfall            -42 -44
-20           -26
the Port, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, NOAA,                                               -24
-40
-14                     -32                     -16                     -38
-24
-22
-36
-42
-10
-35         -34 -10          -28           -10                                                 -8                                        -44                                        -6                          -22          -18  -40
City of Seattle, UW and Grette Associates.                                                   -26
-30
-14
-30                     -14 -24
-42
-36
-28                                       -40
Date Saved: 9/20/2017 3:18:06 PM                                          -18                      -20            -8
Buoy     -38
-22        -42
-30
-10
-30              Future blue carbon actions:                        -40 -42   -30 -12           -26  -40
-42
-32                   -24            -36 -38         -28                     -20                     -34
Baseline surveys                Eelgrass test plots          Completed project        Kelp substrate placement
-10
-34         -36
-35
-35                  Shoreline restoration (TBD) 
Document Name: Terminal 91 Bathymetry and Habitat Areas - 2017-09-20                      Habitat Class   -36
-36                     -16          -40                             -38
Project Boundary    Port Facility Boundary      -36      -36                     -30   -42
!(
Stormwater                             -38
Canopy Kelp
-40               Outfall
Park Area        -40
-40
-20                                                                                                                          (March-April 2018)                (May-June 2018)             design (October 2018)       (December 2018)WA-DNR PMA Land Boundary  -42                   -44   Long term UW study (TBD)  -30
-42
Eelgrass                        -12            -26                       -32
-44
-35
-18
!( Stormwater Outfall    Port Parcel Boundary                                          -44    -24
-44
-46
-22           -44
-46                    -28
-40                 Intertidal Shellfish            -42
-48               Interpretive signage (2019)
Elliott Bay                         King County Parcel Boundary                    -46     -34          -46
-50
-50               -48   -42
-35           -50                                    Riparian             -50
-52                                      -46
2018                                                                                                  -52     -44           -50    -48                                                             2019                           2020 -52          2021       -48
-52   -50  -44
-54
-54                                  -54  -52
-54    -56             -46
-46
-56           -58       -52      -48
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 StatePlane Washington North FIPS 4601 Feet
1,257,000                             1,258,000                  2022

Kelp test plots                                           Install "blue carbon" features             Growthand maturation
Shellfish test plots
(April-May 2018)                                               (Jan-May 2019)                       (2020-2023) 
(July-August 2018)
Email and Text Updates
Port of Seattle
Sign up for updates at our web page
P.O. Box 1209
www.portseattle.org/subscribe                                                        Seattle, WA 98111
www.portseattle.org
#bluecarbon
Printed on recycled paper using soy based ink.          04/2018

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