Previous Work Experience
Our projects
BOEM Vessel Strike Risk Model Phase I
With the development of offshore wind projects, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) must evaluate the environmental risks of the projects to the environment. One risk identified is the potential impacts of vessel operations on marine mammals and sea turtles during transits to and from a designated and leased Wind Energy Area (WEA). Vessel strikes have been identified as a source of injury and mortality of both large whales and sea turtles. The tool was developed to allow users to create complex scenarios of vessel activity as it interacts with animal density distributions. This tool provides the user with text reports of the encounter probabilities generated by the users’ scenario and produces encounter risk-based heat maps that correspond to the scenario tabular data, displayed in a geographic context. Currently, this tool works in ArcGIS Pro, but in Phase II, will be transformed into a hosted interactive tool.
NOAA and BOEM OceanReports Tool
Designed as a freely available web application, OceanReports allows users with no technical experience in GIS to draw or select an area of US ocean space and instantaneously obtain more than 80 unique, information rich infographics derived from an automated spatial analysis of data associated with that location. These include information on energy and minerals, natural resources, transportation and infrastructure, the oceanographic and biophysical conditions, and the local ocean economy. For anywhere in US ocean waters—from the coastal shelf of Florida to the Bering Sea of Alaska to the far ocean reaches of the Pacific Islands—users can start with an area of ocean space in mind and in return receive a comprehensive automated report detailing key environmental and space use considerations essential for planning. As well as contributing to the entire body of work, we also built the full oceanographic and biophysical report section of OceanReports. To learn more about OceanReports please visit https://marinecadastre.gov/
Citation: Wickliffe, L.C., Theuerkauf, S.J., Jossart, J.A., Finkbeiner, M.A., Stein, D.N., Taylor, C.M., Riley, K.L., and J.A. Morris, Jr. 2020. Unlocking Ocean Intelligence. In: GIS for Science: Applying Mapping and Spatial Analytics, Volume 2. Wright, D. and C. Harder (eds.), Esri Press, ISBN: 9781589485877; 250 pp.
Citation: Wickliffe, L.C., Theuerkauf, S.J., Jossart, J.A., Finkbeiner, M.A., Stein, D.N., Taylor, C.M., Riley, K.L., and J.A. Morris, Jr. 2020. Unlocking Ocean Intelligence. In: GIS for Science: Applying Mapping and Spatial Analytics, Volume 2. Wright, D. and C. Harder (eds.), Esri Press, ISBN: 9781589485877; 250 pp.
North Carolina Shadow Tool
To help understand the shading influence of transportation structures on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV), the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) contracted Rummel, Klepper and Kahl (RK&K) and CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) to create a standalone, interactive tool that allows Users to input the structural geometry (e.g., height, width) over an over-water structure to derive a geographically and temporally accurate projection of shading produced by that structure. The amount of light reduced by shading and the percentage of time that a given area of habitat is shaded along with ambient water column attenuation may then be related to changes (if any) in SAV abundance (e.g., biomass, cover). Read more about the tool by visiting CSA's GIS-based Shading Model for Mapping Impacts of Structures on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation.
NOAA's Wave Exposure Model (WEMo)
Scientists, working under the auspices of NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, have developed an easy-to-use numerical wave exposure model (WEMo) that uses linear wave theory to calculate actual wave height and derived wave energy while taking into consideration wind generation and local water depth characteristics such as shoaling and dissipation from breaking waves. WEMo also provides predictions of seafloor sediment movement. To find out more about WEMo and download the latest version of the tool, please visit the NCCOS WEMo page.
Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas with NOAA
NOAA Fisheries Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) are defined as geographic areas that have been evaluated to determine its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. These efforts fall under directives of Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth
(E.O. 13921, May 7, 2020). The goal of identifying AOAs
is to promote American seafood competitiveness, food security, economic growth, and support the facilitation of the development of domestic commercial aquaculture, consistent with sustaining and conserving marine resources and applicable laws, regulations and policies. In November 2021, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science published a comprehensive spatial modeling study, An Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico
, which identified potential options for AOA locations in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico; an additional AOA analysis was performed for the southern California Bight
, with NOAA is now working to further AOA planning in Alaska.
Citation: Riley, K.L., Wickliffe, L.C., Jossart, J.A., MacKay, J.K., Randall, A.L., Bath, G.E., Balling, M.B., Jensen, B.M., and Morris, J.A. Jr. 2021. An Aquaculture Opportunity Area Atlas for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 299. Beaufort, NC. 545 pp. https://doi.org/10.25923/8cb3-3r66
Assessment of Shellfish Aquaculture Map Viewers
Shellfish aquaculture in the United States contributes to the global seafood supply, provides habitat and restoration opportunities, and enhances the economic sustainability of coastal communities. As the marine aquaculture footprint grows, so too does the potential for negative environmental and space–use interactions. To streamline shellfish aquaculture permitting, many states have developed web-based aquaculture map viewers to communicate critical regulatory, space–use, and natural resource information. Aquaculture map viewers were reviewed for common design approaches, important data considerations, and useful functions. Key findings indicate a user-friendly interface, instructional guidance, the ability to assess both opportunity and risk, inclusion of authoritative data, and a long-term maintenance plan for the viewer and data. This review provides valuable information on using map viewers and technological innovation to communicate shellfish aquaculture planning and permitting information to a variety of stakeholders.
Citation: Wickliffe, L.C. Crothers, V.C., Theuerkauf, S.J., Riley, K.L, and J.A. Morris, Jr. 2019. Shellfish aquaculture map viewers: An assessment of design, data, and functions to inform planning and siting in the United States. Journal of Shellfish Research, 38(2): 209-221.
Biogeographical Assessment of Fisheries Species to Inform Coastal Development Time-of-Year Restrictions
To view the full report, pelase visit the NOAA Repository page for the Tech Memo.
Environmental windows or moratoria are used by federal and state regulators in resource management to temporarily reduce adverse environmental impacts associated with coastal development. Moratoria are seasonal restrictions on construction activities to protect migrations of fish, sensitive life stages of aquatic organisms, and threatened and endangered species. Broad categories of coastal development activities that may benefit from application of moratoria include, but are not limited to: pile driving, mining, dredging, fill, water impoundment, energy development, transportation infrastructure, and water diversions. A prominent concern among many is that the use of moratoria as a management tool can have significant cost implications (e.g., restricted work periods, prolonged projects) for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Highway Administration, private contractors, and state and local sponsors. This report responds to a vital need to use the best available science to inform environmental policies and standardize regulations for moratoria. This publication provides a review of the life history and spatiotemporal distribution of 13 managed fish and crustacean species to protect associated fisheries and habitats and minimize negative impacts of coastal development. The life history reviews include recent biological data and distribution information. This report and associated data products (maps, infographics) are intended to help coastal managers make timely decisions regarding authorization of coastal development activities.
Citation: Wickliffe, L.C., F. Rohde, K.L. Riley, and J.A. Morris, Jr. 2019. An Assessment of Fisheries Species to Inform Time-of-Year Restrictions for North Carolina and South Carolina. NOAA NOS NCCOS Tech Memo 263. 268 pp.
Citation: Wickliffe, L.C., F. Rohde, K.L. Riley, and J.A. Morris, Jr. 2019. An Assessment of Fisheries Species to Inform Time-of-Year Restrictions for North Carolina and South Carolina. NOAA NOS NCCOS Tech Memo 263. 268 pp.
Modeling Protected Species Distribution and Habitats to inform Siting and Management of Pioneering Ocean Industries
Aquaculture siting surveys, construction, operations, and decommissioning can alter protected species habitat and behavior. Additionally, aquaculture-associated vessel activity, underwater noise, and physical interactions between protected species and farms can increase the risk of injury and mortality. In 2020, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was identified as one of the first regions to be evaluated for offshore aquaculture opportunities as directed by a Presidential Executive Order. We developed a transparent and repeatable method to identify aquaculture opportunity areas (AOAs) with the least conflict with protected species. To read more about the methodology applied and now repeated for ocean-based wind energy areas, please read more from the PLOS One publication.
Citation: Farmer, N.A., Powell, J.R., Morris, Jr., J.A., Soldevilla, M., Wickliffe, L.C., Jossart, J.A., MacKay, J.K., Randall, A.R., Bath, G.E., Ruvelas, P., Gray, L., Lee, J., Piniak, W., Garrison, L., Hardy, R., Hart, K., Sasso, C., Schroeder, B., Stokes, L., and K.L. Riley. 2022. Modeling protected species distribution and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture. PLOS ONE 17(9): e0267333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267333
Citation: Farmer, N.A., Powell, J.R., Morris, Jr., J.A., Soldevilla, M., Wickliffe, L.C., Jossart, J.A., MacKay, J.K., Randall, A.R., Bath, G.E., Ruvelas, P., Gray, L., Lee, J., Piniak, W., Garrison, L., Hardy, R., Hart, K., Sasso, C., Schroeder, B., Stokes, L., and K.L. Riley. 2022. Modeling protected species distribution and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture. PLOS ONE 17(9): e0267333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267333