NOAA Partners Receive $14 million to Enhance Ocean and Coastal Observations

NOAA has announced an investment of $14 million over two years through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to support improved and enhanced observing systems for the coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes of the United States.

Understanding current and historic ocean and Great Lakes conditions through high-quality, integrated datasets is essential to a sustainable economy working in and around the ocean, weather and climate forecasting and prediction, and preparing communities for changing conditions.

For over 20 years, IOOS has worked with partners to develop a sustainable national coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing system. The investment announced today under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enables the system to improve, expand, and modernize – reducing risk within the system and ensuring that IOOS is able to provide environmental intelligence to users throughout the country.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that the United States remains on the cutting edge of oceanic and freshwater research and observation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “High quality environmental data allows decision makers across the public and private sector to prepare for severe weather events, protect against the damaging effects of climate change, and bolster coastal economies.”

"The work of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System is critical to improving safety, informing economic decisions, and protecting our environment," said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. "This significant investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will better equip our community partners to provide the highest quality ocean data and intelligence to enhance a sustainable New Blue Economy."

The $14 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will modernize and recapitalize ocean observing assets, networks, and communications systems that are essential for ongoing coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes monitoring. NOAA will support a total of 11 awards to IOOS's Regional Associations, which are the non-federal partners that lead the coordination and implementation of coastal and ocean observing systems on a local and regional scale. The regional associations collaborate with communities, stakeholders, and local, state, and tribal governing bodies to ensure that IOOS meets regional and national data needs.

“This investment is a significant opportunity to push the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System forward,” said U.S. IOOS Office Director Carl C. Gouldman. “These funds allow us to address current needs within our networks of people and technology while also preparing for future challenges, ensuring that IOOS will remain a responsive and key source of high-quality coastal data and information."

Investment priorities for the 11 IOOS Regional Associations include:

• Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) will invest in modernizing existing observing infrastructure measurement programs in Alaska and continue the development of a Marine Life Data Assembly Center.
• Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) will support and replace aging observing infrastructure, expand observing capabilities, and monitor water quality in support of coastal barrier restoration initiatives funded by the federal government in a region still recovering from 2017’s Hurricane Maria.
• Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) will support and upgrade observing infrastructure, including high-frequency radar, shore stations, animal telemetry, and glider operations as well as data logging and transmission, for the central and northern California coasts.
• Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) will support and update observing infrastructure related to waves, currents, and water column profiles, as well as improve the gathering and dissemination of observing data and information.
• Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) will support and upgrade observing infrastructure to address sustained monitoring capabilities throughout the Great Lakes.
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) will upgrade the Mid-Atlantic high-frequency radar system, support and improve the glider data assembly center and stakeholder-based product development, and create a pilot street-level coastal flooding observation testbed.
• Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) will update and upgrade observing infrastructure, including buoys and gliders that are being revitalized and equipped with cutting-edge sensor technologies throughout Pacific Northwest coastal waters, estuaries, and shorelines.
• Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) will upgrade and update observing infrastructure, including improvements to the offshore buoy system, water quality sensors, water level monitoring stations, and high-frequency radar, as well as make improvements to the data management and cyberinfrastructure system in the northeast region.
• Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) will update and upgrade observing infrastructure related to glider, buoy, and modeling operations, water quality monitoring, and ecosystem resources.
• Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) will update and replace infrastructure related to surface currents, glider operations, shore stations, harmful algal bloom monitoring, and animal telemetry in southern California.
• Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) will expand and update observing infrastructure in the southeastern region including water level, high-frequency radar, and buoy networks as well as investing in new infrastructure for ocean acidification monitoring.

To learn more about the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, visit https://ioos.noaa.gov/.