What is the CMS?
The Hatfield Coastal Monitoring Station is a state-of-the-art “mini mooring” located one meter (three feet) above the Yaquina Estuary floor.
The climate-grade oceanographic instruments at the CMS measure water quality and transmit the results in real-time. Currently the CMS measures salinity, temperature, depth (tide), pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phytoplankton fluorescence, turbidity and scattering. The tidal range is about three meters (ten feet) at this location. This data is backed up on servers at the Oregon Data Center in Salem so that it will remain open access to the public.
Who benefits from CMS data?
The data collected from the CMS is open access and available to the public. It is meant to benefit everyone, from oyster farmers and fisheries, to researchers and policymakers. For example, the data provided shows oxygen and pH levels. These can factors effect the success of crabbers and oyster farmers. Low oxygen kills crabs and low pH dissolves oyster shells. Another example of the benefits of this data is that temperature and salinity affect fishing operations. Fishing vessels need cold salty water to keep crab fresh.
About Our Team: Info about partnerships with EPA, Sea-Bird, iLab. Blurb about MJo. Reference the Oregon Ocean Science.com, with compelling text about the commitment to sharing the data for the benefit of everyone.
Partnerships with SeaBird, NOAA, EPA (figure out what you can mention).Seed money and guidance, 20 years of data that is available to the public – see link.
The history of understanding local water quality
Until 1800: Before European-American settlers arrived, oysters and salmon were sustainably harvested by the Yaqo’n people (pronounced Yacona).
1860s: “Oysterville” Abundant natural supply of oysters until they were over-harvested by settlers selling to Californians.
1907: Oregon Oyster Farm established
1960: Oregon State University oceanographers realized there was “no data” about the ocean off the Pacific Northwest. The Newport Hydrographic Line was established to monitor water quality from the shore along a transect of sample sites 200 miles off shore.
2012-2017: EPA and OSU provided real-time data from an instrument hung from the HMSC dock. Eventually funding ran out for instrument and server maintenance.
2024: The HMSC Cosatal Monitoring Station installed.