Coastal Storms Program

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CSP-Supported Research Sheds Light on Threats to West Coast Salmon from Vehicle Brake Pads

Threats to West Coast Salmon
State lawmakers have passed legislation in California and Washington requiring manufacturers to phase out copper and other metals from vehicle brake pads over the next ten years because of harmful effects on West Coast salmon populations. Northwest Fisheries Science Center biologists Nat Schulz, David Baldwin, and others have studied the link between copper toxicity and salmon olfactory senses since 2002. These scientists presented their findings during legislative review hearings and meetings in California, Oregon, and Washington. For more information, visit CSP’s Success Stories.

Heads Up on Flood Readiness!

Mississippi communities in Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson Counties have new billboards that promote flood readiness. Created with the help of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, these public service announcements complement activities that could earn each community points under the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. The project was completed as part of the consortium’s cooperative agreement with the Coastal Storms Program.

NOAA Podcast Features Coastal Storms

Stormsurge Katrina 2005
Coastal Storms Program Coordinator Audra Luscher -Aissaoui speaks about storm impacts and NOAA’s work to help coastal communities prepare for them on the National Ocean Service’s Diving Deeper podcast!

The Coastal Storms Program (CSP) is a nationwide effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make communities safer by reducing the loss of life and negative impacts of coastal storms. This work is accomplished by working across NOAA and with organizations from all sectors to address the specific needs of a region. Work in a region generally lasts three to five years.

When CSP is active in a region, a local outreach coordinator helps raise awareness of program activities and ensures that NOAA projects are well coordinated and connected with other efforts in the region. Typical CSP activities include developing new data and predictive tools; enhancing existing products and services; communicating clearly with the public; and creating new partnerships that strengthen existing resilience efforts.

Since its beginning, the program has benefited communities in Northeast Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Islands. Ongoing work in the Great Lakes has received almost all expected funding, and work is expected to be complete in 2017. The program began a transition to the Mid-Atlantic in fiscal year 2015, however no further funding was awarded in FY16. The program is fortunate to support limited resilience-related work in the mid-Atlantic, including facilitating post-Sandy discussions and offering a graduate research fellowship.