Applications of ShoreZone in Washington State

In Washington State, ShoreZone Inventory data has been used to inform diverse projects in research, habitat management, and conservation for almost two decades. This presentation provides an overview of applications in a variety of contexts, including ecoregional planning, land use planning, oil spill response, habitat modeling and critical habitat designation. Two fish habitat applications are also considered: a screening tool for identifying forage fish spawning beaches, and critical habitat designation for rockfish. These studies exemplify how data can be used to support decision-making in the coastal zone. Inventory results also show spatial patterns in features that are considered by many to be indicators of ecosystem health and provide a context for higher resolution information.