On Tuesday night, scientists from the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) program shared their findings at the Kachemak Bay Campus with a group of 50 community members. Mandy Lindeberg, GWA Program Lead, introduced the program and long-term effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS). Kris Holderied, GWA Principal Investigator, NOAA Kasitsna Bay Lab, talked about more recent effects of the marine heatwave in Kachemak Bay. Brian Robinson, GWA Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, introduced black oystercatchers as an indicator species for nearshore marine environments. Rob Suryan, GWA Science Coordinator, NOAA Auke Bay Labs, gave an in-depth look at the negative and positive effects of the marine heatwave with an aim at understanding how populations will respond and whether negatively affected resources will recover. This event was open to the public and part of the UAA Public Square Series at Kachemak Bay Campus.
October 8, 2019