Monitoring Protocol for Marine Riparian Forested Cover in Puget Sound

We carried out a pilot study within the Strait of Juan de Fuca basin and presented our approach to the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program Nearshore Salmonid Work Group (PSEMP NSWG, 2019). A Marine Riparian Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was developed in 2021 and met in 2022, with the goal of refining protocols for marine riparian mapping. Based on the recommendations of the PSEMP NSWG and inputs from the TAG, we refined our protocol as described in this report, including shoreline delineation, forest cover delineation, and data structure. Products developed using this protocol will also aid in application of NOAA’s Nearshore Conservation Calculator.