Maintenance & Monitoring
We continue to maintain these marker buoys to protect important marine habitats. A number of marine species such as barnacles, kelp and mussels attach themselves to the anchor lines, weighing down the buoys. These need to be removed periodically to keep the buoys floating high in the water. Additionally, winter conditions along the Port Townsend waterfront require swapping out the summer spar buoys with lighter winter floats each year.
Monitoring boater compliance:
Vessel monitoring since 2004 tells us that the marker buoys and outreach have succeeded in achieving over 98% compliance within the no-anchor zone along the waterfront.
Monitoring eelgrass habitat:
Videographic surveys of eelgrass (Zostera marina) were conducted along portions of the Port Townsend waterfront in Port Townsend Bay in 2014 and 2015, and most recently in 2022. These surveys looked at presence/absence and distribution of eelgrass and will be further analyzed to help evaluate the long-term effects of the voluntary no-anchor zones.
- 2022 Port Townsend Waterfront Eelgrass Survey Field Summary Report
- 2015 Port Townsend Bay Eelgrass Survey Field Summary Report
- 2014 Port Townsend Waterfront Eelgrass Survey Field Summary Report