Risk Scenarios 2008

Below are the five scenarios available for each team to submit a proposal. Two proposals are required from each team.

1. Invasive Plant and Algae Species at Padilla Bay, WA. One of the critical issues in the North Sound is the establishment of invasive plants and macroalgae in the region. Padilla Bay is one of the marine reserves in the region, and yet is also subjected to potential invasions from boating and ballast water. Design a conceptual model for the estimation of invasive risk both for the near term (5 years) and the long term (25 years) incorporating increasing tanker traffic and a warming climate change.

2. Smelter Slag and human health risk assessment at Lake Roosevelt and the upper Columbia, WA. Upstream on the Columbia there have been smelters and paper processing plants. Both of these processes produce waste materials that may have moved downstream into Lake Roosevelt, WA. This area is under increasing scrutiny by the USEPA Region 10 office based in Seattle and research is now underway. First, identify the social and public issues dealing with the contamination of Lake Roosevelt. Second, construct a conceptual model for a screening level ecological risk assessment to examine potential impacts due to both of these inputs and use endpoints important to the Native Americans and other stakeholders of the Lake Roosevelt region.

3. Implimentation of an Aquatic Reserve-Management Area for Cherry Point. Since its creation in 2000, the Marine Reserve for Cherry Point has garnered an immense amount of discussion. There is currently an effort underway to describe an alternative management strategy and agreement for this region. The project will entail the use of risk assessment for the long-term (30 year) management of this region.

4. Ashely River, Charleston SC. The area surronding the Koppers Company contaminated site is also undergoing development and there are many other industrial sources in the immediate region. The goal of this project is to design a conceptual model that can estimate long-term risks due to the industrialization of the region to the critical natural resouces important to stakeholders.

5. Bellingham Bay Waterfront Development. No project in the region has garnered more discussion than the purchase, cleanup and development of former Georgia Pacific site in Bellingham. There have been a number of scenarios proposed with involvement of Western Washington University likely. Develop a conceputal model that can be used to evaluate the point and non-point effects of different development scenarios to the biota of Bellingham Bay. Be sure to include invasive species and construction events.