About the Project

Tidal wetlands sequester and store exceptionally large amounts of organic carbon per unit area—often referred to as “blue carbon.” This vital ecosystem function can play a significant role in offsetting anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The Pacific Northwest Blue Carbon Working Group (Working Group) collaborated closely with two National Estuarine Research Reserves and other partners planned and implemented the Phase 2 project to improve understanding of blue carbon dynamics and support management at regional and national scales.

The Phase 2 project, previous NSC and NOAA-supported Working Group projects, and collaborations among the broader Working Group have been instrumental in advancing blue carbon science and shaping natural climate solutions policy in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Their efforts—through collaborative research, policy engagement, tool development, and regional coordination—have had both direct and indirect impacts on climate mitigation. As a result, the Working Group has helped integrate coastal ecosystems into broader climate strategies, influencing both scientific practice and policy decisions.

About this Resource

This project generated eleven datasets from field observations at 34 sites across the Pacific Northwest. These datasets are being used to fill data gaps for major PNW tidal wetland classes and land uses, examine blue carbon--ecosystem driver relationships, expand the regional blue carbon database, and provide new data to the Smithsonian’s Coastal Carbon Research Coordination Network to help validate a national methane emissions model.

An overview of the project datasets and their accessibility is provided below. The dataset description outlines field data collection methods and locations.

1. Site-level metadata: this dataset been archived with Figshare at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
2. Soil temperature: this dataset been archived with Figshare at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
3. Groundwater level, salinity, and temperature: this dataset been archived with Figshare at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
4. General wetland elevation: This dataset will be made publicly available within two years of project completion or upon publication of the associated manuscript, whichever is sooner. Data will be archived in the interim with the NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO).
5. General plant species composition: This dataset will be made publicly available within two years of project completion or upon publication of the associated manuscript, whichever is sooner. Data will be archived in the interim with the NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO).
6. Greenhouse gas fluxes - CO2, CH4, N2O: This dataset been archived with Figshare at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
7. Blue carbon core profiles: This dataset been archived with archived at the Coastal Carbon Atlas for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
8. Time series of light flux: This dataset will be made publicly available within two years of project completion or upon publication of the associated manuscript, whichever is sooner. Data will be archived in the interim with the NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO).
9. Wetland short-term accretion and surface elevation change: This dataset will be made publicly available within two years of project completion or upon publication of the associated manuscript, whichever is sooner. Data will be archived in the interim with the NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO).
10. GHG chamber location and wetland surface elevation: This dataset been archived with Figshare at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
11. Plant species composition in greenhouse gas chambers: This dataset been archived with Figshare at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

Questions about these datasets can be directed to:

Chris Janousek, Oregon State University: [email protected]