ITEM TITLE:
Approval Of Memorandum of Agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service and the City of Valdez for the Purpose of Coordinating and Leveraging Partner Resources for Ocean and Coastal Mapping
SUBMITTED BY: Aaron Baczuk, Emergency Manager
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve of MOA with NOAA for Ocean and Coastal Mapping
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Attached is the MOA with NOAA to establish terms and conditions for the acquisition and processing of, and the product development from, mapping data within the Valdez area of interest, with initial focus on approximately 32.5 square nautical miles of hydrographic survey in Port Valdez waters.
Background:
The city applied to NOAA for a matching grant to conduct hydrographic surveys of Port Valdez and it was awarded. Funding for the city’s share of the project was included in the 2024 budget and will be allocated this year. Mapping work will be performed in 2025.
The last hydrographic survey of Port Valdez is over 20 years old and extensive sediment deposition has taken place since then (unconsolidated and can be hazardous). The new hydrographic survey represents one part of baseline data to accompany new ground-based lidar data through USGS/DGGS/COV.
A slope instability hazard detection and monitoring program for the Valdez area will be organized through a City, USGS/DGGS, and UAF partnership, using comparison and analysis of baseline data with any future changes related to seismic activity, ground saturation during high precipitation events, perma-frost melt, glacier retreat, etc. Monitoring, mitigation, public education and early warning systems will be developed if hazards are discovered to increase public safety.