These Areas of Interest (AOIs) delineate locations surveyed with aerial imagery on behalf of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) by NV5 Geospatial as part of a program to map the annual extent of floating kelp canopies in Washington State. There are two species of floating kelp in Washington: bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana; found in all surveyed areas) and giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera; found along the Pacific coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca). Floating kelp forests provide essential habitat for many marine species and are culturally and economically significant in the Northeast Pacific and around the world. These AOIs encompass areas of Washington State where floating kelp is known to be present and is most likely to be detectable via fixed-wing aerial imagery (typically, where it forms relatively large and/or dense beds). These AOIs were designed with multiple objectives in mind. AOIs were designed to align with previous aerial imagery products or with Floating Kelp Indicator sub-basins, where applicable. AOIs encompass analysis units for classifying floating kelp canopy within aerial imagery. Aerial imagery mosaics, classified kelp canopy products, and other associated reports and products are available online from the Nearshore Habitat Program.

Please contact the WA DNR Nearshore Habitat Program with questions about this dataset or other available data products at nearshore@dnr.wa.gov.