A World Bridge™ Partners include: Kodiak Island Trails Network, NASA Ames Research Center, NOAA Kodiak Research Laboratory

The Kodiak Island Trails Network, NOAA and the Sitka Sound Science Center have been involved with Marine debris monitoring and research, cleanup and outreach for years now. NOAA and the SSSC recently completed a 6-month survey of the outer coasts looking for Japanese Tsunami debris. They are currently planning activities for the removal of Tsunami debris and working with community partners on marine debris projects.

A World Bridge™ school districts have begun acquiring past collection data, and will add new information layers to custom maps created from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photography. Additionally, this project has expanded to include an environmental impact study, which will map affected areas including plant and animal diversity studies, including invasive species. This program has been developed as a K-12 articulation project, beginning with East Elementary and Kodiak Middle Schools, along with Kodiak High School. Marine debris can injure people, entangle marine mammals, enter the food web and threaten the overall ecosystem. Removing debris from beaches reduces these threats and promotes ecosystem resilience.

Priority Areas for Tsunami Marine Debris Identification and Collection

Student Performing Pre-flight UAV Component Check